CALGARY, Alta. – Canada’s National Sledge Development Team will face the United States’ development team in a three-game series, April 19-21 at the Extreme Ice Center in Indian Trail, N.C.
In February, Canada went 2-1 against the Americans in a three game series in Amherstburg, Ont.
Canada’s National Sledge Development Team was created to give elite-level sledge hockey players not chosen for Canada’s National Sledge Team an opportunity to get international experience with hopes of developing their skills for future national team duty.
Two players on the roster, defenceman Brendan Blanchard and forward Jordan Cullum, have previous experience with Canada’s National Sledge Team, while one player, forward Ben Delaney, will be making his Team Canada debut.
Head coach Todd Sargeant (London, Ont.) will be joined on the bench by two former members of Canada’s National Sledge Team, with Hervé Lord (St-Pamphile, Que.) and Todd Nicholson (Kinburn, Ont.) serving as assistant coaches. Lord and Nicholson are two of Canada’s most decorated sledge hockey players – both played in five Paralympics and five IPC Sledge Hockey World Championships, and have close to 40 years combined experience with the national team.
Follow Hockey Canada’s sledge hockey program online at www.HockeyCanada.ca, on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/HCSledge and on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/HC_Sledge.