The Canadian team surprised the reigning Paralympic champions, the United States, 2-1, in the final of the World Para Hockey Championship on Sunday in Calgary.
Helped by the crowd, but especially by their goaltender Adam Kingsmill who was brilliant in stopping 24 pucks, Ross Herrington’s protégés were not intimidated by their rivals who had difficulty organizing their attack which is usually so effective .
Gatineau’s Anton Jacobs-Webb and Ontario’s Dominic Cozzolino scored the goals for the winning team on the ice at WinSport Arena.
“It’s the first time since I’ve been with the team that we’ve won a gold medal. We have many, many silver medals, but now it’s about time! » Jacobs-Webb pointed out in a telephone interview during which the questions had to be repeated on a few occasions because of the cries of joy that rang out behind him.
Vincent Boily, from Alma, also took part in the final. The 23-year-old began playing para hockey three years ago following a snowmobile accident and has been on the Canadian team for two years now.
“It’s an incredible feeling that I never thought I’d experience in my life, even when I played stand-up hockey! It was just something extraordinary that happened today. […] Our goalkeeper played an extraordinary game and the players blocked shots. We made big sacrifices to win tonight. »
Canada had been defeated by the United States in the World Championship finals in the last three editions, i.e. in 2019, 2021 and 2023. The last Canadian gold medal at the World Championship was obtained in 2017, in South Korea.
National team members Shawn Burnett and Mathieu Lelièvre were not in uniform on Sunday evening.
Canada got on the scoreboard after only about thirty seconds of play when Dominic Cozzolino beat Jen Lee. Then, the good Canadian defense prevented the Americans from setting up their offensive system.
“It’s the first time we’ve scored the first goal against them and it really changed the momentum of the game. It made us believe in it and that we could do it,” analyzed Anton Jacobs-Webb. “The pressure we put on the Americans made them doubt. Since I’ve been playing, this is one of the first times we’ve achieved this. »
The proof is that the Canadians brilliantly mastered three numerical disadvantages by running out the precious seconds.
The Quebecer doubled his team’s lead with less than 6 minutes to play in the second period after receiving a pass from his captain Tyler McGregor who was behind the net.
The American attack had its best moments with less than 10 minutes left in the match, except that a wall rose up in front of it. And when the puck managed to pierce it, Kingsmill finished the job.
Declan Farmer finally managed to beat the Canadian goalie with 3:41 remaining in regulation time. The Americans continued to buzz around the Canadian cage with an extra man in the final 90 seconds after taking away their goalie, but as they had done for almost 45 minutes, the Canadian team was once again able to outrun them. contain.
In the bronze medal final, Czechia defeated China 3-2.