UNITED STATES TAKE WORLD SLEDGE BRONZE HOME FROM NORTH OF BORDER

LONDON, Ont. – The United States defeated Japan 9-1 to take home the bronze medal Saturday afternoon at the 2011 World Sledge Hockey Challenge. The Americans were relentless on the ice, easily finding the back of the Japanese net with six quick goals in the first, followed by three more in the second, giving Japan little hope of coming back.

Japan’s only chance to stay in the game came early in the first, when Kazuhiro Takahashi retaliated on an early goal from Greg Shaw of the United States to tie it up at one apiece at 3:36 in the first.

After that, however, the bronze medal matchup became an all-American affair. Nikko Landeros scored the game-winner just five minutes into the first to make it 2-1 and would add another to the board before the period was done. Kevin McKee also put two on the score sheet, while Daniel McCoy had one of his own, to put the United States up 6-1 heading into intermission.

After starting between the posts for the last five games, American net minder Steve Cash took a rest on the bench, allowing back-up Justin Kreger to play out the rest of the game. With a five-goal lead already under their belts, the United States wouldn’t hold back. Alexi Salamone, Adam Page and Josh Pauls, who scored his first of the tournament, set Japan back 9-1 by the end of the second.

Nine goals would be enough for the Americans, and both teams kept the third period quiet with neither goals nor penalties, to give the United States bronze medal bragging rights at the 2011 World Sledge Challenge.

Penalties:
   00:30 USA 15 Nikko Landeros (Interference)
   00:30 JPN 24 Satoru Sudo (Delay of Game)

Penalties:
   03:21 USA 19 Taylor Chace (Unsportsmanlike Cnd.)
   08:25 USA 5 Danny McDevitt (Interference)
   19:21 USA   (Too Many Men)

Penalties:
   None