COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The U.S. National Sled Hockey Team begins its 2017-18 campaign this Sunday (Dec. 3) at the 2017 World Sled Hockey Challenge in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. The United States, which has won the last three World Sled Hockey Challenges (2015, 2016 (Jan.), 2016 (Dec.), will compete against Canada, Korea and Italy.
Last season, Team USA earned a silver medal at the 2017 Para Sled Hockey World Championship in Gangneung, South Korea, following a run of six-straight major international titles that included the 2016 (Dec.) World Sled Hockey Challenge in Charlottetown, P.E.I.; the 2016 International Paralympic Committee Sled Hockey Pan-Pacific Championship in Buffalo, New York; the 2016 (Jan.) World Sled Hockey Challenge in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia; the 2015 IPC Sled Hockey World Championship in Buffalo, New York; the 2015 World Sled Hockey Challenge in Leduc, Alberta; and the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.
Joining Team USA at the event is defenseman Billy Hanning (Festus, Mo.), who has been added to the 2017-18 U.S. National Sled Hockey Team. A current member of the player pool currently in consieration for a spot on the final 2018 U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team that will be announced on Jan. 1, 2018, Hanning spent the last three seasons with the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team as he helped Team USA claim a pair of medals in world championship play (gold: 2015; silver: 2017) along with a trio of World Sled Hockey Challenge titles (2015, 2016 (Jan.), 2016 (Dec.). For the complete U.S. roster, click here.
The 2017 World Sled Hockey Challenge will be streamed live at HockeyTV.com. For more tournament information, click here.
2017 World Sled Hockey Challenge • Team USA Schedule
Dec. 3-10 – Charlottetown, P.E.I – MacLaughlan Arena
Date Opponent Time (ET)
Sun., Dec. 3 Korea 11:00 a.m.
Mon., Dec. 4 Russia 11:00 a.m.
Wed., Dec. 6 Canada 6:00 p.m.
Thurs., Dec. 7 Semifinal 1:00 p.m.
Semifinal 6:00 p.m.
Sat., Dec. 9 Third-Place Game 12:00 p.m.
Championship Game 4:00 p.m.
Notes: Deloitte, Labatt USA and Toyota are proud sponsors of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team … The 2018 U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team is expected to be anounced on Jan. 1, 2018 … The United States roster is highlighted by captain Josh Pauls (Green Brook, N.J); alternate captains Nikko Landeros (Johnstown, Colo.) and Declan Farmer (Tampa, Fla.); and goaltender Steve Cash (Overland, Mo.). For the complete U.S. roster, click here … Dan Brennan (Colorado Springs, Colo.), director of sled national teams for USA Hockey, is serving as the general manager of the 2017-18 U.S. National Sled Hockey Team … Guy Gosselin (Grafton, Wis.), a two-time U.S. Olympian (1988, 1992) and USA Hockey’s regional manager of the American Development Model, is in his first season as head coach of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team and third stint overall with the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team. Joining Gosselin behind the bench is assistant coach David Hoff (Bottineau, N.D.) while additional U.S. staff members include team physician Mike Uihlein (Grafton, Wis.), athletic trainer Mike Cortese (Boynton Beach, Fla.) and equipment manager Joel Isaacson (Houghton, Mich.).
