COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The U.S. National Sled Hockey Team will conclude its 2016 campaign at the IPC Sled Hockey Pan-Pacific Championship in Buffalo, New York, March 29-April 2. The tournament, which will be held at HARBORCENTER, will mark the first time Team USA returns to Buffalo since claiming the 2015 IPC Sled Hockey World Championship on May 3, 2015.
The 2016 IPC Sled Hockey Pan-Pacific Championship will feature four teams: Canada, Korea, Team Pan-Pacific and the United States. Team Pan-Pacific will be comprised of players from Japan and the United States. Tournament play begins March 29 with a round-robin preliminary round. The top two teams in the opening round will advance to a winner-take-all championship game on Saturday, April 2.
The United States roster is highlighted by captain Josh Sweeney (Portland, Ore.); alternate captains Nikko Landeros (Johnstown, Colo.) and Josh Pauls (Green Brook, N.J.); and goaltender Steve Cash (Overland, Mo.). For the complete U.S. roster, click here.
Team USA will be seeking its fifth straight international title. In addition to claiming the 2016 World Sled Hockey Challenge in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, with a 3-2 overtime victory over Canada in January, the U.S. has claimed 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.
Tickets for all tournament games are available for $5 each either at the door or online here.
NOTES: The tournament will be streamed live at Paralympic.org/Buffalo-2016 … For more tournament information, including live stats and photos, click here … To get additional information on the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team, click here … Follow all U.S. games during the IPC Sled Hockey Pan-Pacific Championship via Twitter by using @USAHockey and @USAHockeyScores, and join the conversation by using the hashtag #Buffalo2016 … Dan Brennan (Colorado Springs, Colo.), director of sled and inline national teams for USA Hockey, is serving as the general manager of the 2016 U.S. National Sled Hockey Team … Jeff Sauer (Madison, Wis.), former men’s ice hockey head coach at the University of Wisconsin, is in his fifth season as head coach of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team. Additional staff members include team physician Mike Uihlein (Grafton, Wis.), athletic trainer Mike Cortese (Boynton Beach, Fla.) and equipment manager Joel Isaacson (Houghton, Mich.).
2016 IPC Sled Hockey Pan-Pacific Championship • Team USA Schedule
March 29-April 2 • Buffalo, New York • HARBORCENTER
Date Opponent Time (ET)
Tue., Mar. 29 Team Pan-Pacific 7:00 p.m.
Wed., Mar. 30 Canada 7:00 p.m.
Fri., Apr. 1 Korea 7:00 p.m.
Sat., Apr. 2 Third-Place Game 1:00 p.m.
Sat., Apr. 2 Championship Game 5:00 p.m.
