OSTRAVA, Czechia – Two-goal performances from Jack Wallace (Franklin Lakes, N.J.) and Declan Farmer (Tampa, Fla.) helped lift the U.S. National Sled Team to its third-straight IPH Cup championship with a 5-3 victory over Canada in the finals on Sunday at Ostravar Arena.
“We had a strong night offensively, but we struggled to maintain momentum and faced a lot of adversity,” said David Hoff (Bottineau, N.D.), head coach of the U.S. National Sled Team. “I liked the character we showed tonight, and it was a great way to finish the tournament.”
Canada jumped out to an early lead, as Auren Halbert found the back of the net just 2:01 into the first period. His tally was assisted by Tyler McGregor and Rob Armstrong.
Just 28 seconds later, the U.S. struck back after forcing a turnover when Brett Bolton (Rockledge, Fla.) capitalized on a cross-ice pass from David Eustace (Stoneham, Mass.).
Farmer gave the U.S. its first lead of the game on the power play, beating Canadian netminder Adam Kingsmill over his blocker side at the 13:44 mark of the first. Noah Grove (Frederick, Md.) and Josh Misiewicz (La Grange, Ill.) picked up assists on the play to give Team USA a 2-1 lead.
GAME PHOTOS
The Canadians found an equalizer with 10:46 remaining in the second, as a shot from the top of the circle from Dominic Cozzolino bounced off the top of U.S. netminder Griffin LaMarre’s (Haverhill, Mass.) trapper and into the net.
Team USA broke the tie minutes later, as Farmer scored his second power-play goal of the contest. He found the back of the net on a wrist shot over the glove of Kingsmill, with Wallace and Josh Pauls (Green Brook, N.J.) adding helpers on the play to give the Americans a 3-2 advantage with 8:28 left in the second.
The U.S. successfully killed an extended five-on-three Canadian power play, maintaining its lead as the second frame expired.
Canada tied the game up early in the third period, as James Dunn fired a sharp-angle shot past LaMarre to even up the contest, 3-3.
Team USA reclaimed the lead with 12:03 left in regulation, as Wallace ripped a shot over Kingsmills’ glove on a breakaway opportunity for the game-winning tally. Wallace was sent on the one-on-zero rush by a feed from Malik Jones (Aurora, Colo.).
Wallace added an empty-net insurance tally with 10 seconds remaining in the contest to account for the 5-3 final.
LaMarre made 10 saves in the win.
NOTES: The U.S. National Sled Team improved to 14-1-0-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L) all-time at the IPH Cup … The U.S. finished the 2024 tournament with a 4-1-0-0 record … Team USA was 2-4 on the power play, while Canada was 0-4 … The U.S. outshot Canada, 25-13 … Declan Farmer was named the U.S. Player of the Game.
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Source: usahockey.com