CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – Team Canada is looking to have a better start today against the Americans than it did the last time the rivals met.
The USA jumped out to a 2-0 lead seven minutes into the preliminary game on Wednesday. Canada tied it 10 minutes into the second period, only to see the Americans score the winner three minutes later and hang on for a 5-2 victory.
A better start is obviously atop the list today when the teams meet at 4 p.m. with the World Sledge Hockey Challenge gold medal on the line.
“Super important,” Canadian forward Liam Hickey said of the start. “We saw the last game we played them we didn't have a good start and that affected us in the long run. We’ll be extremely focused on having a strong start all three periods and finishing all three periods strong as well.”
It isn’t a surprise the teams are in the final.
They were the class of the four-team field all week and have dominated the tournament. Canada and the United States have each won five of the 10 gold medals while Canada has four silvers and a bronze and the Americans have two silvers and three bronzes.
Team USA scored three goals in the opening three minutes of the second period to defeat Canada 5-2 in last year’s final in Charlottetown.
Today’s schedule
Bronze medal game
1 p.m. – Italy vs. Korea.
Gold medal game
4 p.m. – Canada vs. USA.
