NO GOLD MEDAL HAT TRICK
CANADIAN SLEDGE HOCKEY TEAM LOSES PARALYMPIC SEMIFINAL

VANCOUVER _ There will be no Canadian hockey hat trick in Vancouver.

Canada was upset 3-1 by Japan in the Paralympic sledge hockey semifinal Thursday.

The Canadians were looking to complete the gold medal sweep after the men and women won their respective titles at the Olympics last month.

The best Canada can do now is bronze. They face the loser of the United States-Norway semifinal in the third-place game Friday.

Japan has played Canada 12 times since Hockey Canada started overseeing the sledge team program in 2004 but had never won until Thursday.

Game notes | Photo Gallery

Takayuki Endo scored twice for Japan while Daisuke Uehara had the winner.

Marc Dorion scored the lone goal for Canada.
Canada was the heavy favourite heading into the game but struggled from the get-go, failing to click on routine passes and missing the net on a number of opportunities.

Dorion opened the scoring late in the first when Canada was on a power play. He was stopped on his first two whacks from just outside the crease by Japanese goaltender Mitsuru Nagase but stuck with it and his third attempt trickled over the line.

Japan looked like the better team to start the second period and while buzzing around the Canadian zone, drew a penalty on Todd Nicholson.
Canada killed the minor off but Nicholson committed a turnover on his next shift, firing a pass up the middle of the ice that Endo picked off before strolling in all alone and beating Paul Rosen glove side.

Canada quickly had an opportunity to reclaim the lead when Westlake sent Brad Bowden in all alone on Nagase. Bowden deked to the forehand and snapped the puck high, hitting Nagase in the mask.

The teams remained tied heading into the third period, where Jeremy Booker had a great chance for Canada 4 1/2 minutes in.
After a Japanese defender mishandled the puck in his own end, Booker got in on a partial breakaway but his shot was stopped by a sprawling Nagase.

Canada was all over the Japanese side for much of the period and a sprawling attempt from Westlake just outside the crease was stopped by Nagase with two minutes to go.

But with Canada pushing for the winner, they got caught deep and Japan broke free on a 3-on-1 with Uehara beating Rosen with 1:13 to go.
Endo's second of the game late in the third secured the win.

Goals/Buts : 
09:56 CAN Marc Dorion (Jeremy Booker, Ray Grassi) PP/AN

Penalties/Pénalités : 
01:24 JPN Too Many Players/Trop de joueurs
04:00 CAN Ray Grassi (T-ing/Charge en T)
05:08 CAN Paul Rosen (interference/obstruction)

Goals/Buts : 
07:33 JPN Takayuki Endo (Unassisted/Sans aide)

Penalties/Pénalités : 
05:13 CAN Todd Nicholson (Elbowing/Donner du coude)
10:50 CAN Todd Nicholson (Holding/ Avoir retenu)
11:19 JPN Daisuke Uehara (Interference/Obstruction)
13:03 CAN Bench penalty/Punition au banc (Too many men/Trop de joueurs)

Goals/Buts : 
13:47  JPN  Daisuke Uehara (Kazuhiro Takahashi)
14:44 JPN Takayuki Endo (Unassisted/Sans aide)

Penalties/Pénalités : 
07:23 CAN Ray Grassi (Delay of game/ Retarder le match)