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U.S. Natl Sled Team Falls to Canada, 3-0, To Close 2018 Border Series

By USAHockey.com, 02/10/18, 6:15PM EST

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U.S. To Continue Chicago Residency Program ahead of the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games in March

PORT COLBORNE, Ont. — Steve Cash (Overland, Mo.) made 13 saves but the 2017-18 U.S. National Sled Hockey Team fell to Canada, 3-0, to split the home-and-home 2018 Border Series after winning the first game, 2-1, on Thursday (Feb. 8). The loss was Team USA’s first of the season, ending a streak of 10 straight wins. 

“We learned a lot tonight,” said Guy Gosselin, head coach of the 2017-18 U.S. National Sled Hockey Team. “Give Canada credit, they came out and executed and we didn’t. These were two hard-fought games and now it’s time to go back to Chicago and train together as a team with our sights set on the Paralympics in March.”

The U.S. National Sled Hockey Team will return to Chicago where it will continue its residency program with daily practices at West Meadows Ice Arena in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. The 2018 U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team opens play in the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games next March.

Canada opened the scoring just 34 seconds into the game when Tyler McGregor fired a long-range shot from the top of the left circle over Cash’s outstretched glove.

The U.S. continued to apply pressure in its attempt to even the score. Declan Farmer (Tampa, Fla.) saw a pair of chances in the slot both sail just wide of goal while Cash made a flurry of saves to keep team within one.

With 33 seconds remaining in the opening period, Steve Arsenault doubled Canada’s lead, 2-0, after his shot from just inside the blue line sailed into the top left corner of the net.

In the middle stanza, the U.S. was able to take control of the play and nearly got on the scoreboard when a give-and-go passing play between Brody Roybal (Northlake, Ill.) and Josh Misiewicz (La Grange, Ill.) resulted in a high quality scoring chance that ultimately was denied. Shortly thereafter, Rico Roman (Portland, Ore.) scored when he carried the puck into the zone and skated around a Canadian defender before his low shot rang off the post and into the corner.

Bob Delaney was able to push Canada’s lead to 3-0 with 5:53 to play in the frame when he converted a passing play from Rob Armstrong. 

Despite a pair of power plays in the final stanza, the U.S. could not convert in its first shutout loss of the season. 

Postgame Comments

Photo Gallery

Notes: For the boxscore, click here ... Deloitte, Labatt USA and Toyota are proud sponsors of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team ... The 2018 U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team was announced on Jan. 1, 2018, and can be seen here. Highlighting the roster is captain Josh Pauls (Green Brook, N.J.); alternate captains Nikko Landeros (Johnstown, Colo.) and Declan Farmer (Tampa, Fla.); and goaltender Steve Cash (Overland, Mo.) ... Dan Brennan (Colorado Springs, Colo.), director of sled national teams for USA Hockey, is serving as the general manager of the 2017-18 U.S. National Sled Hockey Team and 2018 U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team ... Guy Gosselin (Grafton, Wis.), a two-time U.S. Olympian (1988, 1992) and USA Hockey's regional manager of the American Development Model, is in his first season as head coach of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team and third stint overall with the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team. Joining Gosselin behind the bench in Buffalo is assistant coach David Hoff (Bottineau, N.D.) while additional U.S. staff members include team physician Mike Uihlein (Grafton, Wis.), athletic trainer Mike Cortese (Boynton Beach, Fla.) and equipment manager Bill Samberg (Parker, Colo.).

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U.S. Paralympic Schedule

Date Opponent/Round Result Venue
Sun., March 11 Japan
Preliminary
W, 10-0 Gangneung Hockey Centre
Mon., March 12 Czech Republic
Preliminary
W, 10-0 Gangneung Hockey Centre
Tues., March 13 Korea
Preliminary
W, 8-0 Gangneung Hockey Centre
Thurs., March 15 Italy
Semifinals
W, 10-1 Gangneung Hockey Centre
Sun., March 18 Canada
Gold-Medal Game
W, 2-1 (OT) Gangneung Hockey Centre

2018 Paralympic News