U.S. standing in Canada’s way again
SOCHI, Russia — Anybody up for Canada-U.S., a third time in Sochi?
The Canadian women’s team beat the Americans in dramatic, come-from-behind fashion in overtime to win Olympic gold a month ago. And the Canadian men’s team vanquished the U.S. in a semifinal at the Olympics en route to a gold medal victory over Sweden.
On Thursday, the two countries meet again in a sledge hockey semifinal at the 2014 Winter Paralympics.
“I don’t like them right now because they’re in the way,” fiery Canadian captain Greg Westlake says of their American rivals.
“And I want gold medals. And there’s only one way to get there and we have to go through them.”
The Americans are the reigning Paralympic champions, having won in Vancouver in 2010 when an aging Canadian squad finished fourth.
But a Canadian squad infused with some skilled young talent beat the U.S. 1-0 in the 2013 world championship final last April in Korea and then beat them twice, including 3-1 in the final, at the World Sledge Hockey Challenge in Toronto in December.
The U.S. did, however, win two of three games in an exhibition series in Charlotte, N.C., in January.
“We know what to expect from the U.S. and they know what to expect from us,” says Canadian forward Billy Bridges.
“I’ll be nothing short of a barn-burner, that’s for sure. I don’t think there’s a single Canadian who can’t get up for a Canada-USA rivalry match.”
Canada went 3-0 during the round robin at the Paralympics to finish atop Group A. The U.S. (2-1) was second in Group B after being upset by Russia 2-1 on Tuesday in an emotion-charged thriller at Shayba Arena.