CALGARY, Alta. – Canada’s National Sledge Team is in Nagano, Japan, to take part in an international sledge hockey tournament from March 11-14 that includes the top four finishers from the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games – the United States, Japan, Norway and Canada.

It marks the third time Canada has travelled to Japan for this tournament – it won gold in 2008 in Asahikawa, beating Norway 3-2 in the gold medal game, and again in 2009 in Nagano, defeating the U.S. 5-0 in the final.

“After a great three-game series against the U.S. and Japan in November, the team is really looking forward to the challenge of playing Japan, Norway and the U.S. in Nagano,” said National Sledge Team head coach Mike Mondin. “We know that we are facing three very strong opponents so it will be another great week for sledge hockey.”

Canada opened its 2010-11 season last October with a victory over the United States in a three-game series in Toronto, a series in which all three games were decided in a shootout. Canada then went a perfect 3-0 against the United States and Japan in three-game series in Rochester, N.Y., in November, outscoring the opposition 31-0 in the three games.

The season concludes for Canada’s National Sledge Hockey Team when London, Ont., hosts the 2011 World Sledge Hockey Challenge, April 18-23 at the Western Fair Sports Centre. Canada has won a pair of gold medals (2007, 2008) and one silver medal (2009) at the event, which will include the same four teams competing in Nagano.

NOTE TO MEDIA - Adam Crockatt, Hockey Canada’s manager of hockey operations/national teams, is on-site with the team and can assist with any media interview requests. He can be reached at [email protected].