The 2018 Canadian Tire Para Hockey cup is being hosted at the Western Fair in London until December 8th. The worlds best sledge hockey teams are in the Forest City battling it out for the gold medal. The three sledge hockey medalists from the 2018 Paralympic Games in Peyoncheng are the teams in this elite tournament. Team USA are the raining Paralympic champions, Team Canada claimed silver, and Team Korea finished third earning the bronze medal.
Team USA and Team Canada went head to head Monday night at the Western Fair in a rematch of the Paralympic final, where the United States won in overtime 2-1. Canada was on the losing end again, getting shut out 3-0 by a group of very offensive Americans.
Showing respect post game.
The United States dominated most of the game and although Canada did have their chances, they could not capitalize.
Canada and USA will play in another preliminary round game Thursday and Canadian captain Liam Hickey says that the boys in red and white are going to need to capitalize on the chances The States give them.
“We need to get back to playing Team Canada hockey. When we play our style of game we are a very strong team, and tough to beat,” adds Hickey.
Canada has played two games in two days, but Hickey says that being tired is no excuse to not perform well.
“It’s always tough having to play back to backs, but we are professionals and we know how to deal with that and that’s what we’re trained to do. It’s not an excuse and we need to learn from it.”
Canada will have Tuesday off to rest and recover but are back in action against Team Korea Wednesday afternoon. With one win and one loss thus far in the tournament Hickey knows that Wednesday is a must win for Canada.
A sea of red and white.
“It’s definitely a big game and we know that. We are going to take care of our bodies now, and rehydrate, refuel, and we will be ready to go.”
Getting to play on home soil is every hockey players dream, and now a reality for every member of Canada’s Sledge Hockey Team. Hickey says that getting to play in front of friends and family, and seeing all the red in white in the stands is a huge motivator, and that Canada is excited to have the opportunity to get back in the win column Wednesday afternoon against Korea.
