OSTRAVA, Czechia – Jack Wallace (Franklin Lakes, N.J.) scored the game-winning goal 19 seconds into overtime to lift the U.S. National Sled Team to a 2-1 victory over Canada in the preliminary round of the 2024 IPH Cup at Ostravar Arena.
“Early on I really liked what we were doing as far as puck possession, we just weren’t able to finish,” said David Hoff (Bottineau, N.D.), head coach of the U.S. National Sled Team. “In the end it came down to one play and we got the job done.”
Evan Nichols (Haymarket, Va.) got the scoring started at the 4:21 mark when Jack Wallace (Franklin Lakes, N.J.) found him cutting towards the back door on an odd man rush and threaded a pass through the Canadian defense, which Nichols directed past the outstretched arm of goaltender Corbin Watson.
Both teams were held scoreless in the second, with each squad killing off a penalty in the middle frame. The U.S. nearly capitalized on the man advantage, generating several opportunities but missing just wide a number of times.
At the 3:26 mark of the third, Canada’s Anton Jacobs-Webb batted home a rebound from the top of the crease to knot the game up at 1-1. Neither team was able to break the tie through the remainder of regulation, sending the contest into overtime.
GAME PHOTOS
Directly off the faceoff to start overtime, Declan Farmer (Tampa, Fla.) carried the puck into the zone and left a drop pass for Wallace who was trailing. Wallace maneuvered through the defense before capitalizing from the slot to seal the victory 19 seconds into the extra period.
Griffin LaMarre (Haverhill, Mass.) stopped 12 shots in goal for the U.S. in the win.
Team USA will play Italy Thursday in its third and final preliminary round contest. Puck drop is set for 4:30 a.m. ET, and the game will live stream here.
NOTES: The U.S. outshot Canada 27-13 … Team USA was 0-4 on the power play, while Canada was 1-3 … Griffin LaMarre was named U.S. Player of the Game.
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