Canada 5 - Germany 0

Paralympics
Semi-Finals
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Turin, ITA

Canada and Germany met on Thursday evening at Torino Esposizioni for the only spot remaining in the gold medal final. Earlier on Thursday, Norway advanced to the Paralympics sledge hockey final on the strength of a 4-2 win over USA.

Defenceman Jean Labonté (Aylmer, ON) came close to giving Canada an early lead, as he took a pass in the slot and found iron behind the German netminder Rolf Rabe. Canada carried the play but couldn’t get on the scoreboard. Another defenceman, Graeme Murray (Gravenhurst, ON), hit a post at the ten minute mark, after a great rush in which he maneouvred past two opponents.

With just over a minute left in the period, Canada had another great chance, as the puck was centered to Jeremy Booker (Whitby, ON), who was alone to the side of the net, but he couldn’t get it over an outstretched Rabe. Dany Verner (Bois-des-Filion) and Marc Dorion (Bourget, ON) also had great scoring chances moments later, but again, Rabe was up to the task. Despite outshooting Germany 10-5 and dominating play, Canada headed to the dressing room tied at 0-0.

One minute into the second period, Germany intercepted a pass and had a two-on-zero. But the shot sailed over the net, with goaltender Paul Rosen (Thornhill, ON) cutting the angles well.

At 3:09, Todd Nicholson (Ottawa, ON) pushed the puck ahead on a faceoff and Booker shot it over the German goaltender. It was Canada’s 14th shot on net of the game, while Germany was still at only five shots at Rosen.

Canada made it two at 6:12, as Billy Bridges (Oakville, ON) found Bradley Bowden (Orton, ON) alone and the slot, and Bowden quickly snapped the puck past Rabe.

With less than twenty seconds in the second, Canada added a power play goal. Bowden sent Bridges in on a breakaway, and the top scorer at the Paralympics beat Rabe high to the glove side. Through 30 minutes of play (periods are fifteen minutes long in sledge hockey), Canada led 3-0.

Greg Westlake (Oakville, ON) added to Canada’s lead at 6:28 the final period, one-timing a Bridges pass behind Rabe. Bridges added his second of the game at 13:31, during a power play, and Canada advances to the gold medal final with a 5-0 win over Germany. Paul Rosen (Thornhill, ON) made nine saves for the shutout. Germany, in four games against Canada this season, was not able to score against Canada.

With the win, Canada secured the other spot in the gold medal final against Norway. Canada and Norway have faced off twice in 2005-06, with Canada winning 3-1 in December to capture the German Invitational, and Norway winning the Paralympics round robin game 4-1 earlier this week.

The gold medal final will be on Saturday, March 18th, at 8:30 pm (local time)/2:30 pm (ET). While the game will not be broadcast live on Canadian television, it is available live at www.paralympicsport.tv. CBC will be broadcasting the game in its entirety on Saturday, April 15th. Details to follow.

Best wishes can be sent to the team, via abrin@hockeycanada.ca

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