All gas, no brakes.
That may very well be legacy of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team in the 2025 World Para Ice Hockey Championships.
The U.S cruised to a gold medal Saturday 6-1 over rival Canada, thus reclaiming the world’s No. 1 ranking and securing an automatic bid for the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games.
But consider the full body of work. The U.S. went undefeated in the tournament held May 24-31 at the LECOM Harborcenter in Buffalo, New York. In doing so, the Americans outscored their opponents 41-5 en route to their record seventh world title.
That included the victory over Canada, which beat the U.S. in the gold-medal game in 2024.
“There’s definitely the aspect of redemption,” said Jack Wallace, who scored a hat trick in the gold-medal game. “Last year left a sour taste in our mouths.”
You want puck possession and physicality? You got plenty of that for the U.S. against Canada, especially early when the team scored a pair of goals in the first 3:49 of the game, including Wallace’s first tally, which stood after a review.
Wallace would later score after a penalty kill at 9:50 of the second period and he then added his third with 8:14 left in the game with a wide-open shooting lane on the right side. That one got reviewed, too.
“I had a lot of family there, they were throwing their hats on the ice,” Wallace said before adding, “Oh no, they threw their hats, maybe there was goalie interference.”
But there wasn’t, and awhile later, Wallace had a gold medal around his neck, and in his hand an award for being named the best defenseman of the tournament.
Coach David Hoff, in his seventh year at the helm of the U.S. squad, said the loss to Canada in 2024 “felt a little hollow. I think it provided some motivation.”
Further motivation may have come from the team’s closest shave in the tournament, a 4-3 victory over Czechia on May 27. In that game, the U.S. led 4-1, but hung on to clinch Group B.
“Throughout the course of eight days, it doesn’t always go the way you wanted,” Hoff said of the Czechia game.
In that moment, he wanted to emphasize one thing to his team.
“We had a few minutes when things didn’t go our way,” he said. “Don’t try to drag something forward.”
After a 6-1 win over China in the semifinals, Canada loomed again, but the Americans took care of business, coming out, and staying in, attack mode. They outshot the Canadians 24-11.
“The biggest thing I’m proud of is not only how well we did, but playing three lines, and playing everyone,” he said.
Declan Farmer — who scored his tournament-leading 11th goal to open the scoring against Canada — “was playing every third shift,” Hoff said.
The other player who stood out for Hoff was goaltender Griffin LaMarre, who made a big glove save off a Canadian shot with 14:11 in the third period when the U.S. was up 4-1 — just like the Czechia game. If that goes in, who knows what might have happened?
“I’d say it was his biggest game overall,” Hoff said of LaMarre’s performance. “To perform well on that stage is extra special as well. We thought he had good momentum coming out of the China game.”
Wallace connected on his hat trick minutes later after LaMarre’s glove save, which sealed the gold medal.
LaMarre said beating Canada made up for a sour 2024 tournament.
“Obviously, there is some redemption for sure, we definitely played with an extra chip on our shoulder,” he said. “It was a great team win overall.”
Next up for the U.S. is 2026 in Italy. Preparations will begin over the coming months, but as far as Hoff is concerned, “It’s definitely where we want to be.”
Wallace said what he and his teammates learned over the past week will buoy them as they look to secure their sixth Paralympic gold.
“We’re all confident, the hunger is still there for everyone,” Wallace said. “Last year was a great lesson. It leaves us in a good spot, and we can remember this game as our standard.”
Added LaMarre: “We have a lot of confidence going into the tournament. It’s been a pretty good few years for us and we’re trying to keep the train rolling.”
Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.
Source: usahockey.com