Canada bounces Czechs in milestones game at 2025 International Para Hockey Cup
First win for head coach Boris Rybalka
OSTRAVA, Czechia – James Dunn earned his 100th career point and Boris Rybalka his first win as Team Canada’s head coach on Tuesday in a 6-1 victory over Czechia at the five-country 2025 International Para Hockey Cup.
The Canadians even their record at 1-1. They lost 2-1 to the U.S. in overtime on Monday.
Dunn, a two-time Paralympian from Wallacetown, Ont., opened the scoring for Canada at the 10:16 mark of the first period. The Canadians led 2-0 after the first period and 4-1 after the second.
“I owe a lot to all the guys I have played with over the years,’’ said Dunn about his achievement. ‘I’ve been fortunate to have a lot of great linemates feeding me pucks over the years and guys that could put the puck in the net when I gave it to them.
‘’It’s an honour and I’m incredibly proud.”
Team captain Tyler McGregor led the Canadian attack with a goal and two assists, his linemates Dominic Cozzolino and Liam Hickey added a goal and assist each while Shawn Burnett and Anton Jacobs-Webb rounded out the scoring.
It was a first career Team Canada goal for Burnett, also named Canada’s player of the game.
Rybalka, hired as head coach in August, is the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s all-time leader in wins with 683. On Tuesday he earned victory number one at the helm of Team Canada.
“For us it’s a process, working to get better every day,’’ he said. ‘’Everyone is contributing, and when that happens we are going to have success.”
Canada continues preliminary round play on Thursday at 9 a.m. (ET) against China. The game is being streamed live on the Czech Para Hockey YouTube channel.
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