WATSON EARNS SECOND SHUTOUT OF TOURNEY, CANADA DOWNS JAPAN

LONDON, Ont. – Canada came out of preliminary action with a perfect 3-0 record Wednesday night atthe2011World Sledge Hockey Challenge, blanking Japan 12-0 to put them in first place in front of a red and white crowd at the Western Fair Sports Complex. The two teams will meet in a rematch for semifinals this Friday.

For the third straight time this tournament, Greg Westlake (Oakville, Ont.) kicked off the scoring for the Canadians, nothing a marker at just over a minute into the game and another midway through the first. Four other Canadian players also notched markers before the period was up, making it 6-0 going into first intermission.

Westlake also opened up scoring in the second, making it 7-0 at 2:22 in the period and earning himself a well-deserved hat trick. Adam Dixon (Midland, Ont.) scored his second of the game at 7:34 and Scott Karrasch (Surrey, B.C.) added to the scoreboard at 9:05 to make it 10-0 moving into the final frame.

Westlake topped off his hat trick with one last marker at 2:49 in the third and Billy Bridges (Summerside, P.E.I.) scored his second goal of the game for the final 12-0 score over Japan.

Corbin Watson (Kingsville, Ont.) was strong between the posts once again, earning his second shutout of the tournament and making 10 saves total. Corbin has allowed only one goal in his last three starts of the tournament.

The semifinals of the 2011 World Sledge Hockey Challenge are set for this Friday, April 22, with Norway and the United States facing off at 12:30 p.m. ET and Canada taking on Japan again at 7 p.m. ET.

Penalties:
   04:28 JPN 18 Toshiyuki Nakamura (Interference)

Penalties:
   None

Penalties:
   02:49 CAN 12 Greg Westlake (Roughing)
   15:30 CAN 18 Billy Bridges (Hooking)