Canada clinched a silver medal following a 2-0 defeat to the United States in the Para Hockey Cup final held in Dawson Creek, B.C. Brett Bolton netted a goal in the initial period, and Brody Roybal secured an empty-net goal for the current world and Olympic Para hockey titleholders. Jen Lee achieved a shutout with 10 saves, while Corbin Watson made 16 saves in Canada’s loss.
Canadian forward Adam Dixon expressed satisfaction with the team’s overall performance, highlighting the improvement shown in each game and the growing team confidence. The U.S. team claimed their 10th consecutive Para Cup championship, holding a record 12 titles in total. They concluded the event with a flawless 5-0-0-0 record, maintaining an undefeated streak at the Para Hockey Cup for the seventh successive time.
In response to the victory, U.S. head coach David Hoff praised his team’s defensive play and commended goalie Jen for her standout performance. Canada, on the other hand, has faced defeat in the last nine Para Hockey Cup finals since 2016, despite having won five gold medals previously, the most recent being in 2013.
Canada’s performance in the four-team tournament saw them record a 3-0-2-0 standing, with losses against the U.S. in both encounters. Despite having opportunities to score, including two power plays in the final, Canada failed to convert, finishing the game 0-for-3. The U.S. also struggled on the power play, going 0-for-2.
Looking ahead to the Paralympics, Canada captain Tyler McGregor emphasized the importance of consistency and execution in crucial moments, expressing confidence in the team’s readiness for the upcoming games in Milan in March. Canada’s National Para Hockey team will undergo training camps in Calgary and Oakville in preparation for the Paralympics.
The Paralympic schedule will see Canada facing Slovakia on March 7, followed by matches against Germany and Czech Republic in the preliminary round. The tournament will culminate with the medal games on March 15. Head coach Boris Rybalka expressed pride in the team’s progress so far and optimism for the upcoming season.
In a separate match, China secured back-to-back bronze medals at the Para Cup by defeating the Czech team 4-2. Dianpeng Qiu, Xiaodong Song, Zhidong Wang, and Jintao Tian contributed to China’s victory, with Wei Wang making seven saves in goal.