CALGARY, AB – Canada’s National Sledge Team is in Prince George, BC, where it will face the USA in a three-game series from February 21st to 23rd.

Canada has won nine of 10 games during the 2007-08 season, including a three-game sweep of the Americans in Park City, Utah in November. The Canadians are coming off a gold medal victory at the Japan Paralympic 2008 Ice Sledge Hockey International Match in January in Asahikawa, Japan, which included a 3-2 round-robin win over the USA.

The series will be the final tune-up for both teams leading up to the 2008 IPC Sledge Hockey World Championship, which will be held March 29th to April 4th in Marlborough, Massachusetts. Canada will look to reach the podium once again after a fourth-place finish at the 2004 world championship in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, while the Americans will look to better their silver medal performance.

Canada will have their full 18-player roster on hand in Prince George, and will trim down to 15 for the world championship following the series.

“This is a very important series for us leading up to the world championship,” says head coach Jeff Snyder. “It is the last chance for us to see our players, and the last chance for the players to earn a spot on the team. It should be an interesting few days.”

SCHEDULE (all times listed are Pacific)
Thursday, February 21st 7:30 p.m. CN Centre
Friday, February 22nd 12:30 p.m. Kin 1 Arena
Saturday, February 23rd 7:30 p.m. CN Centre

Tickets for all games are $5, and are available through Ticketmaster.

Sledge hockey is the Paralympic version of ice hockey. It made its debut at the 1994 Paralympic Winter Games in Lillehammer, Norway. The fast-paced sport has grown in popularity since then.

» National Men's Sledge Hockey Team