Canada takes Bronze in sledge hockey finals

In a rematch with Norway, Canada claimed the bronze medal in sledge hockey this afternoon, in a 3-0 score.

Team Canada came back with a vengeance at Shayba Arena after a heartbreaking loss to Team USA on Thursday. They did not allow the Norwegians to dominate the game, even in a scoreless first period.

The game caught fire when forward Brad Bowden scored the first goal 30 seconds into the second period. Canada upped the intensity when Billy Bridges got the second goal during a power play midway through the game. Bridges also scored the final goal during the third period.

Bridges, it should be noted, is the all-time leading point-getter in Canadian sledge hockey.

Canada goal Corbin Watson spent most of the game worry-free, as most of the play occurred near Norway's end of the ice. He finished the game with 10 saves to post the shutout.

Norway's loss today means it is the first time they have failed to medal since sledge hockey was introduced to the Paralympics in 1994. That year it was played in the Norwegian city of Lillehammer.

In other sledge hockey action, the US team won gold in a 1-0 final against the hosts Russia. This makes the US team back-to-back Paralympic champions.

A bittersweet victory to be sure, the Canadian team have no need to feel ashamed. They are a young team with a bright future.

You can watch this game in its entirety below.

Canada's nightmare sledge match in Sochi

Disappointment came for Canada today.

Defending champions Team USA defeated the Canadians in their sledge hockey semi-final 3-0. This loss means Canada is now forced to play for bronze instead of gold.

Sixteen-year-old Declan Farmer scored the game's first two goals during the first period, at 9:12 and 14:04. Joshua Pauls scored the final goal four minutes into the second period, off a pass by Farmer.

Though 11 shots on goal were made, American goalie Steve Cash blocked them all.

An attempted goal made by Canadian Billy Bridges in the final seconds left in the game was called off because teammate Kevin Rempel was in the crease.

It's a bitter defeat for Canada as it wanted to become the first country to sweep men’s, women’s and sledge hockey at an Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Canada will face Norway at Shayba Arena for the bronze medal on Saturday. USA and hosts Russia will play for the gold medal, also to be played Saturday.

Canada sweeps preliminary round of sledge hockey tournament

Canada wasted no time in wearing down the Czechs and eliminating them from the competition today, in a 1-0 score at.Shayba Arena. However it would take an entire first period in order to get there.

Captain Greg Westlake scored the game's only goal shortly after the second period began. It is his second goal of the tournament.

The Czechs, though weakened, refused to go down without a fight, which explains why the game was scoreless throughout the first period. Their goalie Michael Vapenka proved to be their strongest player, despite failing to block the one shot in the second period.

Westlake told the media afterwards it was a fun game to play, despite being a very stressful one. Canadian forward Tyler McGregor expressed extra joy over today's win because it coincided with his birthday. He says winning gold would be "icing on the cake."

Canada will now face the United States in their semi-final match-up on Thursday, at 12pm ET.

Russia and Norway will play the other semi-final game Thursday.

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Canada's sledge hockey team battles Norway to a 4-0 win

Canada's sledge hockey team roared back to the Shayba Arena this morning to defeat one of their fiercest rivals in a 4-0 game.

Norway was the team who prevented Canada from earning a medal at the 2010 Paralympic Games in Vancouver. The Canadian squad stepped their game up defensively today, and managed to keep it scoreless through the first period.

Then, at the top of the second period, Dominic Larocque scored the game's first goal. It's his third of the tournament. Laroque seized the opportunity to score when Norwegian forward Ole Bjarte Austevoll took a penalty.

Adam Dixon, who CBC Sports analyst Rob Snoek nicknamed 'Duck Dynasty' for his long, shaggy beard, scored the other two goals before the end of the third period. (Dixon scored two goals and two assists against Sweden yesterday.)

The most spectacular goal by far was the last one scored by Marc Dorion in the final 22 seconds of the game. It was his first goal of the tournament.

With today's second win, the Canadian team tops the Group A standings, with 6 points. The United States leads Group B.

Canada has Monday off before facing the Czech Republic on Tuesday. The Czechs are currently the second-place team in Group A.

Sledge hockey in Sochi begins with a blowout

The first men's ice sledge hockey game was played today between Canada and Sweden. This year Canada is seeking redemption after finishing in fourth place in Vancouver four years ago. They began their quest today with a bang. Or, to put it more accurately, with a blowout.

Sweden, the country that invented sledge hockey, were met with a crushing defeat as the Canadians trounced them 10-1. Among the top Canadians who scored goals were Adam Dixon, Anthony Gale and Dominic Larocque. Billy Bridges scored the first goal against Sweden just over a minute after the game started.

Greg Westlake, Canada's team captain, told CBC Sports following the game that despite today's win, he would like to seem his teammates improve defensively. They will get their chance in tomorrow's game against Norway.

The men's Norwegian team played their first game against the Czech Republic today, and won by a score of 2-1.

Canadian team coach Mike Mondin assured fans that his sledge hockey team will be fully prepared to face the tough Norwegian team tomorrow.

The preliminary round of men's sledge hockey will continue until Thursday, when the top four teams advance to the semi-finals. Canada is predicted to be a medal favourite at these games.