CANADA TAKES BRONZE WITH WIN OVER JAPAN

OSTRAVA, Czech Republic – It wasn’t the colour it wanted, but Canada is returning home from the 2009 IPC Sledge Hockey World Championship with a medal. Todd Nicholson (Kinburn, Ont.) got the offence started less than five minutes in and Paul Rosen (Thornhill, Ont.) turned aside 10 shots for the shutout as the Canadians claimed bronze with a 2-0 win over Japan on Saturday.

Graeme Murray (Gravenhurst, Ont.) scored the other goal for Canada, who allowed just one regulation-time goal in five tournament games – to the United States in Thursday’s semifinal loss. Rosen and Benoit St-Amand (St-Hubert, Que.) combined to stop 46 of the 47 shots they faced during the world championship.

Nicholson took a pass from Marc Dorion (Bourget, Ont.) and beat Japanese netminder Mitsuru Nagase at 4:53 of the opening period, giving Rosen all the offence he would need. Brad Bowden (Orton, Ont.) and Greg Westlake (Oakville, Ont.) set up Murray for the insurance goal midway through the second period.

The bronze is Canada’s second at a world championship – it took third place in 1996. All-time, Canada has won two gold medals (2000, 2008) to go along with its two bronzes.