THURSDAY, DEC. 7

Declan Farmer (Tampa, Fla.) registered a goal and three assists as the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team defeated Italy, 5-1, today to advance to the championship game of the 2017 World Sled Hockey Challenge on Saturday (Dec. 9). For the recap, highlights and postgame comments, click here.

TEAM USA IN WSHS SEMIFINALS
A victory today gave the U.S. its seventh-straight berth in a World Sled Hockey Challenge championship game. Team USA’s last WSHC semifinal loss came in the 2011 (April) World Sled Hockey Challenge, where the U.S. fell to Norway, 5-4, in London, Ontario.
    Over the last six WSHC tournaments, the U.S. has gone on to win four titles (2012, 2015, 2016 (Jan.), 2016 (Dec.) and two runner-up finishes (2011 (Nov.), 2013).

LEADING THE WAY
Entering today's semifinal games, Declan Farmer (Tampa, Fla.), Kevin McKee (Chicago, Ill.) and Brody Roybal (Northlake, Ill.) have each tallied at least one point. Farmer leads the way with 10 (5-5) while Roybal is second with 8 (4-4) and McKee is third with 7 (4-3). Meanwhile, through two starts goaltender Steve Cash (Overland, Mo.) is sporting a 1.00 goals against average, 0.933 save percentage, two wins and one shutout as Jen Lee (San Francisco, Calif.) also has a win, shutout and perfect goals against average and save percentage. 

LAST GAME: USA 5, CAN 2
Last night, Steve Cash (Overland, Mo.) stopped 20 shots and Declan Farmer (Tampa, Fla.), Kevin McKee (Chicago, Ill.), Josh Misiewicz (La Grange, Ill.) and Brody Roybal (Northlake, Ill.) all scored as Team USA edged Canda, 5-2. Misiewicz (1-2--3) and Roybal (2-1--3) each tallied three points in the victory as Farmer, McKee and Roybal extended their point streaks to three games. Cash earned player of the game honors.