CANADA BLANKED BY U.S. IN SLEDGE DEVELOPMENT SERIES OPENER

JASON LA ROSE

CALGARY, Alta. – Kris Dutkiewicz (Kitchener, Ont.) stopped 10 of the 12 shots he faced, but Canada’s National Sledge Development Team couldn’t find the back of the net in a 3-0 loss to the United States in the first game of a three-game series Wednesday afternoon.

The Canadians lost to their North American rivals for the 12th time in 13 games, dating back to the 2011-12 season; Canada hasn’t beat the U.S. in regulation since Feb. 4, 2012, a 3-1 win in Amherstburg, Ont.

After the teams traded early power plays in the first period, the Americans struck late in the opening frame; Vlad Lundquist’s low, quick shot from the right point surprised Dutkiewicz and gave the U.S. the all-important first goal.

Both teams had chances in the second period, including a breakaway for Canadian defenceman Rob Armstrong (Mississauga, Ont.), but the game headed to the intermission still 1-0 for the Americans.

Kelsey DiClaudio doubled the U.S. lead at 5:33 of the third period, banging in a loose puck from in close, and Jack Wallace found the empty net with less than a minute to go to provide the final margin of victory.

Bo Reichenbach earned the shutout in the American goal, needing to make just nine saves.

The teams are back on the ice at the Markin MacPhail Centre on Thursday afternoon, with puck drop set for noon MT. The series wraps up Friday, with the finale scheduled for 1:30 p.m. MT.