Game Report 660 Paralympic Winter Games
PLAYED AT: Shayba Arena
Date: Mar 15, 2014
GAME NOTES: BRIDGES, BOWDEN LEAD CANADA TO PARALYMPIC BRONZE WENDY GRAVES SOCHI, Russia – It wasn’t the medal it was hoping to come home with, but in the end Canada’s National Sledge Team captured a well-earned bronze at the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games. Led by the team’s two longest-serving members, Brad Bowden (Orton, Ont.) and Billy Bridges (Summerside, P.E.I.), Canada convincingly defeated Norway 3-0 on Saturday. Bridges scored twice and Bowden had a goal and two assists in a six-minute span in the second period that saw Canada finally break through and open up a scoreless game. Corbin Watson (Kingsville, Ont.) made 10 saves for his third shutout of the Games. While a bronze medal game can sometimes be hard to get up for, neither team was lacking for motivation. Canada was looking to rebound after a disappointing semifinal loss to the Americans; Norway was looking to continue its streak of medalling at every Paralympics. Some solid goaltending by Kristian Buen – as well as by the post on an Adam Dixon (Midland, Ont.) point shot – kept the Canadians off the board through the first 15 minutes. The floodgates would open early in the second, though. The ice was still wet when Bowden stick-handled his way from the side boards through three defenders to flick a backhand past Buen. Two minutes later Canada struck again. After Greg Westlake (Oakville, Ont.) mishandled a cross-ice pass from Bowden in front of the net, Bridges picked up the loose puck and swept it under his sled and past Buen. Norway continued to generate few chances of its own. Its best chance came when forward Loyd-Remi Pallander Solberg broke in behind the Canadian defense, but his shot was easily handled by Watson. Canada put the final nail in the coffin on the power play; a Norwegian clearing attempt was kept in at the blue-line by Dixon, who sent the puck back behind the net and allowed his team to reset. Bridges then went top shelf to finish a crisp passing play from Bowden and Dixon. Norway had struggled to score throughout the tournament – four goals in four games coming in – and with Canada’s defence allowing few forays into is zone, it was hard-pressed to reverse that trend. The Canadians continued to press in the third, allowing its opponents only one good scoring chance early on that Watson easily turned aside. Canada finished with 18 shots on goal – and probably almost as many that didn’t register. The bronze is Canada’s fourth Paralympic medal in sledge hockey. The country previously won gold in 2006, silver in 1998 and bronze in 1994.
Visiting Team: Canada
Home Team: Norway
CANADA LINEUP
Pos No.   Name
G22  St-Amand, Benoit
G30  Watson, Corbin
  Whitson, Derek
  Rempel, Kevin
  Dorion, Marc
  McGregor, Tyler
  Gale, Anthony
 10  Delaney, Ben
 11  Dixon, Adam
 12  Westlake, Greg
 14  Arsenault, Steve
 18  Bridges, Billy
 20  Ludwig, Karl
 25  Gemmell, James
 26  Larocque, Dominic
 27  Bowden, Brad
 29  Murray, Graeme
CANADA PENALTIES
Per. No.  Min  Offence Off PP PS Start On
2nd12 2:00 Roughing minor 8:59  8:598:01
2nd29 2:00 (auto) Interference minor 12:401 12:404:20
3rd29 2:00 (auto) Holding minor 4:591 4:5912:01
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
NORWAY LINEUP
Pos No.   Name
G Buen, Kristian
G18  Hamar, Kjell Christian
  Pedersen, Rolf Einer
  Kirstistuen, Emil
  Hagen, Eskil
  Svee, Stig Tore
  Vaernes, Morten
 10  Rivera, Tor Joakim
 12  Bogle, Magnus
 15  Sørheim, Emil
 16  Nordstoga, Knut Andre
 17  Solberg, Loyd Remi
 20  Hamre, Martin
 21  Austevoll, Ole Bjarte
 22  Bakke, Audin
 23  Klakegg, Jan Roger
   
NORWAY PENALTIES
Per. No.  Min  Offence Off PP PS Start On
1st16 2:00 Teeing minor 7:361 7:369:24
2nd17 2:00 Roughing minor 5:581 5:5811:02
2nd2:00 Teeing minor 8:59  8:598:01
2nd16 2:00 (auto) Interference minor 14:391 14:392:21
3rd2:00 (auto) High-Sticking minor 5:401 5:4011:20
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
CANADA Goals CANADA PLAYERS (plus) NORWAY PLAYERS (minus)
Per. Time    G-As1-As2    
2nd:30  27-27            
2nd2:22  18-12-27            
2nd6:42 PP 18-11-27            
NORWAY Goals NORWAY PLAYERS (plus) CANADA PLAYERS (minus)
Per. Time    G-As1-As2    
                
                
                
POWER PLAY OPPORTUNITIES
CANADA 1 / 4
NORWAY 0 / 2
PENALTY SUMMARY
CANADA 6 min / 3 inf
NORWAY 10 min / 5 inf
POINT SUMMARY
CANADA 3 G + 5 A = 8 Pts
NORWAY 0 G + A = 0 Pts
SCORING 1 2 3 Total
CANADA0303
NORWAY0000
GOALTENDER/SAVES (Time) 1 2 3 Tot. On Off
CAN - Watson (45:00) (W)54110/0:003rd/15:00
NOR - Buen (45:00) (L)91515/0:003rd/15:00
Stars of the Game TIME OF GAME:
  -  Start: 5:00 AM
  -  End: 5:00 AM
  -  Attendance:
OFFICIALS
Referee:
Referee:
Linesmen:
Linesmen:
CERTIFIED CORRECT
 


This report has been checked and verified against the Official Paralympic Winter Games Game Report.

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