TURIN, ITALY – Canada’s Sledge Hockey Team advanced to the Paralympic gold medal game vs. Norway, with a 5-0 win over Germany on Thursday, in front of a packed Torino Esposizioni. Canada will face Norway, who advanced with a 4-2 win over USA. Norway beat Canada 4-1 in the round robin.
After a scoreless opening period, Jeremy Booker (Whitby, ON), Bradley Bowden (Orton, ON) and Billy Bridges (Oakville, ON) scored goals in the second frame to give Canada a commanding 3-0 lead. Greg Westlake (Oakville, ON) and Bridges added goals in the third period to make the final 5-0. Paul Rosen (Thornhill, ON) made nine saves for the shutout.
Sledge hockey is the Paralympic version of hockey and, since its debut on the Paralympic program at the 1994 Lillehammer Paralympic Winter Games, it is quickly becoming one of the biggest attractions for spectators at the Paralympic Winter Games. It is fast-paced, highly physical and played by male athletes with a physical disability in the lower part of the body.
Medal Round Schedule
March 18th 17:00 (local)/11:00 (ET) Bronze medal game
20:30 (local)/14:30 (ET) Gold medal game
MEDIA INTERVIEW REQUESTS: André Brin, Hockey Canada’s Manager, Communications, is with the team during the Paralympics to coordinate media relations. He can be reached by e-mail, at abrin@hockeycanada.ca or by phone at 011 39 335 872 2565. Please take note of the time difference between Italy and your region as you make your interview requests.
Since Canada’s arrival on the international sledge hockey scene, the National Men’s Sledge Hockey Team has captured gold in four major international events (the 19 World Cups, the 1999 Commemorative Games and the 2000 World Championship). In the nine major events held in Sledge Hockey over the past 15 years, Canada has won a medal in all but two.
Sledge Hockey has been part of the Paralympic Winter Games since 1994. Canada won a bronze medal in 1994, a silver medal in 1998, and finished 4th in 2002.