INDIAN TRAIL, N.C. — Emerging from a locker room after an “intense” weeklong training camp, members of the 2014 U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team were engulfed last Saturday by a legion of supporters. With their path blocked to the main corridor at Extreme Ice Center in Indian Trail, N.C., the 2014 Paralympians paused to shake hands and sign autographs, hearing sentiments such as:
“Good luck. We are rooting for you guys.”
“Bring back the gold.”
“Go get those Canadians!”
The 2014 Paralympic Winter Games will be staged March 7-16 in Sochi, Russia. During last week’s training camp, Team USA coach Jeff Sauer said he had a checklist of fundamentals he wanted to see improved. He marked the boxes off.
On top of the list was the power play, which should receive a boost from a promising line featuring two fast-skating teenagers in Brody Roybal, 15, and Declan Farmer, 16, along with veteran leading scorer Josh Pauls. Sauer said over the course of the camp he saw better spacing, aided by rugged competition from the U.S. National Development Sled Hockey Team.
Also on Sauer’s checklist were offensive and defensive face-offs. Defensively, the players’ coverage steadily improved, the coach said, and, offensively, set plays started to become second nature.
Off one second-period faceoff during Saturday’s scrimmage against the U.S. Development Team, Farmer won the draw, recognized an opening and received a pass in the slot. His rising shot was denied, but those types of scoring chances displayed how well the squad’s chemistry is developing.
“We had a good week,” Sauer said. “And everyone is healthy.”
The team’s pre-Paralympic training continues this week in Colorado Springs, Colo., before the squad departs for Russia on Friday. The travel schedule allows the players to participate in five practices before its Paralympic debut against Italy on March 8, Sauer said.
One day after the opener, Team USA faces South Korea. Russia awaits on March 11. The gold-medal game is scheduled for March 15.
“I’ve told everyone along the way, I would be disappointed if we do not play in the gold-medal game,” Sauer said.
Team USA had opportunities to play in a few scrimmages during the days leading up to the opener, but Sauer said he declined so the players could relax and focus on the tournament.
Teams USA, Canada and Russia enter as the medal-round favorites, Sauer said. Team USA’s roster features eight players who captured gold in 2010 in Vancouver.
Goalie Steve Cash might be hard pressed to match his performance at the 2010 Winter Games — and he said he is not pressuring himself to try. In Vancouver, Cash pitched a shutout throughout the entire tournament, a Paralympics first.
For his efforts, Cash earned an ESPY as the Best Male Athlete with a Disability.
Cash grinned and shook his head when asked if a second ESPY was in his future.
“It’s a team game,” Cash said.
One major difference the veteran netminder has noticed with the 2014 squad, compared to ’10, is the improved locker-room chemistry.
“This is a much more cohesive team,” Cash said.
When asked how Team USA will fare in Sochi, Cash said: “My gut feeling is if we focus on every single game there, it doesn’t matter who we face.”
Sauer agreed, pointing out, “if we use our speed … [opponents] can’t keep up.”
Well, there’s one way to slow down Team USA. Line up fans outside of a locker room like last Saturday. During the autograph session, some offered a departing sentiment:
“Good luck, guys."