U.S. Records Historic 14 Goals in 14-1 Win Against Italy

MILAN – The U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team achieved an American single-game record by scoring 14 goals, commencing its 2026 Paralympic journey with a 14-1 triumph over Italy at the Milano Santaguilia Ice Hockey Arena on Saturday. 

“We experienced some highs and lows in the first five minutes, but after that, I felt we stabilized quite well,” stated David Hoff (Bottineau, N.D.), head coach of the 2026 U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team. “I am very pleased with the depth of our roster at this moment.”

Italy struck first, scoring just 25 seconds into the opening period when Cristoph Depaoli received a neutral-zone pass and advanced down center ice. His initial attempt was saved, but the rebound came back to him off the goalpost, allowing the host nation to take an early 1-0 advantage. 

The U.S. quickly equalized, making it 1-1 just 3:46 into the match.  Travis Dodson (Deming, N.M.) won a neutral-zone faceoff decisively, leading to a 3-on-1 chance where David Eustace (Stoneham, Mass.) fired a shot to the far post that found the net. 

Jen Lee (Daly City, Calif.) preserved the tie at 1-1 by making a crucial save on an early penalty shot opportunity for Italy. 

With 6:00 left in the first period, Team USA took a 2-1 lead.  Declan Farmer (Tampa, Fla.) unleashed a low shot from the high slot that hit the Italian goaltender’s pad, and Brett Bolton (Rockledge, Fla.) tapped in the rebound for his first career Paralympic goal. 

GAME PHOTOS

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Farmer extended the lead to 3-1 for the red, white, and blue just before the first intermission, firing a high shot from just inside the circle that cleanly beat Italy’s Julian Kasslatter.

Team USA netted five goals in 5:18 to start the second period, establishing an 8-1 lead. 

Bolton scored his second of the match just 1:41 into the second period, banking the puck off Kasslatter from behind the goal line for the team’s fourth goal. The fifth followed shortly after, as Kevin McKee(Davenport, Iowa) redirected a pass from Brody Roybal (Northlake, Ill.). Farmer then scored his first of the tournament as the sixth goal, just 28 seconds before Kayden Beasley (Coats, N.C.) added the seventh goal of the game. 

Noah Grove’s (Frederick, Md.) wraparound shot resulted in the U.S.’ eighth goal of the contest. 

Farmer completed a hat trick in the second period, scoring two goals in under a minute, bringing his total to three and extending Team USA’s lead to 10-1 heading into the final period. 

HIGHLIGHTS

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Malik Jones (Aurora, Colo.) scored early in the third period, adding the 11th goal, followed by Evan Nichols(Haymarket, Va.) who netted the 12th less than a minute later. Jack Wallace (Franklin Lakes, N.J.) contributed the 13th goal, taking advantage of a line change by Italy. 

Eustace found the net again with 2:14 remaining in the game, bringing the U.S. to its final score of 14-1. 

Lee made one save in the winning effort, while Team USA’s defense did not allow a single shot after the initial period’s penalty shot attempt. 

Team USA will return to the ice for its second preliminary-round match on Monday (March 9) against Germany. The puck drop is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. ET (5:05 p.m. CET) and will be available for viewing live on USA Network or streaming on Peacock. 

NOTES: The U.S. outshot Italy, 53-2 … the U.S. was 0-2 on the power play, while Italy was 0-1.

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