Canada clinched the silver medal at the Para Hockey Cup final on Saturday night in Dawson Creek, B.C., succumbing to the United States 2-0. Brett Bolton netted a goal in the opening period, while Brody Roybal sealed the victory with an empty-netter. The American team, reigning world and Olympic Para hockey champions, were backed by Jen Lee’s 10 saves for a shutout, while Corbin Watson made 16 saves for Canada.
Reflecting on the tournament, Canadian forward Adam Dixon expressed satisfaction with the team’s improvement throughout each game, emphasizing the growing sense of belief within the squad. The United States secured their unprecedented 10th consecutive Para Cup championship, boasting a record 12 titles overall. They maintained a perfect 5-0-0-0 record in the event, marking their seventh straight undefeated Para Hockey Cup.
Despite Canada going 3-0-2-0 in the tournament, both losses were handed by the U.S., including a 3-2 defeat in the preliminary round. In the final match, Canada missed crucial scoring opportunities, including two power plays in the second period, ending the game 0-for-3. The U.S. also failed to convert their two power play attempts.
Looking ahead to the Paralympics, Canada’s captain Tyler McGregor highlighted the importance of consistency and execution in critical moments for future success. The team plans to prepare rigorously with training camps in Calgary and Oakville before the Paralympics in Milan.
In a separate match, China secured their second consecutive bronze medal by defeating the Czech team 4-2. Dianpeng Qiu, Xiaodong Song, Zhidong Wang, and Jintao Tian contributed to China’s offense, while Wei Wang made seven saves.
Canada is scheduled to commence their Paralympic campaign on March 7 against Slovakia, followed by matches against Germany and the Czech Republic in the preliminary round. The tournament will culminate with the medal games on March 15, as the team aims to represent Canada to the best of their ability in Milan.