MARLBOROUGH, MA, USA – Canada’s National Sledge Hockey Team won a gold medal at the 2008 IPC Sledge Hockey World Championship on Saturday, after defeating Norway 3-2 at the New England Sports Center in Marlborough, Massachussetts.

Greg Westlake scored with nine seconds left in the game, in a thrilling finish, to secure the win for Canada. Bradley Bowden had two assists for Canada, while Billy Bridges and Adam Dixon each scored Canada’s other goals.

Canada and Norway also faced off in the 2006 Paralympic Winter Games championship game in Turin, Italy in March 2008, with Canada coming away with its first Paralympic gold medal on the strength of a 2-0 victory.

In other games on the final day of the 2008 IPC Sledge Hockey World Championship, USA, the host country, captured a bronze medal with a 3-1 win over Japan. Germany finished 5th on the strength of a 6-1 win over Italy.

This marks Canada’s second Sledge Hockey World Championship gold medal, having won the 2000 IPC Sledge Hockey World Championship in Salt Lake City, Utah along with one Paralympic gold medal (2006), one Paralympic silver medal (1998) and one Paralympic bronze medal (1994). Canada finished fourth at the last Sledge Hockey World Championship, held in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden.

The host site of the 2009 IPC Sledge Hockey World Championship has not been announced at this time.

Canada’s roster at the 2008 Worlds includes 14 players who were members of Canada’s National Sledge Team at the 2006 Paralympic Winter Games in Turin, Italy, winning Canada’s first gold medal in sledge hockey, and 13 members of the National Sledge Team from the 2004 IPC Sledge Hockey World Championship.

MEDIA REQUESTS – To arrange interviews with any players, please contact Andre Brin, Manager, Communications with Hockey Canada at either  [email protected] / (403) 540-8444.

RETURN INFORMATION – Members of Canada’s National Sledge Hockey Team will be returning to Canada on Sunday, April 6th. Final destination information is as follows (all times listed are local):

Ottawa, ON 5:35 pm AC 8047
Hervé Lord, Shawn Matheson, Todd Nicholson, Shaunna Taylor (Sport psychologist)

Ottawa, ON 6:15 pm AC 7687
Benoit St-Amant, Dany Vernier

Toronto, ON 8:38 pm AC 365
Adam Dixon, Bradley Bowden, Billy Bridges, Paul Rosen, Greg
Westlake, Jeff Snyder (Head Coach), Shawn Frydberg (Asst. coach)

Ottawa, ON 10:20 pm AC 8049
Graeme Murray, Tony Carbonette (Athletic Therapist), Roch Dorion
(Equipment manager)

Windsor, ON 11:52 pm AC 7761 Raymond Grassi

NOTE – Flight information may change without notice.
Players not listed are returning home by car.

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, and was very popular with fans in Torino in 2006, as Canada captured a gold medal in sledge hockey for the first time at the Paralympics