TODAY’S GAME
The United States faces Russia today in semifinal action in the 2016 World Sled Hockey Challenge here at Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre (capacity: 1,200) in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia. The game will be streamed live on FASTHockey.com.

USA VS. RUSSIA
The two teams met on Monday (Jan. 18), where the U.S. claimed a 6-2 victory. Team USA leads the all- time series vs. Russia, 8-1-0-1 (W-OTW-OTL-L). In last year’s World Sled Hockey Challenge, the U.S. defeat- ed Russia, 3-2, in the preliminary round before meeting again in the championship game where the U.S. won, 2-1, just 19 seconds into overtime.

TEAM USA IN WSHC SEMIFINALS
Since the World Sled Hockey Challenge implement- ed the semifinal round in 2011, Team USA is 4-0-0-1 (W-OTW-OTL-L). Its only loss came on April 22, 2011, when the U.S. fell to Norway, 5-4. 

CAPTAIN'S THOUGHTS
Captain Josh Sweeney reflected on Team USA’s first loss since March 11, 2014 (2-1 vs. Russia in the preliminary round of the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games), “It is what it is. That’s part of the love of the game; nothing is certain. As much as you would love to you can’t expect to win every game. We just need to look at what we didn’t do and learn from the loss; otherwise, we won’t get better as a team.” 

CHASING RECORDS
Declan Farmer is one point away from tying his U.S. record for most points (9) in a WSHC and two goals away from tying Nikko Landeros’ U.S. record for most goals (7) in a WSHC. Additionally, Kevin McKee is one assist away from Farmer’s U.S. record for most assists (6) in a WSHC and two points away from Farmer’s record for most points in a WSHC.