MOOSE JAW, Sask. – The U.S. scored two goals late in the third period to defeat Canada 3-0 as preliminary round play concluded for both teams Wednesday night at the 2023 World Para Ice Hockey Championships.
The Americans finish atop pool A with a perfect 3-0 mark while the Canadians drop to 2-1. Both teams advance to the semifinals. Canada will meet the winner of the Czechia-Italy quarterfinal on Saturday at 7 p.m. local (9 p.m. ET).
Goaltender Dominic Larocque stopped 14 of 16 shots and was named Canada’s player of the game.
“The Americans know us really well and we know them,’’ said Larocque, a three-time Paralympian. ‘’It’s a new year for us, new guys on the team, but it’s part of the process to build on that. Win or lose, we’ll build on the game and hopefully we will see them again.’’
Brody Roybal got the Americans on the board with less than six minutes left in the second period. Jack Wallace added some insurance for the United States with a power play goal with under four minutes to go in the third. Travis Dodson sealed the deal for the Americans with an empty net goal with 1:31 to go.
The United States outshot Canada 17-9.
In other games Wednesday, China beat Germany 7-0 and Italy defeated Norway 3-1.
Thursday is an off day at the tournament. The other quarterfinal match on Friday is China against South Korea.
All games can be watched live on HockeyCanada.ca.
