Canadians on rampage toward golden prize
GANGNEUNG, SOUTH KOREA Billy Bridges lived through the lean years of Canadian sledge hockey, when the privilege of playing for Canada’s national team came with a hefty $15,000 price tag.
“Plus we had to pay for our travel and all our own food. We were eating fast food. We had 4 a.m., 5 a.m. ice times because that’s all we could afford: the cheap ice,” Bridges said.
Bridges and Tyler McGregor scored two goals apiece as the Canadians dispatched South Korea 7-0 in Thursday’s Paralympic hockey semifinals, booking their first berth in the gold-medal game since they won in 2006.
They will face the No. 1-ranked Americans, who rolled past Italy 10-1 in their semifinal, Saturday.
Canada, which beat the U.S. 4-1 for a record fourth world title last year, has yet to be tested in this tournament, running roughshod over opponents by a 42-0 margin.
Bridges credits Hockey Canada, which brought Canadian sledge hockey under its umbrella in 2004, with raising the level of excellence and professionalism.
“I’m so lucky that I was a part of the team before Hockey Canada took over because I got a chance to see what they’ve done,” said Bridges, a five-time Paralympian from Summerside, P.E.I.
The players are as well-funded as “any amateur athlete,” Bridges said, receiving a monthly stipend from Sport Canada, money from Own The Podium, plus sponsorships.
“I can’t believe I’m a disabled athlete, basically making a living and playing hockey on the greatest stage and having people watch and doing interviews,” said Bridges, who was born with spina bifida. “Ten-year-old me would never believe this right now, when I realized I was a disabled person and that I wasn’t going to the NHL. That was always my dream: to go to the NHL and be a big hockey star. And it’s something special to be a part of this now.”
The Canadians put on a show at Gangneung Hockey Centre with Liam Hickey, Dom Cozzolino and Greg Westlake scoring one goal each. Corbin Watson and Dominic Larocque shared time in net, making a save apiece as the Canadians outshot South Korea 24-2.
Canadian coach Ken Babey would have liked to see more parity in a tournament that saw the Americans breeze through the first round as well, outscoring opponents 28-0.
Canada and the U.S. also have the youngest teams with an average age of about 27. There are five players over 50 in the tournament, including 61-year-old Japanese netminder Shinobu Fukushima.
“It’s kind of like women’s hockey in the sense that we have to help grow the game, we have to share our knowledge, share some of our resources because it’s not going to grow unless we do,” he said. “I really think as leaders, Canada and the United States ... I think we should continue to do what we do and maybe do even more.”
Canada had to settle for bronze four years ago in Sochi after losing to the U.S. in the semis. The U.S. won gold against the Russians, who were banned from Pyeongchang due to doping infractions.