QUISPAMSIS, N.B. – Declan Farmer (Tampa, Fla.) tallied four goals while Jen Lee (San Francisco, Calif.) recorded a shutout as the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team skated to a 5-0 victory over Canada here today in its final preliminary round game of the 2023 Para Hockey Cup at the Qplex.
With the win, Team USA wraps up preliminary round play with an undefeated 3-0-0-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L) record, earning the top seed entering the semifinals.
“It was a solid defensive effort tonight and we did a great job of limiting quality chances,” said David Hoff (Bottineau, N.D.), “I also think Declan Farmer was outstanding, just with how efficient and productive he was.”
Farmer gave Team USA a 1-0 lead at the 8:33 mark of the opening frame when he crashed the net and batted a rebound home after a blast from Josh Misiewicz (La Grange, Ill.). With 2:35 to go in the first, Farmer picked up his second tally of the contest to put the U.S. up 2-0. Lee made several key stops in the period, including a sprawling glove save, to maintain the lead.
At the 6:57 mark of the middle stanza, Farmer picked up his third goal with a top-shelf snipe on the man advantage. Brody Roybal (Northlake, Ill.) and Jack Wallace (Franklin Lakes, N.J.) added helpers on the play
GAME PHOTOS
With 3:13 remaining in the contest, Farmer launched a full-ice, empty net goal while shorthanded for his fourth tally of the contest. Wallace scored the fifth goal of the game with 1:23 to go, with Kevin McKee (Davenport, Iowa) picking up the assist.
Lee stopped all nine shots he faced to pick up his second shutout of the tournament for Team USA.
The U.S. is set to play Czechia in the semifinals on Friday (Dec. 8). Puck drop is set for 2 p.m. ET at the Qplex, and the game will be streamed here.
NOTES: Team USA was 1-4 on the power play, while Canada was 0-4 … The U.S. outshot Canada 21-9 … Liam Cunningham (River Falls, Wis.) was named U.S. Player of the Game.
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