CANADA DROPS FIRST GAME OF 2007-08 SEASON WITH 2-1 OVERTIME LOSS TO NORWAY

Canada’s National Sledge Team saw its record fall to 1-1 early in the 2007-08 season after a 2-1 overtime loss to the host Norwegians on Saturday night in Gjovik, Norway.

The game was a defensive struggle through two periods with neither team able to beat the opposition’s goaltender, as Canada’s Paul Rosen (Thornhill, ON) and Norway’s Roger Johansen kept the game scoreless heading into the final frame.

Norway was the first to get on the board, as Stig Tore Svee beat Rosen at the 4:48 mark of the third period on an unassisted effort, but it took just two minutes for the Canadians to draw even, as Dany Verner (Bois-de-Fillion, QC) scored to tie the game 1-1.

Marc Dorion (Bourget, ON) and Raymond Grassi (Windsor, ON) – who was named Canada’s Player of the Game – picked up the helpers on Verner’s second goal in as many games.

Unfortunately for the Canadians, it would take just 2:16 of overtime to decide a winner, as Norway’s Morten Vaernes sent the crowd home happy, beating Rosen to give the hosts the victory.

The three-game series wraps up Sunday in Gjovik.

Canada Lineup

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

Norway Lineup

1 Roger Johansen (G)
3 Rolf Einar Pedersen
4 Tommy Rovelstad
7 Eskil Hagen
8 Stig Tore Svee
9 Morten Vaernes
11 Helge Bjornstad
12 Johan Siqveland
13 Kjell Vidar Royne
16 Knut Andre Nordstoga
17 Loyd Remi Johansen
20 Wiggo Nordseth
22 Audun Bakke

0

0

1

0

1

0

0

1

1

2

Goals/Buts :
None/Aucun

Penalties/Pénalités :
4:07 CAN 34 Noot (T-boning)

Goals/Buts :
None/Aucun

Penalties/Pénalités :
1:59 CAN 29 (Hooking/Accrocher)
8:39 NOR 8 (Roughing/Rudesse)
10:12 NOR 7 (T-boning)

Goals/Buts :
4:48 NOR 8 Tore Svee
6:50 CAN 9  Verner (7 Dorion, 21 Grassi)

Penalties/Pénalités :
None/Aucun

Goals/Buts :
2:16 NOR 9 Vaernes

Penalties/Pénalités :
None/Aucun