WESTLAKE, BOWDEN HAVE TWO POINTS EACH AS CANADA TAKES FIRST PLACE

CALGARY, Alta. – Anthony Gale (Brampton, Ont.), Brad Bowden (Orton, Ont.) and Marc Dorion (Bourget, Ont.) scored the goals as Canada wrapped up first place in the preliminary round at the 2011 World Sledge Hockey Challenge with a 3-1 win over the United States on Wednesday night.

The win sets up Canada vs. Japan in Thursday’s late semifinal (7 p.m. MT), while the U.S. will meet Norway in the early semi (noon MT) – rematches of Sunday’s opening-day games, won by Canada and the U.S.

Bowden added an assist to his goal, while captain Greg Westlake (Oakville, Ont.) chipped in with two helpers in the win, Canada’s third in a row over the Americans at the tournament, dating back to the 2009 WSHC in Charlottetown, P.E.I.

Canadian goaltender Benoit St-Amand (St-Hubert, Que.) made 15 saves for the win, none bigger than a first-period breakaway stop off Adam Page that would have pulled the Americans even.

Tim Jones scored the lone goal for the Americans, finishing off a shorthanded two-on-one with U.S. captain Taylor Chace late in the first period.

Sunday’s semifinals are rematches of the final four match-ups at the last World Sledge Hockey Challenge, held last April in London, Ont. Canada routed Japan 11-1, while Norway snuck past the U.S. 5-4.

Penalties:
   11:13 USA 3 Tim Jones (Roughing)
   11:17 CAN 18 Billy Bridges (Interference)
   16:35 USA 21 Alexi Salamone (Slashing)

Penalties:
   04:45 CAN 29 Graeme Murray (Interference)
   10:41 CAN 18 Billy Bridges (Holding)

Penalties:
   08:27 CAN 11 Adam Dixon (Interference)
   09:46 USA 21 Alexi Salamone (Interference)
   09:46 CAN 27 Brad Bowden (Interference)