Once again, Team Canada had to settle for being runner-up to the United States at the World Sledge Hockey Challenge, which finished over the weekend in Charlottetown. P.E.I., but Liam Hickey of St. John’s sees the experience as one that will prove valuable come the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games on PyeongChang, South Korea.
The U. S. claimed its fourth straight Challenge title Saturday with a 3-2 win over the Canadians, who have been silver medallists the last three years.
The 19-year-old Hickey had one of the Canadian goals Saturday, giving him a team-leading 10 points (5G, 5A) in the tourney.
Despite the loss, he predicted the Canadians will be better prepared for the Paralympics in March.
“We’ll need to use this as a building block,” said Hickey. “We know how to beat this team. We have to build off that, take it t the next training camp and take it to Korea. Everyone will have to work extremely hard away from camp and be committed to that.
“We’ll be ready.”
With files from the Charlottetown Guardian/SaltWire Network
