skip navigation

Gameday: U.S. Takes on Japan in Semifinal of 2018 Turin Para Tournament

By USAHockey.com, 01/26/18, 3:15AM EST

Share

Puck drop is set for 3 p.m. local/9 a.m. ET; Winner To Play in Title Game on Saturday

In today's semifinal, the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team faces Japan for the second time here at the 2018 Turin Para Ice Hockey International Tournament in Turin, Italy. Puck drop is set for 3 p.m. local time/9 a.m. ET.
    Team USA is 23-3-0-4-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L-T) all-time against Japan. Prior to this tournament, the two teams last met at the 2012 International Paralympic Committee Sled Hockey World Championship, where the U.S. skated to a 5-0 shutout victory.

THINGS WORTH KNOWING
A win today would give the U.S. a berth in a championship game for the 11th consecutive tournament, dating back to 2011 ... Today's winner will play Italy in the championship at 10 a.m. local time tomorrow. Italy beat Norway, 4-3, in overtime in its semifinal tilt ... Forward Brody Roybal (Northlake, Ill.) leads the tournament in scoring with 11 points (7-4) while Josh Misiewicz (La Grange, Ill.) ranks second with 10 (3-7) and Nikko Landeros (Johnstown, Colo.) is third with seven (4-3) ... Last Sunday (Jan. 21), Jim Johannson, assistant executive director of USA Hockey and the general manager of the 2018 U.S. Olympic men’s ice hockey team, passed away in his sleep at his home in Colorado Springs. His memorial service took place yesterday (Jan. 25) in Colorado Springs.

LAST MEETING: USA 8, JPN 0
On Tuesday (Jan. 23), Brody Roybal (Northlake, Ill.) scored three goals and six other U.S. players had multi-point games to lead the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team past Japan, 8-0, in its second preliminary round game of the tournament.
     “Our players got into a rhythm early, which allowed us to roll all of our lines and see several players get rewarded for their efforts,” said Guy Gosselin, head coach of the 2018 U.S. National Sled Hockey Team. “Two games in, we’re feeling good as a team. With one more preliminary round game tomorrow, it’s important we turn around and get ready for another solid effort before our off day on Thursday.”

LANDEROS PLAYING IN FRONT OF FAMILY
For U.S. alternate captain Nikko Landeros (Johnstown, Colo.), the 2018 Turin Para Ice Hockey International Tournament is more than just another tournament. With relatives just outside of Milan, Landeros is fluent in Italian and has enjoyed playing in front of relatives.

TEAM USA VISITS MILAN
With the tournament having the day off from competition, the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team players and staff traveled by train to Milan, about 45 minutes away from Turin. There, Team USA took in sights such as the Duomo Cathedral, the Castello Sforzesco and shopped at some local and well-known outlets. For more on the team's trip, click here.

U.S. 2018 Turin Schedule

Date Opponent Result U.S. Player of Game
Mon., Jan. 22 Italy W, 6-0 Nikko Landeros
Tues., Jan. 23 Japan W, 8-0 Brody Roybal
Wed., Jan. 24 Norway W, 8-0 Josh Misiewicz
Fri., Jan. 26 Japan
Semifinal
W, 9-0 Declan Farmer
Sat., Jan. 27 Italy
Championship Game
W, 6-0 Josh Misiewicz

U.S. Roster

2018 Turin Tournament

Tournament Homepage

2018 Turin Tournament News