CANADA BLANKED BY U.S. IN SLEDGE SERIES OPENER

JASON LA ROSE

INDIAN TRAIL, N.C. – Dominic Larocque (Quebec City, Que.) made 10 saves in just the second start of his career, but Canada’s National Sledge Team dropped a 2-0 decision to the United States on Thursday afternoon in the first game of a three-game series.

The Canadians have lost five in a row to the U.S., including the final two games of last season’s series in Indian Trail, a semifinal loss at the Paralympics, and a preliminary round setback at the 2015 World Sledge Hockey Challenge.

Neither team could find offence in the opening period, with the two sides combining for just four shots in the opening 15 minutes, which was – not surprisingly – scoreless.

The U.S. finally struck first midway through the second; Brody Roybal burst down the right wing and snapped a quick shot that found its way past Larocque on the short side for a 1-0 lead.

Josh Pauls made it 2-0 just over five minutes later, taking a feed from Nikko Landeros in the slot and going low to beat Larocque, giving the Americans a little bit of insurance.

The Canadians rarely tested U.S. goaltender Steve Cash, managing just eight shots on goal.

Canada has been shut out in its last three meetings with the Americans, and its goalless drought goes back to a Brad Bowden (Orton, Ont.) goal on Jan. 11, 2014, a stretch of 172:45.

The two teams meet again Friday afternoon (4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT) at the Extreme Ice Center, with the series finale set for Saturday (12:30 p.m. ET/9:30 a.m. ET).