2016 World Sledge Hockey Challenge

FARMER SCORES OT WINNER FOR U.S.

WENDY GRAVES

CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – Declan Farmer scored 1:14 into overtime to give the United States a 2-1 win over Canada’s National Sledge Team at the 2016 World Sledge Hockey Challenge.

Farmer carried the puck from his own end, held off Adam Dixon (Midland, Ont.) once he entered the Canadian zone and roofed it short side from the bottom of the left circle.

With the win, the United States secured the top seed for the semifinals.

Farmer also scored in regulation for the Americans.

Tyler McGregor (Forest, Ont.) scored for Canada, on assists from Dixon and Greg Westlake (Oakville, Ont.).

Dominic Larocque (Quebec City, Que.) made six saves for Canada. Steve Cash made 16 saves for the U.S.

The largest crowd of the week so far was treated to a fast-paced game right from puck drop.

A holding minor gave the U.S. the first power play only two minutes into the game. Challenged with defending some good puck movement around the offensive zone by the Americans, the Canadians responded by not allowing a shot on net.

Seven minutes in, on a power play on its own, Canada got on the board first. McGregor took the puck from the side boards, drove across the left face-off dot and went short side as he slid into the slot.

Larocque made two big saves after that to preserve the one-goal lead. First he stopped Josh Pauls point blank from the doorstep. Moments later he stoned Farmer at the side of the net.

The United States scored the only goal of the second period. Forty-five seconds after the teams retook the ice, Brody Roybal passed back to a trailing Farmer, who slid the puck in from the top of the crease.

Canada’s best chance to retake the lead came eight minutes later. Steve Arsenault (Spruce Grove, Alta.) got to the front of the net alone, but a diving stick save by Cash kept the game tied 1-1.

Both teams had chances to go up in the third. Early on Westlake redirected a pass from Dixon, but Cash was quick to push that aside. And with just over a minute to go, Rob Armstrong (Erin, Ont.) hustled to catch up to Rico Roman and break up a potential breakaway.

Canada now faces Norway in one semifinal (Thursday, 7 p.m. AT), while the U.S. faces Korea in the other (1 p.m. AT).