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Team USA Tops Canada, 2-1, at 2017 Sled Worlds

By USAHockey.com, 04/17/17, 5:00AM EDT

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Team USA returns to action tomorrow against Norway at 10 p.m. ET

Steve Cash (Overland, Mo.) made 11 saves and Declan Farmer (Tampa, Fla.) scored the game-winning goal to lead the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team past Canada, 2-1, here at the 2017 Para Sled Hockey World Championship in Gangneung, South Korea.

“We had a slow start, but after the first period I thought we took our game to another level and our guys were rewarded with a hard-fought win,” said Guy Gosselin, head coach of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team. “We have a short turnaround here, so we’ll make sure everyone gets their fluids and treatment and be ready to go tomorrow.” 

Team USA (4-0-0-0/W-OTW-OTL-L) returns to action tomorrow when it faces Norway. Puck drop is set for 11 a.m. local (10 p.m. ET) and will be streamed live on Gangneung2017.com.

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After both teams traded chances early in the opening stanza, Canada took a 1-0 lead when Tyler McGregor tapped in a rebound after the initial save by Cash with 1:31 remaining in the frame.

Nikko Landeros (Johnstown, Colo.) evened the score 6:06 into the middle frame when he converted on a U.S. power play. The play started when Farmer fired a shot from the left circle that hit the side of the net, allowing Landeros to pick up the put, curl around the net and bank a quick backhanded shot off Canadian goaltender Dominic Larocque  and into the net for the tying goal.

The U.S. claimed the go-ahead goal 2:39 later when Farmer collected a pass from McKee in the neutral zone, split two defenders and fired a shot past Larocque. Josh Pauls (Green Brook, N.J.) nearly made it 3-1 in the closing seconds of frame but his tight-angle shot rang off the crossbar.

Each team had opportunities to score in the third, including a pair of near-breakaway opportunities for the U.S., but neither team was able to convert. Cash, who finished with five saves in the final frame, made a pair of saves in the final minute of play to seal the U.S. victory.

NOTES: Kevin McKee (Chicago, Ill.) was named the U.S. Player of the Game … The U.S. was outshot 8-12, went 1-for-1 on the power play and finished 4-for-4 on the penalty kill. For complete statistics, click here … Labatt USA is a proud sponsor of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team … The 2017 IPC Sled Hockey World Championship is doubling as a test event for the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games and the top five teams will automatically qualify for the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games. ... Team USA, the tournament's defending champion, seeks back-to-back gold medals in the event for the second time (2009, 2012) ... Among the 17 players representing Team USA, 12 were members of the 2015 U.S. National Sled Hockey Team that won the 2015 IPC Sled Hockey World Championship. For the complete 2016-17 U.S. National Sled Hockey Team roster, click here ... Dan Brennan (Colorado Springs, Colo.), director of inline and sled hockey national teams for USA Hockey, is the general manager of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team. Joining national team head coach Guy Gosselin (Grafton, Wis.) behind the bench is assistant coach David Hoff (Bottineau, N.D.). Additional team staff members include athletic trainer Mike Cortese (Boynton Beach, Fla.), assistant coach Mike Sertich (Duluth, Minn.), equipment manager Joel Isaacson (Houghton, Mich.), and team physician Mike Uihlein (Grafton, Wis.). Cortese, Isaacson, and Uihlein have been staff members for the past four seasons.

U.S. Schedule

Date (U.S) Opponent Result U.S. Player of Game
April 12 Sweden W, 7-0 Brody Roybal
April 13 Italy W, 9-1 Declan Farmer
April 15 Germany W, 9-0 Josh Pauls
April 17 Canada W, 2-1 Kevin McKee
April 17 Norway W, 6-0 Tyler Carron
April 19 Korea W, 5-0 Jack Wallace
April 20 Canada
Gold-Medal Game
L, 1-4 Andy Yohe

TODAY’S GAME
Team USA squares off with Canada in its fourth game of the  2017 Para Sled Hockey World Championship here in Gangneung, South Korea. Today’s game will be live streamed at Gangneung2017.com with live tweets available through @usahockey using the hashtag #SledWorlds.

USA VS. CANADA
In eight world championship meetings, the U.S. holds a 3-1-0-4 (W-OTW-OTL-L) record against Canada. The last world championship meeting saw Team USA blank Canada, 3-0, in the 2015 IPC Sled Hockey World Championship gold-medal game in Buffalo, New York. Forward Declan Farmer (Tampa, Fla.) scored the game-winning goal while defenseman Josh Pauls (Green Brook, N.J.) tallied the empty-net goal to seal the 3-0 win.
    Team USA’s last loss in world championship play came at the hands of Canada, who edged the U.S., 1-0, for the gold medal at the 2013 IPC Sled Hockey World Championship in Goyang City, South Korea.

FAMILIAR FOES
Since the 2014-15 season, the two teams have met 11 times, with the U.S. posting a 7-2-1-1 (W-OTW-OTL-L) record and outscoring Canada, 29-12. All-time, the teams have met on 84 occasions with the U.S. holding a record  of 22-9-8-44-1 (W-OTW-OTL-L-T).

REWRITING THE RECORD BOOKS
On Saturday (April 15),  Declan Farmer scored his seventh goal of the tournament to set a new U.S. record for most goals by a single player in world championship play. Farmer and Adam Page are tied for most career U.S. points in world championship play with 24 while Josh Pauls is third with 23 (10-9). Meanwhile, Page has now tied Alexi Salamone for most assists by a U.S. player in world championship history with 13 while Roybal ranks second all-time with 12.
    Among regular season records, Farmer’s 26 points and 15 goals are the most ever by a U.S. player in a single season, besting his own records from the 2015-16 season. In addition, Roybal and McKee have 13 assists apiece, tying the record Roybal set in 2014-15.

TEAM USA ENJOYS OFF DAY
With a much-needed off day after three-straight games and ahead of four-straight to close out the tournament, Team USA spent the day off sight seeing near the hotel. Their explorations including riding the gondola to the Yong Pong Resort at the top of the mountain, visiting a nearby Korean BBQ restaurant and spending time bowling.

TEAM USA THROUGH THREE GAMES
Team USA ranks second in goals scored (25), power play efficiency (22.22%) and save percentage (0.947). Declan Farmer is first in goals (7) and fifth in points (9) while Kevin McKee and Josh Pauls are tied for fourth in assists with six. 

GAME #3, APRIL 15: USA 9, GERMANY 0
Paul Schaus 
(Buffalo, N.Y.) scored twice and Bo Reichenbach (Billings, Mont.) registered his first world championship shutout to lead Team USA past Germany, 9-0. Josh Pauls was named the U.S. Player of the Game.
    “We faced some adversity in the beginning, but our players pushed through and put in a strong team effort,” said Guy Gosselin, head coach of Team USA. 

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