LUDWIG’S OT WINNER GIVES CANADA SWEEP OF U.S.

ESSEX, Ont. – Karl Ludwig (Brampton, Ont.) scored shorthanded 44 seconds into overtime, giving Canada’s National Sledge Development Team a 1-0 win over the United States on Saturday afternoon and a sweep of its three-game series.

It’s the second consecutive series the Canadians have swept from their North American rivals – Canada took all three games in Buffalo, N.Y. in early December.

After a scoreless opening period Canada turned up the pressure in the second, outshooting the Americans 10-0. But despite three power plays in the frame – including 29 seconds of 5-on-3 – the teams went to the intermission still without a goal on the board.

Both teams ratcheted up the offence in the final frame, combining for 19 shots, but U.S. goaltender Justin Kreger and Canadian counterpart Kris Dutkiewicz (Kitchener, Ont.) – who replaced Drew Rigden (Coldwater, Ont.) midway through the second period – kept zeroes on the scoreboard.

Canada’s five-game winning streak looked to be in danger when Jonathan Plante (St-Joseph-du-Lac, Que.) took a cross-checking penalty with just 57 seconds left, but the Canadians survived the rest of regulation time, setting up the overtime drama.

Ludwig took a pass from James Gemmell (Quesnel, B.C.) and made his first international goal one to remember, sending the crowd at the Essex Arena and Sports Complex home happy.

Goals/Buts : 
None/Aucun

Penalties/Pénalités : 
04:03 CAN Jonathan Plante (Interference/Obstruction) 
12:18 USA Tim Shoemaker (Hooking/Accrocher)

Goals/Buts : 
None/Aucun

Penalties/Pénalités : 
03:24 USA Tim Shoemaker (Cross-checking/Double-échec) 
06:39 CAN James Gemmell (Interference/Obstruction) 
10:20 USA Jeremy Lyons (Slashing/Coup de bâton) 
11:51 USA Kristy Vaughn (T-boning/Charge en T) 
19:53 CAN James Gemmell (Holding/Retenir)

5Goals/Buts : 
None/Aucun

Penalties/Pénalités : 
10:49 USA Bench/Banq (Too Many Players/Trop du joueurs) 
11:30 CAN Brendan Blanchard (Interference/Obstruction) 
19:03 CAN Jonathan Plante (Cross-checking/Double-échec)

Goals/Buts :  
00:44 CAN Karl Ludwig (James Gemmell, Jeremy Booker) SH/DN

Penalties/Pénalités :  
None/Aucune