CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – Declan Farmer (Tampa, Fla) tallied three points (2-1) and Team USA scored four special-teams goals as the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team defeated Korea, 4-0, here today in the opening game of the 2016 (Dec.) World Sled Hockey Challenge at MacLauchlan Arena.
“It’s always great to start the season off with a win,” said Jeff Sauer, head coach of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team. “We look forward to getting back on the ice tomorrow against Norway.”
Nikko Landeros (Johnstown, Colo.) opened the scoring 6:02 into the first period by converting on Team USA’s first power play opportunity of the tournament. With 54 seconds remaining on the man-advantage, Landeros collected a close feed by Farmer in front of the Korean goal and fired the puck past Korea’s goaltender, Jae-Woong Lee.
The U.S. doubled its lead with just 22 seconds remaining in the opening period off a shorthanded goal by Farmer. The play started when Farmer forced a turnover in the Korean zone, skated in alone and shot the puck just below the crossbar for the score.
Adam Page (Lancaster, N.Y.) netted Team USA’s second power play tally of the game when he found his own rebound to extend Team USA’s lead to 3-0 at 3:56 of the middle stanza.
Farmer tallied his second goal of the game, the third U.S. power-play marker, with 3:20 left in the period to give Team USA a 4-0 lead heading into the second intermission.
Steve Cash (Overland, Mo.) finished with seven saves through 35 minutes of play before Bo Reichenbach (Billings, Mont.) entered the game for the final five minutes and kept Korea scoreless to account for the 4-0 win.
The United States continues preliminary-round action tomorrow against Norway. Puck drop is set for 11 a.m. ET and can be seen live on HockeyTV.
2016 (Dec.) World Sled Hockey Challenge • Team USA Schedule
Dec. 4-10 – Charlottetown, P.E.I. – MacLauchlan Arena
Date Opponent Time (AT)/Result U.S. Player of the Game
Sun., Dec. 4 Korea W, 4-0 Nikko Landeros
Mon., Dec. 5 Norway 12:00 p.m.
Wed., Dec. 7 Canada 7:00 p.m.
Thurs., Dec. 8 Semifinal 12:00 p.m.
Semifinal 7:00 p.m.
Sat., Dec. 10 Third-Place Game 12:00 p.m.
Championship Game 4:00 p.m.
Notes: Nikko Landeros was named U.S. Player of the Game … Team USA outshot Korea, 23-7, finished 3-for-5 on the power play and a perfect 3-for-3 on the pnalty kill … For complete game stats, click here … Follow all U.S. games during the World Sled Hockey Challenge via Twitter by using @USAHockey and @USAHockeyScores, and join the conversation by using the hashtag #WSHC.
