ROSEN STOPS 29 SHOTS FOR FIRST SHUTOUT OF SEASON AS CANADA SWEEPS SLEDGE SERIES WITH 1-0 WIN OVER USA

Paul Rosen (Thornhill, ON) turned aside all 29 shots he faced, including 14 in the second period, as Canada’s National Sledge Team swept their three-game series with the USA with a 1-0 win on Saturday night in Park City, Utah.

Marc Dorion (Bourget, ON) scored the game’s lone goal midway through, providing Canada with all the offense it would need in improving to 5-1 in the 2007-08 season – with the only loss an overtime defeat to Norway in late October.

The Canadians came out looking for the sweep in the opening period, outshooting the hosts 16-6, but were unable to put a puck behind American goaltender Steve Cash.

Cash’s mastery of the Canadians continued through the opening half of the second period, until Dorion took a pass from long-time national team member Todd Nicholson (Kinburn, ON) and beat the American netminder to finally break the ice at the 7:39 mark.

Dorion’s goal was one of only two shots the Canadians had in the second period, compared to 14 for the USA, but it turned out to be enough thanks to the play of Rosen.

The Canadian goaltender made another nine saves in the final 15 minutes – the USA held a 9-5 advantage in the third period, and 29-23 overall – as the defending Paralympic and World Sledge Hockey Challenge gold medalists improved to 19-3 since the start of the 2006-07 season.

Canada’s National Sledge Team won’t take the ice again until the New Year, when it travels to Asahikawa, Japan for an international tournament. The USA will travel to Edmonton in late February for a three-game series before both teams compete at the 2008 IPC Sledge Hockey World Championship, March 26-April 5 in Marlborough, Massachusetts.

Canada Lineup

22 Benoit St-Amand (G)
57 Paul Rosen (G)
11 Adam Dixon (D)
17 Jean Labonté (D)
21 Raymond Grassi (D)
34 Mark Noot (D)
3 Hervé Lord (F)
7 Marc Dorion (F)
8 Jeremy Booker (F)
9 Dany Verner (F)
10 Shawn Matheson (F)
18 Billy Bridges (F)
19 Todd Nicholson (F)
20 Steve Arsenault (F)
27 Brad Bowden (F)
29 Graeme Murray (F)

USA Lineup

27 Mike Blabac (G)
67 Steve Cash (G)
3 Tim Jones (D)
4 Jimmy Connelly (D)
17 Michael Hallman (D
23 Nick Teodoro (D)
44 Chris Manns (D)
5 Brad Emmerson (F)
7 Taylor Lipsett (F)
8 Greg Shaw (F)
9 John Bryan (F)
15 Josh Moran (F)
20 Adam Page (F)
21 Alexi Salamone (F)
22 Bruce Nelson (F)
25 Bubba Torres (F)
26 Taylor Chace (F)

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Final

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1

0

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0

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Goals/Buts :
-

Penalties/Pénalités :
CAN 21 Grassi (Interference) 6:22

Goals/Buts :
CAN 7 Dorion (19 Nicholson) 7:39

Penalties/Pénalités :
USA 25 Torres (Roughing) 1:54
USA 4 Connelly (Elbowing) 13:13
CAN 17 Labonté (Slashing) 14:48

Goals/Buts :
-

Penalties/Pénalités :
USA 21 Salamone (Interference) 4:26
CAN 3 Lord (Roughing) 11:12