WHITSON’S FIRST GOAL STANDS UP AS WINNER IN 3-2 CANADA VICTORY

Derek Whitson (Chatham, ON) scored the game-winning goal early in the third period, his first career goal with the National Sledge Team, as Canada evened up their three-game series with the USA with a 3-2 win on Friday afternoon in Prince George, BC.

Canada avenged their 2-1 shootout loss to the Americans in the series opener on Thursday night, winning for the tenth time in 12 games in 2007-08, and the fifth time in six tries over their North American neighbours.

After a scoreless first period that saw the Canadians hold a 7-4 advantage in shots on goal, Canada’s top line of Billy Bridges (Summerside, PE), Greg Westlake (Oakville, ON) and Bradley Bowden (Orton, ON) struck when Bowden beat American goaltender Steve Cash just shy of the four-minute mark of the middle frame on a Canadian powerplay.

Todd Nicholson (Kinburn, ON) pushed the lead to 2-0 just under two minutes later, beating Cash on an unassisted effort, sending Canada to the second intermission with a two-goal advantage.

Whitson converted on a goal-mouth scramble 4:46 into the final period, with assists going to national team veterans Hervé Lord (St-Pamphile, QC) and Shawn Matheson (Chatham, NB), as Canada looked to be on their way to a convincing victory.

But the Americans fought back, as Taylor Chace ended the shutout bid of Canadian netminder Benoît St-Amand (St-Hubert, QC) with a goal near the midway point of the third period, and Alexi Salamone got the Americans to within one at 3-2 with a goal at 11:47.

But the Canadian defense shut the door the rest of the way, sealing the win and setting up a winner-take-all series finale on Saturday night at the CN Centre in Prince George (7:30 p.m. PT).

CAN Roster/Alignement

22 Benoît St-Amand
57 Paul Rosen

11 Adam Dixon
17 Jean Labonté
21 Raymond Grassi
34 Mark Noot

3 Hervé Lord
4 Derek Whitson
7 Marc Dorion
8 Jeremy Booker
9 Dany Verner
10 Shawn Matheson
12 Greg Westlake
18 Billy Bridges
19 Todd Nicholson
20 Steve Arsenault
27 Bradley Bowden
29 Graeme Murray

USA Roster/Alignement

22 Mike Blabac
67 Steve Cash

3 Tim Jones
4 Jim Connelly
17 Mike Hallman
23 Nick Teodoro
44 Chris Manns

5 Brad Emmerson
7 Taylor Lipsett
8 Greg Shaw
20 Adam Page
21 Alexi Salamone
22 Bruce Nelson
25 Bubba Torres
26 Taylor Chace

1

2

3

Final

0

2

1

3

0

0

2

2

Goals/Buts :
---

Penalties/Pénalités :
CAN – Bradley Bowden (Holding) 11:22

Goals/Buts :
CAN – Bradley Bowden (Billy Bridges, Greg Westlake) 3:55 PP
CAN – Todd Nicholson 5:49

Penalties/Pénalités :
USA – Alexi Salamone (Interference) 2:07
USA – Bruce Nelson (Interference) 4:20
CAN – Greg Westlake (Roughing) 5:01
CAN – Raymond Grassi (Interference) 11:05

Goals/Buts :
CAN – Derek Whitson (Hervé Lord, Shawn Matheson) 4:46
USA – Taylor Chace (Chris Manns) 6:40
USA – Alexi Salamone 11:47

Penalties/Pénalités :
CAN – Graeme Murray (Holding) 12:15
USA – Jimmy Connolly (Roughing) 13:37
CAN – Billy Bridges (Roughing) 13:37

CAN – Benoît St-Amand