DIXON AND BRIDGES RECORD TWO POINTS EACH, CANADA TAKES FIRST IN PRELIMS

CALGARY, Alta. – Adam Dixon (Midland, Ont.) scored once and added an assist to pull closer to the 100-point plateau for his career and Billy Bridges (Summerside, P.E.I.) added a goal and a helper of his own to help Canada’s National Sledge Team to a 2-1 win over the United States on Wednesday night at the 2012 World Sledge Hockey Challenge.

The victory means Canada finishes in top spot in the preliminary round and will face Japan in Thursday’s late semifinal (7 p.m. MT), while the Americans will take on Norway in the early semi (noon MT).

Bridges scored the eventual game-winner on a shorthanded break with four minutes left in the second period, helping Canada finish first in the round robin for the sixth time in as many tries at the tournament; the Canadians are a perfect 18-0 in preliminary round games.

Dixon opened the scoring midway through the first period as his seeing-eye shot from the point found its way past American goaltender Steve Cash.

The goal, coupled with his assist on Bridges’ winner, leaves Dixon with 98 career points, just two away from joining Bridges, Brad Bowden (Orton, Ont.) and Greg Westlake (Oakville, Ont.) as the only players to record 100 points with Canada’s National Sledge Team.

The Americans made a late push, pulling to within one on captain Taylor Chace’s goal with 2:21 to go, but netminder Benoit St-Amand (St-Hubert, Que.) and the Canadian defence shut down the defending world champions, holding the U.S. to just nine shots on goal.

Penalties:
01:27 USA 9 Josh Pauls (Holding)

Penalties:
01:56 CAN 5 Kevin Rempel (Interference)
04:29 CAN 29 Graeme Murray (Roughing)
04:29 USA 21 Alexi Salamone (High Sticking)
10:32 CAN 5 Kevin Rempel (Holding)

Penalties:
01:16 CAN 5 Kevin Rempel (Interference)
10:16 CAN 23 Kieran Block (Interference)