15.04.2013 The ding-dong battle of the Russian team against the Paralympic champions

Yesterday, on April 14th, Russia met Canada in the Sledge Hockey World Championship games.

Yesterday, on April 14^th, Russia met Canada in the Sledge Hockey World Championship games.

The first period was rather unsuccessful for the Russian team. The Canada’s attacks were much more effective. In the fourth minute Bradley Bouden kicked a first goal. In the sixth minute Greg Westlake shored up their position and in the thirteenth and fourteenth minutes Bradley Bouden and Billy Bridges continued the charge with two more pucks into the opponents’ net. And only when it left one minute to go Dmitriy Lisov managed to shoot the goal. The first period ended with the score 4 to 1 for the Canada national team.

During the second period the goalkeepers of the both teams showed themselves in the best light and did not conceded a goal. In the seventh minute of the third period the forward Dmitriy Lisov made one more goal with a pass of Aleksey Lysov. And at the very last moment Illy Volkov won back one point. The match finished with the score 4 to 3.

A great number of the sports fan followed the game online. One of the Canada sledge hockey club player provided his feedback, “It was a fantastic game! It is the first time Russia participates in the A-League World Championship. I am waiting edgily for her other games.”

“Our national team gave the Canada team, 2006 Paralympic champion, a good run,” says Eduard Isakov, the President of the Ugra Sledge Hockey Club. “Sledge hockey has been developing in Russia just for four years, we are strangers here yet. Canada has wealth of sledge hockey culture and history, their national team became bronze medallist at 1994 Paralympic Games. I hope our team will get it chance to gain revenge at the World Champion semifinal.”

Yesterday Italy won over the South Korea with the score 2 to 1. So, Canada is already through to the semifinal.

Also on April 14^th there were played the A-Group games: USA – Norway (23:7), the Czech Republic – Sweden (1:0)

The 16^th April will be the last day when the teams are playing in groups, the semifinalists are to be found. Canada meets Korea, Norway plays with Sweden, the United States with the Czech Republic, and Russian sledge hockey-players cross their sticks with the Italians at 7:45 a.m. (by Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug-Ugra time).