Canada’s National Para Hockey Team looks to close out its series against the United States with a win in the finale Saturday afternoon at MAYSA Arena.

Last Meeting & Last Game

Canada dropped Game 2 on Friday night, falling 4-1 to the Americans. Tyler McGregor scored the Canadians’ first goal of the series on a second-period power play, briefly making it a one-goal game, but the U.S. used three man-advantage goals of its own to leave the Canadians on the losing end. Adam Kingsmill was terrific again, finishing with 20 saves.

What to Watch

Liam Hickey appears to be officially back. The veteran missed out on the 2023 World Para Hockey Championship last spring on home ice in Moose Jaw and was absent from the Team Canada lineup for almost 10 months due to injury, returning to post three points in five games at the 2023 Para Hockey Cup in December. The St. John’s native was terrific on Friday, setting up McGregor for the Canadian goal and narrowly missing on a shorthanded breakaway in the third that would have set up a thrilling finish.

The biggest key to victory for the Canadians on Saturday? Stay out of the penalty box. The U.S. counted three power-play goals on five opportunities in Game 1, after converting once on four chances in the series opener on Wednesday. Brody Roybal had a goal and an assist on the power play Friday and Declan Farmer added a pair of helpers. Farmer also had the PPG on Wednesday, with Roybal earning the secondary assist.

Calgary, Here We Come (Part 2)

These two teams won’t have to wait long to face off again – the Canadians and Americans will meet in another three-game series in the first week of April in Calgary, at the same WinSport venue that will play host to the 2024 World Para Hockey Championship from May 4-12.

A Look Back

The head-to-head history between the Canadians and Americans is almost dead even, with the U.S. holding a narrow 63-59-1 advantage.

The Americans have had the upper hand as of late; the last win for Canada came back on Oct. 29, 2021, when Anton Jacobs-Webb scored the winner 13 seconds into the third period, helping the Canadians earn a 4-2 victory in the opener of a two-game series in the St. Louis suburbs.

All-time record: United States leads 63-59-1 (13-8 in OT/SO)
Canada goals: 236
United States goals: 267