Calgary 2024: Shutouts the order as top teams remain undefeated

Czechia, Canada, USA and China remain undefeated at the World Para Ice Hockey Championships A-Pool after all four squads won their second games of preliminary play at WinSport Arena on Sunday (5 May) in Calgary, Canada. All four games on Sunday were shutouts. 

Czechia 5, Japan 0

Czechia, which recorded its first World Championships podium finish one year ago, won its second game in as many days in Calgary with a 5-0 shutout over Japan, the reigning B-Pool champions.

Czechia scored two of its three first-period goals on the power play and then added an insurance goal in the second period courtesy four-time Paralympian Zdenek Habl and another in the third period from Filip Vesely, his second of the contest.

Martin Kudela was the winning netminder with eight saves for Czechia. Wataru Horie notched 14 saves for Japan.

Canada 10, Italy 0

Six different players scored for the host nation in its 10-0 shoutout of Italy, as captain Tyler McGregor notched four goals and an assist.

Canada took just five minutes to get on the scoreboard with a quick shot from Dominic Cozzolino, and half of the team’s goals came in the second period.

Canadian Goaltender Corbin Watson only had to stop the puck twice from going into the net thanks to his team’s stalwart defense, while Julian Kasslatter and Santino Stillitano combined for 24 saves on the day for Italy.

Canada and Czechia are currently tied for first place in Group B with six points apiece. 

USA 11, Korea 0

The USA continued its winning ways with an 11-0 statement victory against Korea, as the Americans continue to skate for a fourth consecutive title.

Star US forward Declan Farmer donned a post-game cowboy hat on the ice following a five-point performance that included a hat trick. He set new US records for single-season goals (33) and points (52) and now leads all skaters in Calgary with seven goals in two games.

Eight different American players found the net, including two-time Paralympian and former U.S. Marine Josh Misiewicz twice.

Griffin Lamarre played all 45 minutes between the pipes for the USA, recording four saves, while Daehan Bong had 11 stops for Korea. 

China 10, Slovakia 0

Paralympic bronze medalists China recorded its second consecutive 10-0 shoutout in Calgary, this time against Slovakia with hat tricks from both Yi Feng Shen and Xiao Dong Song.

China outshot its opponents, 34-5, with six of its 10 goals coming off 15 shots in the second stanza. 

Yan Zhao Ji was the winning goaltender, stopping all five pucks that came his way, while Eduard Lepacek made 24 saves for Slovakia. 

China and the USA are now tied atop Group A with six points apiece.

What’s coming on Day Three? 

All eight teams will have a day off before returning to the ice on Tuesday (7 May) for a slate of tantalizing matchups, including two contests between undefeated teams. China (2-0) will face the USA (2-0) and Czechia (2-0) will take on Canada (2-0), while Slovakia (0-2) will challenge Korea (0-2) and Japan (0-2) will go up against Italy (0-2).

How to follow?

Watch all the action across World Para Ice Hockey Facebook page, and on the Paralympic Games YouTube.