CALGARY, Alta. – Canada’s National Sledge Team face the United States in a three-game series in Charlotte, N.C., from Jan. 9-11.

The series marks Canada’s first international competition since winning the gold medal at the 2013 World Sledge Hockey Challenge in Toronto, Ont., in December. Canada faced the U.S. twice during the event, earning a 4-1 win in the preliminary round and a 3-1 victory in the gold medal game.

It will mark the final opportunity for Canada’s coaching staff to evaluate the players prior to the roster being nominated to compete at the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, from March 7-16.

“This is a great opportunity for our team to build on what we accomplished in December,” said Mike Mondin, head coach of Canada’s National Sledge Team. “Both teams will be competing hard in order to prepare for the Paralympics.”

All games in the series will be webcast on FASTHockey.com.

NOTE TO MEDIA: Keegan Goodrich, Hockey Canada’s coordinator of media relations, is with the team and can assist with any media interview requests. He can be reached at [email protected].

Follow Hockey Canada’s sledge hockey program online at www.hockeycanada.ca, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hockeycanada and www.facebook.com/hcsledge, and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/hockeycanada and www.twitter.com/hc_sledge.