GAME STATS: USA 5, CANADA 1 OSTRAVA, Czech Republic – Dominic Larocque (Quebec City, Quebec) was sensational in a 34-save performance and Billy Bridges (Summerside, P.E.I.) scored on the power play in the first period, but Canada’s National Para Hockey Team fell 5-1 to the United States in the gold medal game Saturday at the 2021 IPC World Para Hockey Championship.
It is the third time the Canadians have taken the runner-up spot at worlds; it came up short against the Americans in 2015 in Buffalo, N.Y., and in 2019, also in Ostrava.
The Canadians came in with momentum after a 2-1 win over the U.S. to open up the preliminary round a week ago, and they matched the Americans stride for stride in the early minutes of the final.
A Canadian penalty near the midway mark gave the U.S. an opportunity on the power play, and it wouldn’t miss. Declan Farmer picked up a deflected puck near the edge of the crease and fired past Larocque with this left hand for a 1-0 lead.
A little over three minutes later, the U.S. added to its advantage when Travis Dodson, from a sharp angle, managed to sneak the puck between the post and the Canadian netminder.
Canada would get a power play of its own a few minutes later, and strike to get back within a goal. Greg Westlake (Oakville, Ont.) picked up the puck near the face-off dot and went across the ice for Bridges, who sent a blistering shot past U.S. netminder Steve Cash to make it 2-1 heading to the intermission.
But the late goal did not translate into momentum for the Canadians, who were outshot 18-0 in the second period and conceded a pair of goals; Josh Pauls beat Larocque from between the hashmarks just seconds into a 5-on-3 advantage, while Farmer capitalized on a breakaway with just over a minute to go in the period.
Action was back to end-to-end to start the third, though Canada struggled to generate another good opportunity.
David Eustace scored midway through the final frame to put the U.S. ahead 5-1 and cap the scoring.
A pair of Canadians were recognized for their efforts follow the tournament; Larocque was named Top Goaltender after fashioning a 1.99 goals-against average and .889 save percentage in four appearances, while Liam Hickey (St. John’s, N.L.) earned Top Defenceman honours with three goals, 10 points and a +12 mark in five games.
Both repeated as award winners after earning the same accolades at the 2019 para worlds.
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