The Canadian Press
Published on Monday, October 2, 2023, 11:15 p.m. EDT
Last updated on Monday, October 2, 2023, 11:17 p.m. EDT
Canada’s para hockey team scored two third-period goals in a 2-1 win over the Czech Republic on Monday to open the International Para Hockey Cup.
Calgary’s Auren Halbert and Mathieu Lelievre of Levis, Que., scored a goal and Adam Kingsmill of Smithers, B.C., stopped 10 shots in the Canadian net.
Canada will face the United States on Tuesday in a rematch of this year’s World Cup final, which the Canadians won 6-1 on June 4 in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.
However, the Americans are the reigning Paralympics champions after defeating Canada 5-0 in the final in Beijing last year.
With the Czech hosts trailing by one goal, Lelievre equalized for Canada at 2:58 of the third period.
Just 54 seconds before the end of the game in the Ostravar Arena, Halbert scored the winning goal.
Canada beat the Czechs 18:11.
“I’m really pleased with the fact that when we played against a tough opponent on home ice, where they were leading until the third period, we didn’t focus on winning the game, we focused on doing the right thing “Things that could put us in a position to win,” Canadian head coach Russ Herrington said in a statement.
“That ultimately paid off for us today. I hope we continue to perform well tomorrow and play our style of hockey.”
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