2016-17 National Sledge Team

2017 International Para Hockey Tournament
Game #7
Semifinal
Final
March 3, 2017 4:00 am EST
Palaghiaccio Tazzoli
Turin, ITA

Scoring

Teams
1st
2nd
3rd
Final
Teams
1
2
3
F
0
0
0
0
2
2
0
4

Shots on Goal

1st
2nd
3rd
Final
1
2
3
F
7
6
1
14
7
9
6
22

Statistics

PP
PIM
0 / 3
4
1 / 2
6

Game Story

WATSON EARNS SHUTOUT, SENDS CANADA TO GOLD MEDAL GAME

JASON LA ROSE

TURIN, Italy – Corbin Watson (Kingsville, Ont.) turned away all 14 shots he faced for his second shutout in as many starts, and Canada’s National Sledge Team moved into the gold medal game at the 2017 International Para Hockey Tournament with a 4-0 semifinal win over Italy on Friday.

The Canadians will defend their 2015 gold medal against the winner of the Korea-Norway semifinal in the final on Saturday (4 a.m. ET/1 a.m. PT).

Watson, who has split the netminding duties with Dominic Larocque (Quebec City, Que.) through four games, blanked the tournament hosts for the second time in four days; he needed to make just five stops in a 3-0 win on Tuesday.

Canada spread around the offence, with four players scoring goals. Tyler McGregor (Forest, Ont.) was the offensive sparkplug, scoring once and adding two assists in the win; the three points pulled him even with Canadian captain Greg Westlake (Oakville, Ont.) – who had a goal and a helper – for the tournament scoring lead at nine points.

It took less than a minute for the Canadians to open the scoring. Westlake wired a shot off the right wing that was turned away by Italian goaltender Gabriele Araudo, but Dominic Cozzolino (Mississauga, Ont.) came straight up the middle to redirect in the 1-0 goal just 45 seconds in.

Westlake did the scoring himself late in the opening frame, cutting into the slot before slipping a left-handed shot under Araudo to send Canada to the first intermission up by a pair.

Watson was busy in the opening period, making seven saves, most coming on an Italian five-on-three. The Canadians did not allow more than eight shots total in any of their three preliminary-round games.

Adam Dixon (Midland, Ont.) needed just 81 seconds of the second period to push the advantage to 3-0, taking a pass in the slot and snapping a quick shot past the blocker of Araudo, and McGregor converted on a Canadian power play at 5:12 to finish the scoring.

Araudo, who made 18 saves, turned in the second strong performance by an Italian goaltender against the Canadians; Santino Stillitano was spectacular in a 25-save effort in the loss on Tuesday.

Canada controlled the puck in a scoreless third period, outshooting Italy 7-1. Overall, the Canadians held a 22-14 edge in shots.

Play by Play

Team
Description
Time
1st Period
GOAL
Goal: Dominic Cozzolino

Assists: Greg Westlake
00:45
PENALTY
Penalty: Adam Dixon
Interference (2:00)
09:26
PENALTY
Penalty: Steve Arsenault
Holding (2:00)
09:53
GOAL
Goal: Greg Westlake

Assists: Tyler McGregor, Dominic Cozzolino
13:54
2nd Period
GOAL
Goal: Adam Dixon

Assists: Tyler McGregor, Tyrone Henry
01:21
PENALTY
Penalty: Andrea Macri
Interference (2:00)
04:52
GOAL (POWER PLAY)
Goal: Tyler McGregor

Assists: Adam Dixon
05:12
3rd Period
PENALTY
Penalty: Gianluigi Rosa
Interference (2:00)
08:57
PENALTY
Penalty: Dominic Cozzolino
Holding (2:00)
10:22

Goaltenders

Name Team Mins Shots Saves GA SV%
Gabriele Araudo ITA 45 22 18 4 0.818
Corbin Watson CAN 45 14 14 0 1.000

Game Leaders

GA 4 - SV - 18 - SAV% - 0.818
GA 0 - SV - 14 - SAV% - 1.000
Goals 1 - Assists 2 - Points 3
G 1 - A 2 - P 3
Goals 1 - Assists 1 - Points 2
G 1 - A 1 - P 2

Previous Games

2 - 1 W @ KoreaKOR
Mar 4, 2017
8 - 1 W v NorwayNOR
Mar 4, 2017
0 - 4 L @ CanadaCAN
Mar 3, 2017
4 - 0 W v ItalyITA
Mar 3, 2017
3 - 2 W v KoreaKOR
Mar 1, 2017
9 - 1 W v NorwayNOR
Mar 1, 2017
Videos
Photos
2016-17 NMT: CAN 5 – HCL 2 (Championship)
Three second-period goals helped Canada to its 14th Spengler Cup.
2016-17 NMT: CAN 3 – MIN 2 (Semifinal)
Marc-Antoine Pouliot had three points, and Canada advanced to the Spengler Cup championship game.
2016-17 NMT: CAN 5 – MHK 1 (Quarter-Final)
Raymond, Gormley and Ebbett had 1G 2A each, and Canada advanced.
2016-17 NMT - CAN 4 – HCD 3 (Preliminary)
Ebbett scored the winner, and Canada edged the Spengler Cup hosts.
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Credit