CANADA CONCLUDES ROUND-ROBIN WITH WIN OVER JAPAN

CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI – Greg Westlake (Oakville, ON) scored a pair of goals and had two assists to lead Canada’s National Sledge Team to a 7-1 win over Japan on Thursday night.

With the victory, Canada finished the round-robin with a 3-0 record as it prepares for Saturday’s gold medal game. Canada will face Norway (2-1) in the final, which will be held at the CARI Complex at 4 p.m. AST (3 p.m. EST) in a game that can be seen live via webcast.

Westlake opened the scoring at 2:16 of the first period when he one-timed a perfect pass from Billy Bridges (Summerside, PEI).

Canada made it 2-0 at the eight-minute mark on a goal by Matthew Cook (Edmonton, AB). Dany Verner (Bois-des-Fillion, QC) made it 3-0 Canada on a quick pass-and-shot play set up by Marc Dorion (Bourget, ON).

Japan got one back before the end of the first when Naohiko Ishida got credit for a flukey goal that alluded Benoît St-Amand (St-Hubert, QC).

Canada scored one goal in the second period, that coming from Adam Dixon (Midland, ON), who fired a perfect shot from the point that hit the far corner.

Westlake, Bradley Bowden (Orton, ON) and Bridges scored goals in the third.

Canada is the defending champion at this tournament, having won the 2007 World Sledge Hockey Challenge in Kelowna, BC. Canada has built a solid rivalry with Norway, as the teams have met in the past three finals of major international competitions.

Canada beat Norway for gold at the 2008 IPC Sledge Hockey World Championship, 2007 World Sledge Hockey Challenge and 2006 Paralympic Winter Games.