BOOKER’S HAT TRICK LEADS CANADA TO WIN OVER U.S.

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Jeremy Booker (Ajax, Ont.) scored a hat trick, giving him five goals in two games, as Canada’s National Sledge Development Team earned its second win in as many nights with a 4-1 victory over the United States on Friday.

Brian McPherson (Sherwood Park, Alta.) added the other goal for the Canadians, who have now outscored their American rivals 9-1 in the first two games of the three-game series, which wraps up on Saturday afternoon (4 p.m. ET) at Bud Bakewell Arena.

McPherson put the Canadians on the board first, beating U.S. goaltender Justin Kreger 8:04 into the first period, before Booker scored twice in 12 seconds in the dying minutes of the opening frame to give Canada a 3-0 advantage, despite firing only five shots at Kreger.

The Americans finally scored their first goal of the series five minutes into the second period, thanks to 13-year-old Ryan Pelletier, but that would be the only puck to beat Canadian netminder Drew Rigden (Coldwater, Ont.), who made 14 saves to record the win.

Booker finished off his hat trick with seven minutes to go in the game, providing the final margin of victory for Canada.

Cam Sinclair (Mr. Brydges, Ont.) picked up two assists in the win, while fellow blueliner Sean Gilmour (Winnipeg, Man.) was the only other Canadian to record a point, earning one helper.

Goals/Buts : 
08:04 CAN Brian McPherson (Cam Sinclair)
18:54 CAN Jeremy Booker (Sean Gilmour)
19:06 CAN Jeremy Booker

Penalties/Pénalités : 
06:33 USA Bench/Banq (Too Many Players/Trop du joueurs)

Goals/Buts : 
04:45 USA Ryan Pelletier (Daniel Santos, Raymond Beck)

Penalties/Pénalités : 
02:19 CAN Bruce Reding (T-boning/Charge en T)
05:31 USA Tim Shoemaker (Roughing/Rudesse)
14:25 USA Tim Shoemaker (Elbowing/Donner du coude)

Goals/Buts : 
13:09 CAN Jeremy Booker (Cam Sinclair)

Penalties/Pénalités : 
01:54 USA Tim Shoemaker (Interference/Obstruction)