Canada’s national Paralympic ice hockey team kicked off their pre-tournament games with an impressive 8-0 victory against the host country, Italy, on Wednesday. The Canadian team dominated the game, leading 2-0 after the first period and extending their lead to 7-0 by the end of the second period.
Adam Dixon, a seasoned Paralympian participating in his fifth games, stood out with one goal and three assists, while forward Dominic Cozzolino scored a hat trick. Goalkeeper Adam Kingsmill made six crucial saves to secure a shutout victory, with Canada outshooting Italy 37-6 and converting 2 out of 3 power plays.
The two teams are set to face off again on Friday at 4 a.m. ET. Canada, aiming for a strong performance after winning a silver medal in Beijing four years ago, will begin their official tournament matches on March 7 against Slovakia, followed by games against Japan on March 9 and Czechia on March 10.
The 17-member Canadian squad is determined to claim their first Para ice hockey gold medal in two decades at the Milan-Cortina Paralympics. The United States has been the reigning champion for the past four tournaments since Canada’s victory in 2006 in Turin, Italy. Notably, veteran forward Greg Westlake, who recently came out of retirement, is among the 10 returning players on the Canadian roster.
With eight countries divided into two pools, the top two teams from each pool will advance to the semifinals. The medal matches are scheduled for March 15. Forward Tyler McGregor, gearing up for his fourth Paralympics, emphasized the team’s readiness for challenges and the importance of resilience in critical games to secure the coveted gold medal.
The Canadian roster includes:
– Goaltenders: Adam Kingsmill (Smithers, B.C.) and Corbin Watson (Kingsville, Ont.)
– Defencemen: Rob Armstrong (Erin, Ont.), Shawn Burnett (McMasterville, Que.), Auren Halbert (Calgary), Tyrone Henry (Ottawa), and Mathieu Lelièvre (Lévis, Que.)
– Forwards: Vincent Boily (Alma, Que.), Dominic Cozzolino (Mississauga, Ont.), Adam Dixon (Midland, Ont.), James Dunn (Wallacetown, Ont.), Liam Hickey (St. John’s), Anton Jacobs-Webb (Gatineau, Que.), Micah Kovacevich (Edmonton), Zach Lavin (Essex, Ont.), Tyler McGregor (Forest, Ont.), and Greg Westlake (Oakville, Ont).