TESSIER NETS LONE GOAL AS SLEDGE DEV TEAM BLANKS U.S.

ESSEX, Ont. – Nicholas Tessier (Casselman, Ont.) scored the game’s lone goal late in the second period as Canada’s National Sledge Development Team beat the United States 1-0 in the opener of a three-game series on Thursday night.

It was the Canadians’ fourth consecutive win over the U.S. – they swept a three-game set in Buffalo, N.Y. last month.

After more than 38 minutes of scoreless hockey, Tessier took a pass from Jeremy Booker (Ajax, Ont.) and beat American goaltender Justin Kreger for his first international goal. The assist kept up Booker’s hot streak – he scored six goals in the sweep in Buffalo, and has now recorded at least a point in all four games the Canadians have played.

Canadian netminder Kris Dutkiewicz (Kitchener, Ont.) made sure Tessier’s goal stood up as the winner, making 21 saves for his second shutout in three games. He has yet to allow a goal in his Team Canada career – he shared a shutout with Drew Ridgen (Coldwater, Ont.) in his other appearance in Buffalo.

The teams get back to action at the Essex Arena and Sports Complex on Friday, with puck drop set for 7:30 p.m. ET.

Goals/Buts : 
None/Aucun

Penalties/Pénalités : 
None/Aucune

Goals/Buts : 
18:39 CAN Nicholas Tessier (Jeremy Booker)

Penalties/Pénalités : 
None/Aucune

Goals/Buts : 
None/Aucun

Penalties/Pénalités : 
05:43 USA Tim Shoemaker (High-sticking/Bâton élevé)