Lee Boyadjian
Stream: Canadian Paralympic Committee
Enjoying the benefits of a bye to the semifinals, Canada’s National Para Hockey Team will be rested and ready when it takes on RPC in its final-four match-up Friday at the 2021 IPC World Para Hockey Championship.
For those who maybe haven’t followed along, RPC is the team representing Russia, which is not allowed to use its name or flag as per sanctions levied as a result of a years-long doping scandal.
LAST GAME
Canada’s 10-0 win over the Czechs on Tuesday closed out a perfect preliminary round, with the boys in red and white outscoring opponents 20-1. Tyler McGregor had his second hat trick of the tournament and finished with five points, crossing the 150-point threshold for his career in the process. Zach Lavin also had a hat trick, while Billy Bridges came through with four assists.
RPC also handled the Czechs with ease, picking up a 7-0 win in the quarterfinals on Wednesday. Six different Russians scored in the game, including tournament scoring leader Nikolai Terentev. RPC has the top six scorers in Ostrava, though the totals are a little skewed thanks to a blowout 18-1 win over Norway.
LAST MEETING
Canada and RPC played twice at the 2019 Canadian Tire Para Hockey Cup in Paradise, N.L. Canada lost a 3-2 shootout decision in the preliminary round , but won earned a 3-1 victory in the semifinals . McGregor had both goals in the defeat, while Rob Armstrong, Dominic Cozzolino and James Dunn scored in the win. Dominic Larocque made 21 saves across the two games.
WHAT TO WATCH
Canada’s top line has been excellent through three games, accounting for roughly 43 per cent of all Canadian offence (20/46). While consistency down the line-up was thrown off as a result of injuries to Armstrong and Dunn in the opener, the Canadians will need secondary support in what will be a tougher test than their previous two games.
RPC, meanwhile, has yet to be challenged. With three lopsided wins in the preliminary round (7-0, 9-0, 18-1) and another in the quarterfinals, its defence and goaltending haven’t been tested. Will it be able to hold off the high-powered Canadians, especially if the scoring can be more balanced?
A LOOK BACK
The teams have met only 10 times (the first coming at the 2013 worlds), with the record heavily in favour of the Canadians – eight wins. RPC has only bested Canada twice; in addition to the 2019 game mentioned above, the Russians downed the Canadians in the semifinals at the 2015 World Sledge Hockey Challenge .
It’s the second time the Canadians and Russians have met in the semifinals at worlds; in 2015, an Adam Dixon goal 17 seconds into the third period stood up as the winner in a 3-2 Canadian win .
All-time record: Canada leads 8-2
Canada goals: 31
RPC goals: 19