skip navigation

More Than Talent Led To Sled Hockey Gold in PyeongChang

By Gary R. Blockus, 03/29/18, 8:45AM EDT

Share

Memories of late coach Jeff Sauer sparked Team USA to third-straight Paralympic gold medal

Smiles and tears were only part of the celebration and ceremony after the U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team won its unprecedented third straight gold medal at the Paralympic Winter Games.

While gold-medal game hero Declan Farmer, Tournament MVP Brody Roybal and all-world goalie Steve Cash sang their hearts out to “The Star-Spangled Banner” during the medals ceremony, they sang loud enough with the prayer that someone not there would hear them.

Former head coach Jeff Sauer, who passed away in February of 2017, led the United States to Paralympic gold in 2014, and while he wasn’t there in body, he was certainly with them in spirit at the Gangneung Hockey Center.

“A lot was said about Coach Sauer during the tournament,” said head coach Guy Gosselin, a two-time Olympian who served as assistant coach under Sauer for the 2014 Paralympic gold medal. “The guys had something to play for there. Our locker room was very motivated, and Coach Sauer was a big part of that inspiration. When he got involved, he really provided the team with structure and the importance of being a tight-knit group of guys working for one goal together, and everyone had a role to play."

USA Hockey sled team general manager Dan Brennan said the presence of Sauer went beyond just memories.

“Coach Sauer’s initials were all over the locker room,” Brennan said. “Players used his name in a pre-game chant. His spirit was with us 100 percent of the time, and you could feel it.”


Josh Pauls (left) celebrates with Farmer and Roybal while holding 'JS' shield in honor of Jeff Sauer

Farmer, who scored both goals in the 2-1 overtime victory over Canada for the gold medal, also agreed.

Farmer scored the game-tying goal with 37.8 seconds left in regulation, and the game-winner 3:30 into overtime. The game-tying goal came on a rush following a Canada shot that rang the post of an empty net after Gosselin pulled Cash late for an extra attacker.

“Coach Sauer, we have to thank him,” Farmer said after the game. “He’s watching over us today. We love him and appreciate everything he did for us.”

Farmer led the tournament in scoring with 11 goals and 17 points while Roybal earned Best Forward and MVP of the tournament after equaling Farmer’s point total with 10 goals and seven assists. Meanwhile, Cash became the only goalie to go 3-0 in Paralympic gold medal games.

Gosselin said that when the gold medal was on the line, the puck was on the stick of the right player in Farmer, whom he called “one of the best sled hockey players in the world, if not the best.”

While the victory paid homage to Sauer, Brennan made no bones about who really deserved credit for guiding Team USA to the Paralympic three-peat.

“Make no mistake, this was Guy Gosselin’s team,” Brennan said. “He did a heck of a job, oftentimes through unfortunate circumstances.

“Obviously we pay respects to Coach Sauer and Jim Johannson [two-time Olympian and the former assistant executive director of USA Hockey, who passed away in January]. Those two are sorely missed, and Coach Sauer was a mentor of mine, but Guy did a fantastic job with this team. He was the perfect person to take the place of Coach Sauer.”

Gosselin’s Team USA dominated in the tournament, rolling over every opponent in the preliminary round behind the stellar netminding of Cash, considered one of the greatest sled hockey goalies in history, and his goaltending partner Jen Lee. Cash had four wins, two shutouts and a 0.29 goals-against average while Lee registered a shutout win in the tournament-opening game.

Team USA defeated its first two opponents, Japan and Czech Republic, by matching 10-0 scores before shutting out host Korea, 8-0, to win its preliminary round group. In the semifinal, the U.S. bested Italy, 10-1, to stage the gritty come-from-behind 2-1 overtime win over rival Canada for the gold medal.

“It was an absolute honor to coach this team and help them finish the mission Coach Sauer started, and that was to ultimately win this Paralympic gold medal,” Gosselin said.

Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.

2018 U.S. Paralympic Roster

Paralympic Sled Homepage

Pics & Vids


U.S. Paralympic Schedule

Date Opponent/Round Result Venue
Sun., March 11 Japan
Preliminary
W, 10-0 Gangneung Hockey Centre
Mon., March 12 Czech Republic
Preliminary
W, 10-0 Gangneung Hockey Centre
Tues., March 13 Korea
Preliminary
W, 8-0 Gangneung Hockey Centre
Thurs., March 15 Italy
Semifinals
W, 10-1 Gangneung Hockey Centre
Sun., March 18 Canada
Gold-Medal Game
W, 2-1 (OT) Gangneung Hockey Centre

2018 Paralympic News