CALGARY, Alta. – Canada’s National Sledge Team has earned the silver medal at the 2012 World Sledge Hockey Challenge, falling 1-0 to the United States in Saturday’s gold medal game in front of 1,300 fans at the Markin MacPhail Centre, Hockey Canada’s home arena at Canada Olympic Park.
Taylor Chace scored the lone goal of the game midway through the second period to lead the Americans to the win, and their second gold medal at this event. Goaltender Benoît St-Amand (St-Hubert, Que.) made eight saves to keep Canada in the game, but the Canadians finished with silver for the second time; it was runner-up to the U.S. in 2009, in addition to gold medals in 2007 in Kelowna, B.C., 2008 in Charlottetown, April 2011 in London, Ont., and last November in Calgary.
Earlier Saturday, Norway beat Japan 5-0 to earn the bronze medal.
Canada finished first in the preliminary round with a perfect 3-0 record, including wins over Japan (11-0), Norway (4-1) and the U.S. (2-1). The Americans came second in preliminary action, with victories over Norway (3-1) and Japan (8-0), along with their loss to Canada. In Thursday’s semifinals, the United States beat Norway 7-2, while Canada shutout Japan 10-0.
This event was Forest resident Tyler McGregor debut on the National Team. In total McGregor earned a total of 3 points scoring 1 goal and 2 assists.
The team will now prepare for the 2013 Worlds Championship hosted by Korea in April 2013.