After being handed their first loss on Tuesday night, the Canadian men’s para ice hockey team is hoping to bounce back on Friday, when the face off against the Czech Republic.
The team lost 3-2 against the United States’ team in Dawson Creek yesterday. The Americans scored once a period, but Canada was preparing for, an ultimately unsuccessful, comeback by scoring twice in the third. The US had 18 shots on goal, compared to the Canadian’s 16.
This loss pushed Canada’s National Para Hockey Team into second place in the tournament as the semifinal round begins. The four-team tournament will see all of the teams in the finals, though the order has not yet been determined.
On Friday morning, the loss-less Americans will face off against the 0-3 Chinese para hockey team in the Ovintiv Events Centre. Then, at seven that evening, Team Canada will hit the ice and face off against third place Czech Republic, who they beat 3-1 earlier in the tourney.
Saturday’s gold medal game will be determined by the results of tomorrow’s matches, with the winners set to face off at 6 p.m. The bronze medal team will be determined earlier in the day, at 2 p.m.
Canada has not won gold in the tournament since 2013. All the previous teams were bested by the Americans. Since the tournament’s conception in 2007, the current home team has always placed within the top three. Canadian para hockey players secured five gold finishes, ten silvers, and one bronze, according to Hockey Canada.
