Weekend recap: Cassidy, Smith 1-2 at L.A. Marathon; Canada-USA split Para ice hockey series

OTTAWA – Canadians Josh Cassidy and Tristan Smyth won gold and silver in the wheelchair racing event at the L.A. Marathon on Sunday which ran from Dodger Stadium to Santa Monica.

Cassidy, a three-time Paralympian and 2012 Boston Marathon champ from Guelph, Ont., was the decisive victor in one hour and 31 minutes and 47 seconds with Smyth finishing in 1:38:33.

Smyth, from Maple Ridge, B.C. was on the 2016 Paralympic Games team and 2018 Commonwealth Games team.

Canada splits two-game series vs U.S. in Para ice hockey

In a tune-up for next month’s world championships, Canada and the U.S. split a two-game series held this past weekend in Indian Trail, North Carolina. Last March, the U.S. defeated Canada in the gold medal final at the Paralympic Winter Games. They are favored to meet for world gold.

In game one Friday, Tyler McGregor and Dominic Cozzolino had a goal and an assist apiece, Liam Hickey scored the winner and Canada’s held off a late push to earn a 4-3 win.

In game two Saturday, the U.S. rebounded with a 4-1 victory over the Canadians. McGregor was Canada’s marksman, scoring in the third period.

‘’It sets us up very well for the world championship in the sense that we’ve grown a lot over the last couple months,’’ said Canada’s head coach Ken Babey. ‘’The training is evident because that third period was good again tonight.”

CPC Notebook:
–    The schedule for the Para ice hockey world championships April 27 to May 4 in Ostrava, Czech Republic was announced today. Canada is in Pool A with the US, South Korea and Norway. The Canadians open against the Americans on April 27.

–    Rob Shaw of North Bay, Ont., reached the second round in the Quad Division at the Cajun Classic wheelchair tennis tournament in Baton Rouge.

–    At the wheelchair fencing World Cup in Pisa, Italy, Matthieu Hébert of Montreal and Ryan Rousell of Saskatoon were 21st and 24th in men’s sabre and Sylvia Morell of Montreal 16th in women’s sabre.