Dixon's two goals lead Canada past Norway in sledge hockey action at Sochi Paralympic Games

SOCHI, RUSSIA, March 9, 2014 /CNW/ - Adam Dixon (Midland, Ont.) scored twice and Dominic Larocque (Quebec City, Que.) and Marc Dorion (Bourget, Ont.) once each as Canada's National Sledge Team defeated Norway 4-0 on Sunday to win its second straight game at the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games.

Anthony Gale (Brampton, Ont.) added two assists. Corbin Watson (Kingsville, Ont.) made six saves for the shutout in his Paralympic debut.

Dixon and Gale continued to set the point-scoring pace, picking up from where they left off Saturday; each recorded four points in the Canadians' 10-1 tournament-opening win over Sweden.

Canada came into the game 30-6-1 all-time versus Norway; however, the Norwegians seemed to have the Canadians' number in Paralympic play, having run up a 4-3-1 record on the sport's biggest stage.

Early on it looked like Norway would do enough to just keep itself in the game. Canada set a high pace right from puck drop and held Norway without a shot for the first half of the opening period. Meanwhile, goaltender Kristian Buen turned aside both Billy Bridges (Summerside, P.E.I.) and Dixon from in close to keep his team in it.

Larocque finally got Canada on the board just over four minutes into the second. Tyler McGregor (Forest, Ont.) and Gale worked a give-and-go in the corner; Gale then sent a pass out front to Larocque, who beat Buen low.

Canada doubled its lead on the power play six minutes later. Bridges sent an outlet pass from his own face-off circle to Gale - just released from the penalty box on a holding call - at the red line. Gale moved the puck into the offensive zone, eventually shoveling to Dixon, who deked Buen and deposited the puck into an open net.

The 2-0 score after 30 minutes flattered Norway - Canada was outshooting it 19-5 and winning two-thirds of the face-offs.

Just over a minute into the third period, Canada's good play was rewarded with a lucky bounce. Dixon's shot from along the boards at the red line bounced down the ice and over Buen's shoulder, leaving the Canadian defenceman to shrug at his second goal.

Canada continued to press for extra insurance; Kevin Rempel (Vineland, Ont.) and Bridges both sent the puck just wide on clear shots and Dorion was stopped by Buen from in close.

The team's pressure was awarded with only 22 seconds left in the game. Off the face-off, Larocque passed to Dorion in front of the net; the puck hit the blade of Dorion's sled and slowly crossed the goal line.

Canada next plays the winless Czech Republic at noon ET/9 a.m. PT on Tuesday. Canada is a perfect 4-0 all-time against the Czechs.

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For full information about Team Canada at the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Games, please visit paralympic.ca/team-canada.

SOURCE: Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC)

Keegan Goodrich
Media attaché, sledge hockey
SOCHI Cell 011-7-925-403-3678
[email protected]

Alison Korn
Press Chief and para-snowboard media attaché
SOCHI Cell: 011-7-938-454-3162
[email protected]

Martin Richard
Executive Director, Communications & Marketing
Canadian Paralympic Committee
SOCHI cell: 011-7-938-454-3179
[email protected]

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