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The host nation surprised the sledge-hockey global Sunday evening at Calgary’s WinSport Area.
‘Oh Canada,’ you may say with jubilation.
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And the completely happy Canucks had been making a song ‘O Canada’ oh-so proudly within the bright moments upcoming provoking the nemesis American citizens 2-1 within the gold-medal fit of the 2024 International Para Ice Hockey Championship.
“I don’t know what to say,” mentioned Canada captain Tyler McGregor. “It means a lot — like this is home. We all have our family and friends here. And it’s the first time we’ve ever been able to win on home ice.
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“It hits different being able to sing your national anthem here,” persevered McGregor, of Woodland, Ont. “Especially with the road that we’ve been on the past number of years.
“It hasn’t gone well.”
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Certainly, the triumph used to be a awe in that Canada hadn’t been in a position to overcome the US in a global finale because the 2017 event in Gangneung, South Korea.
Till Sunday, the Canadians had misplaced six-straight Para global deciders — and the 5-0 gold-medal fit on the 2022 Beijing Iciness Olympic Video games — to the juggernaut American citizens.
And even if gold wasn’t at the form, it were a protracted shedding run in opposition to the U.S., courting as far back as Oct. 29, 2021, to a 4-2 lead to suburban St. Louis.
This moment unwanted, the Canadians haven’t received in 10 conferences with their arch-rivals, with the newest tilt endmost presen ocular the American citizens manage the Canucks through a 4-1 determination within the finale of a two-game sequence in Calgary.
However they became that round when it counted maximum at WinSport.
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“This started two years ago, when we started to turn the page on Beijing and set ourselves towards the 2026 Paralympics,” McGregor mentioned. “We knew that we needed to strengthen our culture and our commitment to our preparation while we were together and while we’re at home. So this isn’t just today. This is a lot of quiet dark moments at home when we’re not training together and we’re by ourselves. And you have to trust that the teammate beside you is making that commitment.
“I think most people have reason to break and fold the cards and start to blame each other in moments like that when times are hard,” the captain persevered. “And we decided to use that as a source of strength and come together and love and care about each other. That team and the support staff and the coaching staff, we earned that win.”
It didn’t speed lengthy for the Canadians to get their price on.
Simply 35 seconds in, Ontario’s Dominic Cozzolino scored for the house aspect to whisk the various enthusiasts at WinSport right into a frenzy.
The function — on assists from Ontario’s Rob Armstrong and Calgary’s Auren Halbert — used to be the one shot for Canada within the first length, and it used to be a tap-in for the wide-open Canadian ahead to overcome big name American netminder Jen Lee.
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On the alternative finish, diminutive Adam Kingsmill used to be at his best possible for Canada, preventing all seven pictures within the first length and upcoming 4 extra in the second one, together with a breakaway through Evan Nichols.
Any other middle-frame ban through Kingsmill — this one off Travis Dodson — used to be adopted in a while upcoming through a gutty function from the Canucks.
Tyler McGregor were given gritty i’m late the American internet, operating the puck isolated and popping it out entrance the place Anton Jacobs-Webb one-timed it pace Lee for the impressive 2-0 Canadian merit.
“I saw Macker with the puck,” mentioned Jacobs-Webb. “I know how hard he forechecks. I know how quick he makes that pass. So I had to be ready. It was just instinctive. I just made that shot.”
From there, it used to be all The united states, as the US driven and confused and peppered Canada in looking to assemble a comeback bid.
In the end, they did get at the board, but it surely took awhile, with Declan Farmer getting a function up over Kingsmill with simply 3:41 left in legislation. It used to be Farmer’s eleventh function of the event.
However effort as they may, the American citizens — who out-shot Canada 25-9 — couldn’t sift some other puck through game-MVP Kingsmill regardless of dominating the general three-plus mins — and enough quantity extra forward of that — within the championship affair.
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“Adam had an incredible game,” mentioned Jacobs-Webb. “He really showed up. He was solid, he was calm in net, and he was there for every shot. We knew we had to weather the storm, and that’s what we’ve been practising for years. We know that about them.
“We’ve played them so many times, so we were ready for that.”
The victory additionally marks redemption for the 6-1 loss suffered endmost moment to the American citizens, additionally on house ice in Moose Jaw, Sask.
“This is a long time coming. A lot of Para cups and a lot of silver medals,” mentioned Jacobs-Webb. “I’ve never won a world championship on this team, and it is an incredible feeling for the guys. We’ve been battling — we’ve put so much into it this year.
“We had the belief,” persevered Jacobs-Webb. “We knew we were doing the right thing. We had the right plan. We just stuck with it.
“This is an incredible feeling.”
Canada survived a semifinal mystery, getting targets 84 seconds except Micah Kovacevich and Cozzolino early within the 3rd length to earn a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over China on Friday evening. Tyler McGregor added two assists for the Canadians.
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The American citizens had a nail-biter of their very own in Friday’s first semi, getting the go-ahead function from Malik Jones with 7:01 excess to attain a 3-1 win over Czechia and get the probability to cover their global name. Chris Douglas scored the alternative two targets for the U.S.
In the meantime, Czechia captured the bronze medal with a 3-2 fringe of China previous Sunday, sooner than Canada assumed their spot atop the sector with their gritty blonde efficiency.
“We all had a common belief in ourselves and the process that we’ve been through in the last couple of years,” mentioned Canada defenceman and Calgary’s personal Auren Halbert. “To finally see that in action is unbelievable.
“It’s so rewarding right now.”
The win offers Canada its 5th gold medal on the International Para Hockey Championship. It additionally received in 2000, 2008, 2013, and 2017. The U.S. leads with 4 titles, presen each and every of Sweden and Norway have one global banner.
“It feels unbelievable,” added Halbert. “To win a gold medal in my hometown is just the best experience I could ever ask for.
“Just excited to share this with the boys — ready to go see my family and friends and show them the nice gold medal.”
tsaelhof@postmedia.com
http://www.x.com/ToddSaelhofPM
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