Canadian Press
Published Monday, October 2, 2023 23:15 EDT
Last Updated Monday, October 2, 2023 23:17 EDT
Canada's para hockey team scored a pair of third period goals in Monday's 2-1 win over Czechia to kick off the International Para Hockey Cup.
Calgary's Auren Halbert and Mathieu Lelievre of Levis, Que., scored and Adam Kingsmill of Smithers, B.C., stopped 10 shots on goal for Canada.
Canada faces the United States on Tuesday in a rematch of this year's world championship final, which Canada won 6-1 in Moose Jaw, Sask., on June 4.
But the Americans are the defending Paralympic champions, having beaten Canada 5-0 in last year's final in Beijing.
Trailing by a goal to the host Czechs, Lelievre equalized Canada at 2:58 of the third period.
Halbert scored the winning goal with 54 seconds remaining in the game at Ostravar Arena.
Canada beat the Czechs 18-11.
“I'm very happy with the fact that playing against a tough opponent at home, where they were ahead in the third period, we didn't put the focus on trying to win the game, but the focus on trying to do the right thing. things that can put us in position to win,” Canada head coach Russ Herrington said in a statement.
“It ultimately paid off for us today. I hope we continue to put in good effort and play our style of hockey tomorrow.”
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