CANADA POSTS SECOND STRAIGHT SHUTOUT, BLANKS GERMANY

OSTRAVA, Czech Republic – The kids are alright, but it was the veterans who led the way on Sunday for Canada at the 2009 IPC Sledge Hockey World Championship.

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A pair of 40-year-olds, Jean Labonté (Hull, Que.) and Todd Nicholson (Kinburn, Ont.), were the offensive leaders as the Canadians improved to 2-0 at the world championship with an 8-0 blanking of Germany. Labonté, Canada’s captain, finished with a goal and two assists, while Nicholson had a pair of helpers.

Greg Westlake (Oakville, Ont.) pitched in with two goals, while Graeme Murray (Gravenhurst, Ont.), Brad Bowden (Orton, Ont.), Adam Dixon (Midland, Ont.), Marc Dorion (Bourget, Ont.) and Billy Bridges (Summerside, P.E.I.) also put their names on the scoresheet.

Benoît St-Amand (St-Hubert, Que.) went the distance between the pipes for Canada, needing to make just five saves for the shutout. Canada has allowed just eight shots in two games, blanking the Germans and the Czech Republic on back-to-back days.

After Westlake opened the scoring shorthanded in the first period the Canadian offence came out flying in the middle frame, outshooting the Germans 9-1 and getting goals from Labonté, Murray and Bowden.

With the game well in hand the Canadians cruised in the third period, doubling their goal total by scoring four times on eight shots.
The tournament takes a break on Monday before Canada faces Japan on Tuesday (1 p.m. ET).

Goals/Buts:
10:49 CAN Greg Westlake (Brad Bowden, Todd Nicholson) SH/DN

Penalties/Punitions:
04:51 GER Robert Pabst (Interference/Obstruction)
09:10 CAN Graeme Murray (Holding the Stick/Retenir de bâton)
11:45 CAN Shawn Matheson (Charging/Assaut)

Goals/Buts:
06:11 CAN Jean Labonté (Shawn Matheson, Adam Dixon)
08:39 CAN Graeme Murray (Marc Dorion) SH/DN
12:12 CAN Brad Bowden (Greg Westlake, Jean Labonté) PP/AN

Penalties/Punitions:
02:23 CAN Todd Nicholson (Cross-checking/Double-échec)
07:53 CAN Graeme Murray (High-sticking/Bâton élevé)
11:35 GER Marco Lahrs (Interference/Obstruction)
13:25 CAN Matt Cook (Interference/Obstruction)

Goals/Buts:
03:16 CAN Greg Westlake (Billy Bridges)
09:48 CAN Adam Dixon (Matt Cook, Jean Labonté)
11:26 CAN Marc Dorion (Todd Nicholson)
14:36 CAN Billy Bridges (Raymond Grassi, Mark Noot)

Penalties/Punitions:
05:54 GER Frank Rennharck (Charging/Assaut)
08:39 GER Jorg Wedde (Hooking/Accrocher)
08:47 CAN Greg Westlake (Interference/Obstruction)