LEDUC, Alberta – Brody Roybal (Northlake, Ill.) and Josh Pauls (Green Brook, N.J.) scored two goals each and nine different U.S. players registered points as the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team defeated Korea, 8-1, in its second game at the 2015 World Sled Hockey Challenge today at the Leduc Recreation Centre. With the win, Team USA improves to 2-0-0-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L) in the tournament and sits at the top of the standings.
“We improved as a team today,” said Jeff Sauer, head coach of the 2015 U.S. National Sled Hockey Team. “Everyone, including our second goaltender, got a chance to play. Now, it’s time for us to turn our attention to Canada.”
Kevin McKee (Chicago, Ill.) started the scoring for Team USA just 22 seconds into the game. Taking a pass from Declan Farmer (Tampa, Fla.), McKee fired the puck past Korean goaltender Man-Gyun Yu. Roybal added a power play goal from the point at the 9:08 mark when he finished a cross-ice pass from Nikko Landeros (Johnstown, Colo.).
Team USA added to its lead 3:17 into the second frame when McKee’s pass from below the goal line found Roybal alone in the slot for his second goal of the game. Three minutes later, seconds after being released from the penalty box, Adam Page (Lancaster, N.Y.) finished a two-on-one pass from Pauls to make it 4-0 for Team USA.
Just 21 seconds into the third stanza, Pauls’ unassisted effort from the left side gave the United States its fifth goal of the game. Less than a minute later, Pauls’ high shot from the point soared over everyone, including the Korean goalie, to give him his second goal of the game. Billy Hanning (Festus, Mo.) collected an assist on the goal.
Korea’s lone goal came on the power play with 5:04 left in the third when Ju Seung Lee’s shot got by Kyle Huckaby (Port Arthur, Texas).
Farmer and Dan McCoy (Cheswick, Pa.) added a goal apiece late in the period to seal the victory for Team USA.
The U.S. will return to action at the 2015 World Sled Hockey Challenge Wednesday (Feb. 4), against Canada at 9:00 p.m. ET. The game can be seen live on FastHockey.com.
2015 World Sled Hockey Challenge • Team USA Schedule
Feb. 1-7 – Leduc, Alberta – Leduc Recreation Centre
Date Opponent Time (ET)/Result
Sun., Feb. 1 Russia W, 3-2
Mon., Feb. 2 Korea W, 8-1
Wed., Feb. 4 Canada 9:00 p.m.
Thurs., Feb. 5 Semifinal 2:00 p.m.
Semifinal 9:00 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 7 Third-Place Game 2:00 p.m.
Championship Game 7:00 p.m.
NOTES:: Josh Pauls was named the U.S. Player of the Game … Team USA outshot Korea 25-7 … The U.S. power play was two-for-three, while its penalty kill was three-for-four … For full game statistics, click here … For complete Team USA coverage, click here … Follow @USAHockeyScores for in-game updates. Join the World Sled Hockey Challenge conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #WSHC.
