OSTRAVA, Czech Republic – The first day of the 2021 Para Ice Hockey World Championship action will feature rivals U.S. and Canada squaring off at 9:00 a.m. ET on the Olympic Channel, with studio coverage pre- and post-game, as well as intermission reports.
Team USA enters the tournament looking to defend its 2019 gold medal Worlds performance in Ostrava, Czech Republic, as the 2020 event was unfortunately canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the last meeting between the two teams, at the 2019 Para Hockey Cup, goals from Declan Farmer (Tampa, Fla.) and Josh Hargis (Colorado Springs, Colo.) helped Team USA secure its sixth-straight Para Hockey Cup title, defeating Canada, 3-1, in the Championship game of the 2019 Para Hockey Cup in Paradise, Newfoundland. Goaltender Steve Cash (Overland, Mo.), backstopped Team USA to victory with a six-save performance.
Since the 2014-15 season, the two teams have met 28 times, with the U.S. posting a 19-4-1-4 (W-OTW-OTL-L) record. Combined, the two teams have captured the last seven world championships and last five Paralympic titles.
Today’s Opponent: Canada
The Sled National Team has a 6-2-0-5 (W-OTW-OTL-L-T) series record against Canada in Sled Worlds. The U.S. has defeated Canada in back-to-back contests, including the 2019 gold-medal game.