2016 World Sledge Hockey Challenge

CANADA ROUTS KOREA, ADVANCES TO GOLD MEDAL GAME AT WSHC

DAVID BRIEN

BRIDGEWATER, N.S. – Billy Bridges (Summerside, P.E.I.) had two goals and three assists, and Dominic Cozzolino (Mississauga, Ont.) added a goal and four helpers to pace the Canadian offence to a 10-0 win over Korea in Thursday’s second semifinal at the 2016 World Sledge Hockey Challenge. The Canadians will face the United States in the gold medal game Saturday (5 p.m. AT/1 p.m. PT, TSN).

It’s the fifth time in the last seven editions of the tournament, dating back to 2009, that the North American rivals will face off for gold; Canada (Nov. 2011, 2013) and the U.S. (2009, 2012) have each won two of the previous four meetings in the final.

Against the Koreans, Brad Bowden (Orton, Ont.) finished with two goals and two assists, while Rob Armstrong (Mississauga, Ont.), Adam Dixon (Midland, Ont.), and Greg Westlake (Oakville, Ont.) had a goal and two helpers apiece.

Ben Delaney (Ottawa, Ont.) and Bryan Sholomicki (Winnipeg, Man.) rounded out the scoring for Canada, while Dominic Larocque (Quebec City, Que.) made one save in each period to record the shutout.

Delaney got the festivities started just 4:38 in, Sholomicki converted on a breakaway opportunity less than three minutes later, and the Canadians were off and running, adding goals by Bridges, Westlake and Bowden to take a 5-0 lead to the first intermission.

The Canadians outshot Korea 11-1 in the first period, chasing Jae-Woong Lee from the net in favour of Man-Gyun Yu, who didn’t fare much better in the middle frame.

Armstrong’s wrist shot hit the mesh just 2:24 into the middle frame, Cozzolino got his first of the tournament at 5:43, and Bowden and Bridges both added their second of the game to put Canada up 9-0 after two.

Cozzolino earned assists on the three goals he didn’t score in the second period, making him just the third player (after Westlake and U.S. forward Dan McCoy), to record at least four points in a single period.

Dixon capped the scoring in the third period, making good on a Canadian power play with 1:52 left.

Canada finished 2-for-3 with the power play, while playing a penalty-free game.

The Koreans will play for the bronze medal on Saturday afternoon, taking on Russia (1 p.m. AT).