CANADA FALLS IN SHOOTOUT IN GAME 2 OF DEVELOPMENT SERIES

WENDY GRAVES

AMHERST, N.Y. – Coalton Martin (Six Nations, Ont.) and Tanner Fandrey (Red Deer, Alta.) put Canada’s National Sledge Development Team up 2-0 just past the midway mark of the first period, but it couldn’t hold its early lead and eventually fell to the United States 3-2 in a shootout Friday.

Craig Brady and Chandler Couture scored on the Americans first two shots in the shootout, with Rob Armstrong (Mississauga, Ont.) and Karl Ludwig (Brampton, Ont.) unable to respond for the Canadians. 

It was the second day in a row the teams went to a shootout. Canada won 2-1 on Thursday.

Having picked up only its second win in the last 16 meetings against the United States the day before, Canada built on that momentum in the early going.

Barely three minutes in Martin took advantage of some American miscommunication. After leaving the puck behind the goal line to his right, netminder Bo Reichenbach returned to his crease only to see his defenceman cut behind the net to his left. Corbyn Smith (Monkton, Ont.) fed the open puck out front to Martin for the easy finish.

Four minutes later some strong work by Mathieu Trudeau (Candiac, Que.) to maintain puck possession during a Canadian line change led to the lead being doubled.

Antoine Lehoux (Thetford Mines, Que.) sent a centering pass out from below the goal line, where Fandrey, having just come off the bench, moved in to send a wrist shot high into the back of the net.

The United States tied things up two minutes into the second with a pair of goals only 31 seconds apart.

First, Kyle Zych sent a centering pass from Couture high short side on Jonathan Derry (West Pine Ridge, Man.) Then, Brady fought off a defender to centre the puck to Noah Grove, who, engaged in a battle of his own, beat Derry from in close.

The third period and overtime saw good chances by both sides – Derry stopped Zych point blank; Armstrong forced Reichenbach to show off his glove skills – but no goals.

In the shootout, Brady, the U.S. captain, wrapped himself around Derry and slid the puck home.

Canadian captain Armstrong went straight at Reichenbach, who easily turned aside his right-hand shot.

Couture followed, and went right hand to left hand down the ice, eventually flipping a left-handed shot in.

Ludwig was unable to extend the game, his right-hand shot going straight into Reichenbach’s body.

The three-game series wraps up Saturday afternoon (4:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. PT) at the Northtown Center.