2012-WSHC-Calgary National Sledge Hockey Team

Game Summary

Japan 0 - Canada 10


WESTLAKE’S FIVE POINTS LEAD CANADA TO GOLD MEDAL GAME AT WSHC

CALGARY, Alta. – Greg Westlake (Oakville, Ont.) scored twice and added three assists and Canada’s National Sledge Team scored seven times in the second period en route to a 10-0 semifinal win over Japan at the 2012 World Sledge Hockey Challenge on Thursday night.

Canada will now face the United States for the gold medal on Saturday night (5 p.m. MT, TSN); it’s the second year in a row the North American rivals have met for the top prize.

Dominic Larocque (Quebec City, Que.) and Brad Bowden (Orton, Ont.) had two goals each, while Billy Bridges (Summerside, P.E.I.), Adam Dixon (Midland, Ont.), Kevin Rempel (Vineland, Ont.) and Tyler McGregor (Forest, Ont.) added singles for the Canadians.

Dixon’s goal was his 100th career point, while McGregor’s was his first with the national team.

Canada scored four times while shorthanded, twice each on their only two penalties of the game. Westlake and Larocque opened the scoring just eight seconds apart in the first period, while Bowden and Westlake scored while a man down in a span of 40 seconds in the middle frame.

Five Canadians recorded at least three points – in addition to Westlake’s five, Dixon added three assists to his goal, while Larocque and Bowden picked up one helper each and Bridges had two.

Benoit St-Amand (St-Hubert, Que.) earned his second shutout against the Japanese in five days, making five saves. He needed to turn away just two shots in Canada’s 11-0 tournament-opening win last Sunday.

Canada’s 17 shots in the first period were the most by a team in one period in tournament history, while its 36 shots overall were the second-best mark; the Americans had 40 in their semifinal win over Norway earlier Thursday.

Mitsuru Nagase went the distance in the Japanese goal, finishing with 26 stops. Japan will face Norway for the bronze medal on Saturday afternoon (noon MT).


Game Information
Game Number 8 Round Semifinal
Arena Markin MacPhail Centre - Rink A City, Country Calgary, Alta.
Month / Day / Year 12/06/2012 Time 07:00 PM MT
Attendance
Game Status Final

Box Score 1 2 3 Total
Japan (JPN) 0 0 0 0
Canada (CAN) 3 7 0 10

Goals/Penalties
First Period
Goals:
08:20 CAN 12 Greg Westlake SH
08:28 CAN 26 Dominic Larocque (5 Kevin Rempel) SH
12:50 CAN 18 Billy Bridges (7 Marc Dorion, 11 Adam Dixon)

Penalties:
06:39 CAN 23 Kieran Block (Holding)

Second Period
Goals:
02:12 CAN 11 Adam Dixon (12 Greg Westlake, 27 Brad Bowden)
04:22 CAN 5 Kevin Rempel (18 Billy Bridges)
05:52 CAN 26 Dominic Larocque (11 Adam Dixon)
06:16 CAN 27 Brad Bowden (12 Greg Westlake, 26 Dominic Larocque)
10:01 CAN 27 Brad Bowden (12 Greg Westlake) SH
10:41 CAN 12 Greg Westlake (18 Billy Bridges) SH
14:00 CAN 8 Tyler McGregor (24 Brendan Blanchard, 11 Adam Dixon)

Penalties:
09:44 CAN (Too Many Men)

Third Period
Goals:
None

Penalties:
07:13 JPN 27 Mikio Annaka (Teeing)


Goaltenders
Japan
39 Mitsuru Nagase On 1/00:00 Off 1/15:00
39 Mitsuru Nagase On 2/00:00 Off 2/15:00
39 Mitsuru Nagase On 3/00:00 Off 3/15:00
Canada
22 Benoît St-Amand On 1/00:00 Off 1/15:00
22 Benoît St-Amand On 2/00:00 Off 2/15:00
22 Benoît St-Amand On 3/00:00 Off 3/15:00

Shots on Goal 1 2 3 Total
Japan 1 3 1 5
Canada 17 11 8 36

Player of the Game
Canada 26 Dominic Larocque
Japan 25 Eiji Misawa