REMPEL SCORES TWICE AS CANADA STAYS UNBEATEN AT WORLD SLEDGE HOCKEY CHALLENGE

CALGARY, Alta. – Kevin Rempel (Vineland, Ont.) opened and closed the Canadian scoring Monday afternoon, leading Canada’s National Sledge Team to a 4-1 win over Norway at the 2012 World Sledge Hockey Challenge.

The win keeps Canada unbeaten at 2-0, while the Norwegians dropped to 0-2.

Billy Bridges (Summerside, P.E.I.) and Greg Westlake (Oakville, Ont.) also scored for the Canadians, who picked up their second win in less than 17 hours after a tournament-opening 11-0 victory over Japan on Sunday night.

The Norwegians jumped to an early lead thanks to a power play goal off the stick of Audun Bakke just past the six-minute mark of the first period and Norway held the advantage until Rempel beat Kjell Christian Hamar 5:17 into the second.

The Canadians took the lead for good when Bridges and Westlake scored their 131st and 105th career goals, respectively, just 2:16 apart before the end of the middle frame before Rempel rounded out the scoring in the third.

Bridges and Westlake also each added an assist as Canada stayed unbeaten all time against Norway at the tournament, winning for the ninth time in as many tries.

Corbin Watson (Kingsville, Ont.) picked up the win in the Canadian goal, making 10 saves. Canada held a 26-9 advantage in shots on goal and has allowed only 11 shots in two games.

Both teams will be off Tuesday before closing out the preliminary round on Wednesday; Norway meets Japan in the early game (noon MT) before Canada takes on the United States in a rematch of last year’s gold medal game in the evening contest (7 p.m. MT).

Penalties:
05:20 CAN 23 Kieran Block (Interference)

Penalties:
03:02 CAN 8 Tyler McGregor (Holding)

Penalties:
01:58 NOR 16 Knut Andre Nordstoga (Holding)
04:58 NOR 17 Loyd Remi Solberg (Unsportsmanlike Cnd.)
04:58 CAN 12 Greg Westlake (Unsportsmanlike Cnd.)
07:53 CAN 26 Dominic Larocque (Holding)
08:17 NOR 17 Loyd Remi Solberg (Roughing)
08:17 CAN 18 Billy Bridges (10-Minute Misconduct)
08:17 CAN 18 Billy Bridges (Checking to the Head)
14:23 NOR 17 Loyd Remi Solberg (Interference)