CANADA TAKES SEASON-OPENING SERIES WITH 2-1 WIN OVER NORWAY

Adam Dixon (Midland, ON) and Billy Bridges (Summerside, PEI) scored second-period goals as Canada’s National Sledge Team won their season-opening three-game series with the host Norwegians with a 2-1 win on Sunday in Gjovik, Norway.

The story of the opening period was the Canadian penalty killing, as the visitors took four consecutive minor penalties to open the game, but kept the Norwegians off the scoresheet.

Dixon – who was named Canada’s Player of the Series following the game – got Canada on the board just past the nine-minute mark of the second period, taking a pass from Canadian captain Jean Labonté (Hull, QC) and beating Norwegian goaltender Roger Johansen. Dany Verner (Bois-de-Filion, QC) picked up the second assist on Dixon’s goal.

The lead became two with just 10 seconds remaining in the period, as Bridges got his first of the series off a set-up from Bradley Bowden (Orton, ON), who picked up Player of the Game honours for the Canadians.

Knut Andre Nordstoga cut the Canadian lead to one just 98 seconds into the final 15 minutes, but goaltender Paul Rosen (Thornhill, ON) and the rest of the Canadian defense shut down the Norwegians the rest of the way, sealing the victory.

Canada’s National Sledge Team will next be on the ice from November 14-18, when they visit Park City, Utah for a three-game series with the USA.

Player of Game: Canada – 27 Brad Bowden, Norway – 1 Roger Johansen
Player of Series: Canada - 11 Adam Dixon, Norway - 1 Roger Johansen

Canada Lineup

3 Hervé Lord
7 Marc Dorion
8 Jeremy Booker
9 Dany Verner
10 Shawn Matheson
11 Adam Dixon
17 Jean Labonté
18 Billy Bridges
19 Todd Nicholson
21 Raymond Grassi
22 Benoit St-Amand (G)
27 Brad Bowden
29 Graeme Murray
34 Mark Noot
57 Paul Rosen (G) (starting)

Norway Lineup

1 Roger Johansen (G)
3 Rolf Einar Pedersen
4 Tommy Rovelstad
7 Eskil Hagen
8 Stig Tore Svee
9 Morten Vaernes
11 Helge Bjornstad
12 Johan Siqveland
13 Kjell Vidar Royne
16 Knut Andre Nordstoga
17 Loyd Remi Johansen
20 Wiggo Nordseth
22 Audun Bakke

0

2

0

1

0

0

1

1

Goals/Buts :
None/Aucun

Penalties/Pénalités :
4:33 CAN 18 Bridges (Slashing/Coup de bâton)
5:53 CAN 21 Grassi (Delay of Game)
8:15 CAN 18 Bridges (T-boning)
12:54 CAN Bench/Banc
13:19 CAN 18 Bridges (Roughing/Rudesse)
13:19 NOR 3 Einar Pedersen (Misconduct/Inconduite)

Goals/Buts :
9:24 CAN 11 Dixon (17 Labonté, 9 Verner)
14:50 CAN 18 Bridges (27 Bowden)

Penalties/Pénalités :
0:00 NOR Bench/Banc
1:46 NOR 9 Vaernes (Roughing/Rudesse)

Goals/Buts :
1:38 NOR 16 Nordstoga (11 Bjornstad, 7 Hagen)

Penalties/Pénalités :
9:35 CAN 27 St-Amand (Hooking/Accrocher)
14:41 NOR 3 Einar Pedersen (Interference/Obstruction)