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GAME DAY: U.S. and Canada Square Off in Paralympic Opener

By USA Hockey, 03/04/22, 10:00AM EST

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2018 Gold-Medal Rematch kicks off Team USA's Paralympic Schedule

The U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team opens the 2022 Paralympic Winter Games today against Canada. Puck drop is slated for 12:05 a.m. ET (1:05 p.m. local time) at the Beijing National Indoor Stadium in Beijing, China.

The game will be televised live on USA Network and streaming on NBC Sports properties.

THE SERIES VS. CANADA

The U.S. and Canada have met on four occasions at the Paralympics and Team USA owns a 2-1-0-0-1 (W-OTW-OTL-L-T) overall record against their North American neighbors.

After tying Canada in its first-ever Paralympic matchup in 1998, the U.S. has gone on to win the last three Paralympic outings against the Canadians, including most recently defeating them to claim its third-straight Paralympic gold medal in 2018.

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT

The 2022 U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team roster features 11 players who have made at least one prior appearance at the Paralympic games. Of those 11, captain Josh Pauls (Green Brook, N.J.) is making his fourth Paralympic appearance in Beijing, having played a part in each year of Team USA's gold-medal streak. The roster also features two-time Paralympic gold medalists Declan Farmer (Tampa, Fla.), Jen Lee (San Francisco, Calif.), Kevin McKee (Davenport, Iowa), Rico Roman (Portland, Ore.) and Brody Roybal (Northlake, Ill.), who all earned gold with Team USA in 2014 and 2018.

Ralph DeQuebec (San Pedro, Calif.), Noah Grove (Frederick, Md.), Jack Wallace (Franklin Lakes, N.J.) and Josh Misiewicz (La Grange, Ill.) will be making their second Paralympic appearances after representing Team USA in 2018. Travis Dodson (Deming, N.M.) is making his second Paralympic appearance in sled hockey (2018) and his third overall after competing in para Nordic skiing and biathlon in 2014.

PARALYMPIC DEBUTS

Six players are making their Paralympic debuts in Beijing, including 2021 world champions David Eustace (Stoneham, Mass.) and Joseph Woodke (Nashville, Tenn.) and two-time world  champion (2019, 2021) Kyle Zych (South Hadley, Mass.).

Malik Jones (Aurora, Colo.), Griffin LaMarre (Haverhill, Mass.) and Evan Nichols (Haymarket, Va.) will be making their first international appearances with Team USA.

IN THE RECORD BOOKS

Several members of Team USA are within reach of breaking U.S. Paralympic records this time around in Beijing. Josh Pauls (Green Brook, N.J.) is five assists away from breaking the all-time U.S. assists leader for most Paralympic assists, currently held by  Joe Howard (15 assists). Declan Farmer (Tampa, Fla.) sits just behind Pauls on all-time assists list and is eight away from Howard's assist record.

In addition, Farmer is three points shy of becoming the U.S. all-time Paralympic points leader. Farmer currently owns 22 points in 10 Paralympic appearances, trailing Howard once again who has 24 points in 16 Paralympic games played. Brody Roybal (Northlake, Ill.) is five points away from tying Howards record. Roybal boasts 19 career Paralympic points in 10 appearances.

With his appearance in today's game against Canada, Pauls ties Howard for the most Paralympic appearances in U.S. history with 16 Paralympic games played.

THE RIVALRY

Pauls Video Intro

2022 U.S. Paralympic Team

Paralympic Roster

2022 Paralympic Notebook

More Team USA News

Brianna Decker celebrates an IIHF World Championship gold medal victory.