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U.S. Blanks Japan, 10-0, in 2018 Paralympics Opener

By USAHockey.com, 03/10/18, 9:30PM EST

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Roybal nets hat trick; U.S. back in action vs. Czechs tomorrow

GANGNEUNG, South Korea – Brody Roybal (Northlake, Ill.) netted a hat trick and eight different players scored as the 2018 U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team defeated Japan, 10-0, in its first preliminary round game of the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games.

“We were extremely focused for 45 minutes and played a good hockey game,” said Guy Gosselin, head coach of the 2018 U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team. “We moved the puck and communicated really well. This is a great start, but we need to stay focused with a game against the Czech Republic in less than 24 hours.”

The United States (1-0-0-0/W-OTW-OTL-L) will return to Paralympic action tomorrow, March 12, when it takes on the Czech Republic in its second preliminary round game. Puck drop at Gangneung Hockey Center is slated for 12 p.m. local time, making it an 11 p.m. ET puck drop on March 11 back in the United States. The contest will be televised live on NBCSN, in addition being streamed live on NBCOlympics.com.

Kevin McKee (Chicago, Ill.) opened the scoring just 1:01 into the game when Nikko Landeros (Johnstown, Colo.) found him in the slot for a shot that beat Japanese goaltender Shinobu Fukushima.

Team USA doubled its lead 3:33 later when Roybal tallied his first goal of the game. The play started after he took a pass from Misiewicz, skated towards the crease and lifted a shot over Fukushima’s glove.

Noah Grove (Frederick, Md.) made it 3-0 with 2:34 remaining in the opening stanza when he rifled a left-handed wrist shot from the left faceoff dot into the top left corner.

A six-goal second period pushed Team USA’s lead to 9-0. The scoring started five minutes into the period, when Landeros connected on the power play at 5:25 before Declan Farmer (Tampa Fla.) scored an unassisted effort just 30 seconds later.

Less than three minutes later, the U.S. connected four times in a span of 1:29. Luke McDermott (Westerlo, N.Y.) started the scoring off assists from Adam Page (Lancaster, N.Y.) and DeQuebec. Just 34 seconds later, Rico Roman tapped in an initial shot by Page to make it 7-0 in favor of the U.S. Roybal then added his second goal just eight seconds later before completing his hat trick with 5:11 to play in the period.

Jack Wallace (Franklin Lakes, N.J.) added a goal 8:25 into the final period to account for the 10-0 final.

Goaltender Jen Lee (San Francisco, Calif.) stopped both shots he faced in the win.

NOTES: The U.S. outshot Japan, 24-2, went 1-for-2 on the power play and finished 1-for-1 on the penalty kill. For complete game statistics, click here … Deloitte, Labatt USA and Toyota are proud sponsors of the 2018 U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team … The 2018 U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team was announced on Jan. 1, 2018, and its full 17-player roster can be seen hereDan Brennan (Colorado Springs, Colo.), director of sled national teams for USA Hockey, is serving as the general manager of the 2018 U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team … Guy Gosselin (Grafton, Wis.), a two-time U.S. Olympian (1988, 1992) and USA Hockey’s regional manager of the American Development Model, is head coach of Team USA … USA Hockey’s international council, chaired by Gavin Regan (Potsdam, N.Y.), vice president of USA Hockey, has oversight responsibilities for the U.S. Paralympic team.

 


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U.S. Paralympic Schedule

Date Opponent/Round Result Venue
Sun., March 11 Japan
Preliminary
W, 10-0 Gangneung Hockey Centre
Mon., March 12 Czech Republic
Preliminary
W, 10-0 Gangneung Hockey Centre
Tues., March 13 Korea
Preliminary
W, 8-0 Gangneung Hockey Centre
Thurs., March 15 Italy
Semifinals
W, 10-1 Gangneung Hockey Centre
Sun., March 18 Canada
Gold-Medal Game
W, 2-1 (OT) Gangneung Hockey Centre

2018 Paralympic News