CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – The U.S. National Sled Hockey Team netted five goals in the second period to defeat Canada, 5-2, in the championship game at the 2016 (Dec.) World Sled Hockey Challenge at MacLauchlan Arena.
The victory gives Team USA (4-1-0-0; W-OTW-OTL-L) an unprecented third-straight World Sled Hockey Challenge title after claiming titles at the event this past January in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, and the 2015 tournament in Leduc, Alberta. The U.S., which also won the World Sled Hockey Challenge in 2009 and 2012, has now claimed six straight major international titles, a streak that began at the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.
“This week was about 17 players coming together as a team,” said Jeff Sauer, head coach of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team. “The consistency we’ve been able to have as of late is a testament to their hard work off the ice. It’s an absolutely pleasure to coach this group of guys.”
Both teams traded chances throughout the opening period, but Canada entered the first intermission with a 1-0 lead courtesy of a goal from Liam Hickey 6:58 into the period. Goaltender Steve Cash (Overland, Mo.), named player of the game for the second consecutive World Sled Hockey Challenge championship game, made the initial save before Hickey tapped in the rebound.
Team USA took control of the game in the middle frame, erupting for five goals and outshooting Canada, 10-2. Kevin McKee (Chicago, Ill.) started the scoring just 1:07 into the period when his shot from below the left circle beat Canada’s goaltender Corbin Watson. The play started when Brody Roybal (Northlake, Ill.) entered Canada’s zone and found Declan Farmer (Tampa, Fla.) above the left faceoff dot. Farmer curled towards the middle of the ice and drew a pair of defenders towards him before finding McKee down low for the tying goal.
Just 22 seconds later Paul Schaus (Buffalo, N.Y.) gave the U.S. the lead with a low glove-side shot from the slot off a apass by Adam Page (Lancaster, N.Y). Roybal extended Team USA’s lead to 3-1 less than two minutes later when he skated down the left side and tucked the puck under the crossbar. The goal, assisted by Farmer and Tyler Carron (Fort Collins, Colo.), capped a three-goal span in the first 3:02 of the stanza.
Canada cut Team USA’s lead to one when Brad Bowden scored with 3:20 remaining in the period, but the U.S. regained a two-goal lead just 39 seconds later on the powerplay off a breakaway goal from Roybal.
Team USA made it 5-2 with 38 seconds left in the frame when Farmer netted his eighth marker of the tournament, which broke a record shared by himself and Nikko Landeros (Johnstown, COlo.) for the most goals scored by a U.S. player in a single World Sled Hockey Challenge. In addition, Farmer’s 17 points (8-9) also saw him set a new U.S. record for most points by a U.S. player in a single World Sled Hockey Challenge while finishing as the tournament-leading scorer for the third straight World Sled Hockey Challenge.
Cash finished with 14 saves, including seven in the final frame, to backstop Team USA to a 5-2 victory.
2016 (Dec.) World Sled Hockey Challenge • Team USA Schedule
Dec. 4-10 – Charlottetown, P.E.I. – MacLauchlan Arena
Date Opponent Result
U.S. Player of the Game
Sun., Dec. 4 Korea W, 4-0 Nikko Landeros
Mon., Dec. 5 Norway W, 8-0 Kevin McKee
Wed., Dec. 7 Canada OTW, 2-1 Declan Farmer
Thurs., Dec. 8 Korea W, 8-1 Paul Schaus
Sat., Dec. 10 Canada
Championship Game W, 5-2 Steve Cash
NOTES: Steve Cash (Overland, Mo.) was named U.S. Player of the Game … Both teams finished with 14 shots on goal. Team USA finished 1-for-1 on the power play and 1-for-2 on the penalty kill … For complete game stats, click here … The U.S. National Sled Hockey Team has now won five World Sled Hockey Challenge titles (2009, 2012, 2015, 2016 (Dec.), 2016 (Jan.), including an unprecedented three-straight … Declan Farmer now ranks first all-time in goals (21), assists (26) and points (49) by a U.S. player in World Sled Hockey Challenge history … The U.S. National Sled Hockey Team has claimed six straight major international tournament titles, including the 2016 (Dec.) World Sled Hockey Challenge in Charlottetown, P.E.I.; the 2016 IPC Sled Hockey Pan-Pacifc 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 … For complete coverage of Team USA at the 2016 (Dec.) World Sled Hockey Challenge, click here.
