WESTLAKE’S THIRD-PERIOD GOAL LIFTS CANADA TO WIN OVER USA

ASAHIKAWA, Japan – Canada’s National Sledge Team’s dominance over the USA continues after Player of the Game Greg Westlake (Oakville, ON) scored the game-winning goal early in the third period to lead Canada to a 3-2 win at the Japan Paralympic 2008 Ice Sledge Hockey International Match on Wednesday.

The Canadians have now won 10 of the last 11 meetings between the North American rivals, dating back to the start of the 2006-07 season.

Once again it was Canada’s big line that did the damage – one night after combining for 10 points in a 5-2 win over Norway, the trio of Westlake, Billy Bridges (Summerside, PE) and Bradley Bowden (Orton, ON) had eight in Wednesday’s win.

Just as they did one night earlier, the Canadians jumped out to an early lead when Bridges set up Bowden at the 2:33 mark, just one second after Graeme Murray (Gravenhurst, ON) had been sent off for hooking.

That would be the only marker of the opening 15 minutes, as Canada held a 3-1 shots on goal advantage over the Americans.

Canada pushed its lead to 2-0 early in the second period, this time on a two-man advantage, as Bridges and Bowden combined to help Westlake notch his first of the game nearing the five-minute mark.

But the Americans got on the board and cut the Canadian lead in half less than four minutes later on a two-man advantage of their own, as American Player of the Game Alexi Salamone beat Canadian netminder Paul Rosen (Thornhill, ON).

The USA pulled even just over three minutes into the final period, once again on the powerplay, with Tim Jones’ shot eluding Rosen.

But the tie would be short-lived, as Westlake scored just 1:32 later to restore the Canadian lead, this time for good.

Canada finished with an 11-8 advantage in shots over the Americans, who they will meet in a three-game series in Prince George, BC in February, the final tune-up before the 2008 IPC Sledge Hockey World Championship kicks off in late March in Marlborough, MA.

The Canadians wrap up the round robin on Thursday morning when they take on the host Japanese at 5 a.m. ET.

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Goals/Buts :
CAN – Bradley Bowden (Billy Bridges) 2:33 SH

Penalties/Pénalités :
CAN – Graeme Murray (Hooking) 2:32
USA – Chris Manns (High Sticking) 4:02
USA – Alexi Salamone (Charging) 10:28

Goals/Buts :
CAN – Greg Westlake (Billy Bridges, Bradley Bowden) 4:49 PP
USA – Alexi Salamone (Taylor Chace, Chris Manns) 8:24 PP

Penalties/Pénalités :
CAN – Graeme Murray (Roughing) 2:02
USA – Jim Connelly (Holding) 3:07
USA – Taylor Chace (Slashing) 4:31
CAN – Jean Labonté (Elbowing) 5:41
CAN – Billy Bridges (Interference) 7:08
CAN – Todd Nicholson (Charging) 8:00

Goals/Buts :
USA – Tim Jones (Taylor Chace) 3:17 PP
CAN – Greg Westlake (Billy Bridges, Bradley Bowden) 4:49

Penalties/Pénalités :
CAN – Billy Bridges (Elbowing) 1:33
USA – Mike Hallman (Holding) 9:13