CANADA SETTLES FOR SLEDGE SILVER AFTER LOSS TO NORWAY

NAGANO, Japan – For the first time in three tries Canada’s National Sledge Team will not bring home the gold medal from the Far East, settling for silver after a 1-0 loss to Norway on Monday at the 2011 Japan Para Ice Sledge Hockey Championship at the Big Hat Arena.

Canada had won gold in its two previous trips across the Pacific, bringing home the top prize from Asahikawa in 2008 and Nagano in 2009.

The Canadians found themselves in penalty trouble early on Monday, handing the Norwegians three power plays in the game’s first seven minutes, include a 1:50 five-on-three, but the Scandinavian side could not beat Canadian netminder Benoit St-Amand (St-Hubert, Que.).

Despite being outshot 9-5 Canada went to the dressing room in a scoreless tie after one period, but the Norwegians struck early in the middle frame when Helge Bjornstad beat St-Amand at 4:57.

The Canadian offence, coming off a five-goal performance in a win over Japan on Sunday, could muster only eight shots through the first two periods, and suffered a big loss midway through the third when Billy Bridges (Summerside, P.E.I.), Canada’s leading scorer in the tournament, was given a minor penalty and misconduct for a check from behind.

Canada held the Norwegians to just a single shot in the final period but could not convert on any of its five, leading to the second Canadian loss in as many games against Norway; the first was just over a year ago in the Paralympic bronze medal game in Vancouver, B.C.

The shutout loss was Canada’s first since a 3-0 defeat at the hands of the United States on October 31, 2009, a span of 20 games.

Canada’s National Sledge Team returns home on Tuesday and will see the ice next at the 2011 World Sledge Hockey Challenge, which begins April 18 in London, Ont.

Penalties:
   02:53 CAN 7 Marc Dorion (High Sticking)
   06:36 CAN 4 Derek Whitson (Elbowing)
   06:46 CAN 29 Graeme Murray (Delay of Game)

Penalties:
   08:16 CAN 18 Billy Bridges (Roughing)

Penalties:
   07:52 CAN 18 Billy Bridges (Checking from Behind)
   09:52 CAN 18 Billy Bridges (10-Minute Misconduct)
   15:00 CAN 12 Greg Westlake (10-Minute Misconduct)
   15:00 CAN 12 Greg Westlake (Roughing)