Griffin LaMarre enjoyed the additional responsibility that comes with being the starting goaltender for the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team.
The 27-year-old LaMarre picked up the win in goal and helped the U.S. to its third consecutive International Para Hockey Cup championship following a 5-3 victory against Canada on Sunday at Ostravar Arena in Ostrava, Czechia.
“It was a great first tournament of the year and the first one I started in a few years,” LaMarre said. “I thought we played strong at points. [The championship] wasn’t one of my better games, but the guys bailed me out, I was able to make some saves when I needed to, and we got the win.”
LaMarre, a Paralympic gold medalist in 2022, won all five games and recorded a championship-game shutout against Canada during the 2022 IPH Cup. Besides that tournament, though, the Haverhill, Massachusetts, native has primarily served as the backup goaltender to Jen Lee.
LaMarre stepped up in the starting role in Ostrava, winning all four games he played and allowing four goals throughout the entire tournament.
“It felt good to be the starter, especially from a leadership perspective,” LaMarre said. “With the fact that I’ve been around awhile, it’s nice to be taking on extra pressure for the extra responsibility and role.”
LaMarre is part of the 17-player U.S. roster for the 2024-25 season. LaMarre and Lee — a three-time Paralympic gold medalist and four-time world champion — combined for eight shutouts during the 2023-24 season.
New to this season, the U.S. now has a practice team that travels and trains with the national team at international events and training camps. The group, which includes 11 players, gives elite players that aren’t currently on the national team the chance to train with some of the best sled players in the world. The practice squad is also used as an evaluation tool for future national team consideration.
Taggart VanderMolen teamed with LaMarre to form the tandem in goal, while forwards Sam Becker, Isaac Escobedo, Caleb Crossett and defenseman Kayden Beasley also joined the group in Czechia.
VanderMolen, of Fruitport, Michigan, recorded a shutout in his first career start, as the U.S. scored a 2-0 victory against Italy during its third and final preliminary-round game of the IPH Cup.
“It was [VanderMolen’s] first tournament with the team, so I just tried to be there for him and teach him what Jen has always done for me the last few years,” LaMarre said.
After falling to Canada in the gold-medal game at worlds this past May, the Americans got a chance at some redemption in Ostrava. They defeated their biggest rivals 2-1 in overtime during the preliminary round before beating Canada again in the championship game.
“It never gets old,” said David Hoff, U.S. head coach. “The goal is always to be in the championship game and once we’re there, we try to win that game. Any time you come out on top with a championship it’s great, but we brought five young guys who aren’t normally with us, and for those guys to be part of this, it’s a great way to start a career.”
For LaMarre, it was nice to have the role of the starter and lead his team to another championship with a win against Canada.
“Getting that game experience is so important when we’re in championship situations,” LaMarre said. “I think it was a good experience. Now I’m going to try and build on it because you never know when you’re going to get that kind of a chance again.”
Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.
Source: usahockey.com