WESTLAKE’S FOUR POINTS HELP CANADA TO SLEDGE SERIES WIN

AMHERST, N.Y. – Greg Westlake (Oakville, Ont.) scored once and added three assists, including his 100th career assist and 200th career point, as Canada’s National Sledge Team earned the victory in its three-game series with the United States thanks to a 5-1 win Saturday night.

Westlake set up the eventual game-winner from Kieran Block (Edmonton, Alta.) 13 minutes into the first period for the milestone assist and point. The Canadian captain scored his 100th career goal in Thursday’s series opener.

Adam Dixon (Midland, Ont.), Brad Bowden (Orton, Ont.) and Billy Bridges (Summerside, P.E.I.) also scored for the Canadians, who erased an early 1-0 deficit to hold a 3-1 advantage after one period.

Dixon finished with a goal and two assists, while Bowden had a goal and a helper. The Canadian power play was the difference, going 3-for-8, while the Americans were 0-for-3 with the man advantage.

Kevin McKee scored the lone goal for the U.S., scoring on the Americans’ first shot on Team Canada netminder Corbin Watson (Kingsville, Ont.) just three minutes after the puck dropped.

Westlake joins Bridges and Bowden as the only players in National Sledge Team history to record 200 points. Bridges was the first, reaching the mark in November 2010, while Bowden got there last month during the team’s run to gold at the Japan Four Nations Tournament.

Canada will see the ice next at the 2012 IPC Sledge Hockey World Championship, which begins in late March in Hamar, Norway.

Goals/Buts : 
03:01 USA Kevin McKee (Rico Roman)
11:35 CAN Adam Dixon
13:05 CAN Kieran Block (Greg Westlake)
14:44 CAN Brad Bowden (Adam Dixon, Greg Westlake) PP/AN

Penalties/Pénalités : 
13:42 USA Alexi Salamone (Unsportsmanlike Conduct/Conduite antisportive)
15:19 CAN Graeme Murray (Unsportsmanlike Conduct/Conduite antisportive)
15:19 USA Taylor Chace (Roughing/Rudesse)

Goals/Buts : 
13:39 CAN Billy Bridges (Greg Westlake, Brad Bowden) PP/AN

Penalties/Pénalités : 
02:55 USA Alexi Salamone (Roughing/Rudesse)
12:28 USA Taylor Chace (Holding/Retenir)
15:57 CAN Kevin Rempel (Roughing/Rudesse)

Goals/Buts : 
09:46 CAN Greg Westlake (Adam Dixon, Kevin Rempel) PP/AN

Penalties/Pénalités : 
09:17 USA Greg Shaw (Holding/Rutenir)
15:53 CAN Ray Grassi (Roughing/Rudesse)
17:45 USA Josh Pauls (Boarding/Donner de la bande)
18:56 USA Taylor Chace (Delay of Game/Retarder la match)
19:45 USA Tim Connelly (Slashing/Coup de bâton)
20:00 USA Josh Pauls (Unsportsmanlike Conduct/Conduite antisportive)
20:00 USA Josh Payls (Misconduct/Inconduite)
20:00 USA Nikko Landeros (Unsportsmanlike Conduct/Conduite antisportive)
20:00 USA Nikko Landeros (Misconduct/Inconduite)
20:00 USA Nikko Landeros (Game Misconduct/Extrême inconduite)