DIXON IS SHOOTOUT HERO AS CANADA TOPS U.S. TO OPEN SEASON

TORONTO, Ont. – Adam Dixon (Midland, Ont.) scored the lone goal of the shootout and Benoit St-Amand (St-Hubert, Que.) turned aside all three shooters he faced as Canada opened the 2010-11 season with a 2-1 victory over the United States on Thursday night.

The game was the first for Canada since a disappointing loss to Norway in the bronze medal game kept the host country off the podium at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games last March. With six new players in the line-up Thursday, the Canadians shook off seven months of rust to beat the defending world and Paralympic champions.

After a scoreless opening period, Canada hit the scoreboard first midway through the middle frame when Billy Bridges (Summerside, P.E.I.) gathered in the rebound of a Ray Grassi (Windsor, Ont.) shot and tucked it past U.S. goaltender Steve Cash for a 1-0 lead, his 105th international goal in his 105th game.

That lead would last just 4:35, however, as a shot from the blue line by Daniel McCoy eluded St-Amand, a goal the Canadian netminder admitted afterwards he should have had.

After the two teams played the third period without a goal, Canada dominated the five-minute overtime, but was stymied time and time again by Cash, who made at least three point-blank saves in the extra frame to ensure the game got to a shootout.

Cash continued his strong play with stops of Canadian captain Greg Westlake (Oakville, Ont.) and Brad Bowden (Orton, Ont.), but Dixon capitalized on his attempt, roofing a shot to give Canada the win in the opener of a three-game series at the MasterCard Centre.

The series continues Friday, with a 2 p.m. matinee.

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