Para Cup silver medal an important building block for Team Canada

CHARLOTTETOWN- Team Canada players mentioned more than once they wanted to end the USA’s gold medal streak at the annual Para Hockey Cup.

However a strong forechecking U.S. team scored three unanswered goals in the third period to defeat Canada 4-1 and take the title for the ninth straight time. The Canadians two losses this week were to their archrivals but Liam Hickey says the team is staying focused on the big picture.

‘’We’re taking a lot of positives from this tournament,’’ said Hickey, a three-time Paralympian from St. John’s N.L., after receiving his silver medal. ‘’It wasn’t the result we wanted but we made a lot of big strides as a team. There’s so much to take away and build on going into the second half of the season.’’

The teams were tied 1-1 after two periods before the Americans top line of tournament leading scorer Declan Farmer, Malik Jones and Evan Nichols took control of the game consistently hemming the Canadians in their zone.

Defenceman Jack Wallace broke the tie completing a quick passing play with Farmer and Jones at 2:34. Then two minutes later Farmer slipped the puck under Canadian goaltender Corbin Watson. Josh Pauls, with his second of the game, extended the lead with three and half minutes to go.

“I really thought our forecheck was good tonight, we generated some chances and some offensive zone time,’’ said Canada’s head coach Russ Herrington. “At the end, they were able to outperform us in the third period.’’

Watson was absolutely outstanding especially in the second period stopping all 10 American shots including Farmer on a breakaway. The Americans outshot Canada 21-12. In three games this week, Corbin maintained a 2.00 goals against average.

Hickey forms Canada’s number-one line with Tyler McGregor and Dominic Cozzolino and the trio was dynamite all week. McGregor scored his team leading seventh goal and ninth point when he intercepted a pass and fired it by Jen Lee to tie the game 1-1.

Cozzolino, a standout in the face-off circle, contributed seven assists this week while Hickey had five goals and two assists.

‘’Those two guys are a couple of the best players in the world,’’ said Hickey. ‘’We feel we have extremely good chemistry and we want to be on the ice for those big moments.’’

Veteran defenceman Tyrone Henry of Ottawa was named Canada’s player of the game.

‘’For us it’s just a step-by-step process,’’ said Henry, a two-time Paralympian from Carp, Ont. ‘’We’re continuing to grow as a team, developing that chemistry and making sure we are going to be ready to go for gold again at the worlds.’’

Canada went 2-1 in the prelims with easy wins over Czechia and China. On Friday, Canada beat the Czechs 3-1 in the semifinal. China defeated Czechia 4-0 Saturday for the bronze.

‘’I really liked the growth of our younger players in particular,’’ added Herrington. ‘’For most of the games and tonight included all the players we dressed are finding ways to contribute whether that is on the scoresheet or getting out and changing momentum.”

Last season, Team Canada had a similar approach to its season and it ended in triumph with a gold medal at the world championships, it’s first since 2017.

Now it’s confident that same recipe can also be successful for the 2025 worlds in Buffalo this May and ultimately the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games in Milan-Cortina.