2008-WSHC National Sledge Hockey Team

Game Summary

Canada  7 -  Japan  1

 

CANADA CONCLUDES ROUND-ROBIN WITH WIN OVER JAPAN

CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI – Greg Westlake (Oakville, ON) scored a pair of goals and had two assists to lead Canada’s National Sledge Team to a 7-1 win over Japan on Thursday night.

With the victory, Canada finished the round-robin with a 3-0 record as it prepares for Saturday’s gold medal game. Canada will face Norway (2-1) in the final, which will be held at the CARI Complex at 4 p.m. AST (3 p.m. EST) in a game that can be seen live via webcast.

Westlake opened the scoring at 2:16 of the first period when he one-timed a perfect pass from Billy Bridges (Summerside, PEI).

Canada made it 2-0 at the eight-minute mark on a goal by Matthew Cook (Edmonton, AB). Dany Verner (Bois-des-Fillion, QC) made it 3-0 Canada on a quick pass-and-shot play set up by Marc Dorion (Bourget, ON).

Japan got one back before the end of the first when Naohiko Ishida got credit for a flukey goal that alluded Benoît St-Amand (St-Hubert, QC).

Canada scored one goal in the second period, that coming from Adam Dixon (Midland, ON), who fired a perfect shot from the point that hit the far corner.

Westlake, Bradley Bowden (Orton, ON) and Bridges scored goals in the third.

Canada is the defending champion at this tournament, having won the 2007 World Sledge Hockey Challenge in Kelowna, BC. Canada has built a solid rivalry with Norway, as the teams have met in the past three finals of major international competitions.

Canada beat Norway for gold at the 2008 IPC Sledge Hockey World Championship, 2007 World Sledge Hockey Challenge and 2006 Paralympic Winter Games.


Game Information
Game Number Round Round Robin
Arena CARI Complex City, Country Charlottetown, P.E.I., Canada
Month / Day / Year 11/20/2008 Time (local) 07:00 PM AT
Attendance
Game Status Final

Box Score   1     2     3   Total
Canada (CAN) 3 1 3 7
Japan (JPN) 1 0 0 1
Goals/Penalties
First Period
Goals:
   02:16 CAN 12 Greg Westlake (27 Bradley Bowden, 18 Billy Bridges)
   08:00 CAN 16 Matthew Cook (3 Hervé Lord, 10 Shawn Matheson)
   11:39 CAN 9 Dany Verner (7 Marc Dorion, 19 Todd Nicholson)
   12:13 JPN 23 Naohiko Ishida (13 Mamoru Yoshikawa)

Penalties:

Second Period
Goals:
   04:22 CAN 11 Adam Dixon (19 Todd Nicholson, 7 Marc Dorion)

Penalties:
   06:33 CAN 10 Shawn Matheson (T-Boning)
   10:43 JPN 33 Atsuya Yaguchi (Slashing)
   14:03 JPN 33 Atsuya Yaguchi (Delay of Game)

Third Period
Goals:
   04:35 CAN 12 Greg Westlake (18 Billy Bridges, 27 Bradley Bowden)
   09:15 CAN 27 Bradley Bowden (18 Billy Bridges, 12 Greg Westlake)
   14:54 CAN 18 Billy Bridges (12 Greg Westlake, 16 Matthew Cook)

Penalties:


Goaltenders
Canada
22 Benoît St-Amand On 1/00:00   Off 3/15:00
Japan
21 Shinobu Fukushima On 1/00:00   Off 3/15:00

Shots on Goal   1     2     3   Total
Canada 7 6 15 28
Japan 5 1 4 10

Player of Game
Canada 12 Greg Westlake
Japan 8 Eiji Misawa
Officials
Referee Mike Annear
Lines People Richard Johnson, Justin DesRoches