CANADA WINS GOLD AT 2008 WORLD SLEDGE HOCKEY CHALLENGE

CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI – Marc Dorion (Bourget, ON) and Greg Westlake (Oakville, ON) each scored two goals to lead Canada to a 7-0 win over Norway in the gold medal game of the 2008 World Sledge Hockey Challenge.

Canada dominated from start to finish. And it didn’t take long for the scoring to start.

Bradley Bowden (Orton, ON) created open space in the slot and snapped a shot past Norway’s Roger Johansen at the 23-second mark of the first period. The goal revved up a large crowd at the CARI Complex. The fans in attendance – more than 1,200 – would have plenty more to cheer about.

Canada had a great chance to add to its lead midway through the first, when Rolf Pedersen and Tommy Rovelstad – two of the team’s top players – were off the ice for penalties. Canada couldn’t score on the 5-on-3.

Shortly after that, though, Todd Nicholson (Kinburn, ON) dangled in the slot and fired a shot in to make it 2-0.

Canada took over the game in the second period, with Marc Dorion (Bourget, ON) and Greg Westlake (Oakville, ON) adding goals to make it 4-0. At the end of the second, Pedersen was handed a five-minute major and game misconduct for an elbow, which gave Canada a lengthy powerplay to start the third.

Canada didn’t score on the powerplay but did add three goals later on in the period. Dorion, Billy Bridges (Summerside, PEI) and Westlake rounded out the scoring.

As the final buzzer sounded, Canada’s players streamed on to the ice, put on championship hats, and collected their gold medals.