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MILAN – Throughout Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, there was a roar of celebration and a sigh of defeat.
Liam Hickey, who came just short of catching a streaking Brody Roybal, could not prevent the empty net — the game was over.
The three-time Paralympian skated toward his bench. He slammed his stick into the boards; it broke on the first swing. Hickey didn't stop — the emotions get the best of him.
The United States beat Canada again in sled hockey. In front of a Paralympic sled hockey record crowd of 10,795, the greatest rivalry in international sport added a new chapter in a 6-2 victory for the Americans, who captured their fifth straight Paralympic gold medal.
“We played our style of hockey tonight,” Jack Wallace said. “We hemmed them in their zone for a really big portion of the game, and went, and when the chances came — we buried them.”
Declan Farmer propelled the Americans all tournament, recording a hat-trick in every game and a tournament-best 15 goals along with 26 points. In the semifinal, the Tampa, Florida native contributed to all of Team USA’s goals in a 6-1 win over Czechia.
Canada is no stranger to Farmer, and the game plan going into the match was to contain him and limit his time with the puck in the offensive zone.
“Declan has been so good through this (tournament). When you're sitting there, and you're going through different notes, and last night I was going through notes, it's just, ‘What do you anticipate maybe the opposition is going to do to make it hard for Declan?’" Team USA coach David Hoff said. “I really thought we needed someone like Jack, or one of these other guys, Brody Roybal, or someone to step up. Jack answered the call tonight.”
The defenseman Wallace delivered — a power-play goal in the first period, a stunning breakaway tuck-in past the left pad, and a snipe from the right circle past the glove of the Canadian keeper.
“We really had to lock in and play a good defensive game. I think that's really what we've been harping on all year, offense will come from good defense, right?” Wallace said. “If you can possess the puck, get it out of your zone, get it in there somewhere on them, you're going to get opportunities.”
The lack of offensive opportunities became apparent for Canada as the game progressed, with 15 shots on goal — the most all tournament against the United States — compared to the Americans' 26. There were high-quality chances at multiple points, yet each time, a different member of the American roster would rise to the occasion.
After a tournament of watching the puck on the far end of the ice, goaltender Griffin LaMarre made his third consecutive start over veteran American goalie Jen Lee. The Haverville, Massachusetts native delivered for his country after almost 10 years of waiting.
“Felt good to finally see some shots. Sometimes it's almost harder when you see less shots. It was good to keep my head in the game,” LaMarre said. “A couple got by me that I wish I could have back, but wins a win, and I'll take it. I made the saves when I needed to, so just felt good to kind of get in the flow of the game.”
Farmer saw the ice for 31 minutes, the most of any skater during the game. Despite being often smothered even without the puck, the veteran was still able to add the dagger to the Canadians — as he has done throughout his career — late in the third. First-time Paralympian Kayden Beasley netted the seventh goal of his career in the second period to break the tie.
The final three minutes of the game were stress-free and full of smiles.
“I got a chance to look over at Corey Gordon, the assistant. I just had the chance to say we did it. You know?” Hoff said with emotions building. “Two guys from small town North Dakota, what do you say? It’s pretty cool. Just a math teacher and a mental health professional. I’m so proud of what we did, but really, it's about these guys.”
Farmer cried as he received his medal. Wallace cut up with fellow goal-scorer Beasley. It was impossible to find a Team USA staffer on the ice without a smile on their face.
The United States is now the first country to sweep all three Olympic and Paralympic hockey finals. It is also the only nation to hold all seven global hockey titles in 2025–26 — Paralympic, Olympic men’s and women’s, Para Worlds men’s and women’s, and IIHF World Championship men’s and women’s.
This marks five consecutive years of Paralympic gold for Team USA. It has been 20 years since the United States last went without a gold medal.
“Five straight is kind of crazy. I can't believe it. It's the ultimate honor. You don't ever set out to do that, but to be able to carry on a legacy and to build a culture that's sustainable is the best thing that we've done,” captain Josh Pauls said. “Big players show up when they need to, and we had guys do that in every single one of the finals I've been a part of. It's all about the culture and the brotherhood we're cultivating.”
Only four more years to go for six in a row.
Alex Carpenter is a reporter for the Paralympics Project, a partnership between USA Today Network and the College of Communication and Information at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: USA sled hockey beats Canada to win fifth straight Paralympic gold
Continue reading...
Liam Hickey, who came just short of catching a streaking Brody Roybal, could not prevent the empty net — the game was over.
The three-time Paralympian skated toward his bench. He slammed his stick into the boards; it broke on the first swing. Hickey didn't stop — the emotions get the best of him.
The United States beat Canada again in sled hockey. In front of a Paralympic sled hockey record crowd of 10,795, the greatest rivalry in international sport added a new chapter in a 6-2 victory for the Americans, who captured their fifth straight Paralympic gold medal.
“We played our style of hockey tonight,” Jack Wallace said. “We hemmed them in their zone for a really big portion of the game, and went, and when the chances came — we buried them.”
Declan Farmer propelled the Americans all tournament, recording a hat-trick in every game and a tournament-best 15 goals along with 26 points. In the semifinal, the Tampa, Florida native contributed to all of Team USA’s goals in a 6-1 win over Czechia.
Canada is no stranger to Farmer, and the game plan going into the match was to contain him and limit his time with the puck in the offensive zone.
“Declan has been so good through this (tournament). When you're sitting there, and you're going through different notes, and last night I was going through notes, it's just, ‘What do you anticipate maybe the opposition is going to do to make it hard for Declan?’" Team USA coach David Hoff said. “I really thought we needed someone like Jack, or one of these other guys, Brody Roybal, or someone to step up. Jack answered the call tonight.”
The defenseman Wallace delivered — a power-play goal in the first period, a stunning breakaway tuck-in past the left pad, and a snipe from the right circle past the glove of the Canadian keeper.
“We really had to lock in and play a good defensive game. I think that's really what we've been harping on all year, offense will come from good defense, right?” Wallace said. “If you can possess the puck, get it out of your zone, get it in there somewhere on them, you're going to get opportunities.”
The lack of offensive opportunities became apparent for Canada as the game progressed, with 15 shots on goal — the most all tournament against the United States — compared to the Americans' 26. There were high-quality chances at multiple points, yet each time, a different member of the American roster would rise to the occasion.
After a tournament of watching the puck on the far end of the ice, goaltender Griffin LaMarre made his third consecutive start over veteran American goalie Jen Lee. The Haverville, Massachusetts native delivered for his country after almost 10 years of waiting.
“Felt good to finally see some shots. Sometimes it's almost harder when you see less shots. It was good to keep my head in the game,” LaMarre said. “A couple got by me that I wish I could have back, but wins a win, and I'll take it. I made the saves when I needed to, so just felt good to kind of get in the flow of the game.”
Farmer saw the ice for 31 minutes, the most of any skater during the game. Despite being often smothered even without the puck, the veteran was still able to add the dagger to the Canadians — as he has done throughout his career — late in the third. First-time Paralympian Kayden Beasley netted the seventh goal of his career in the second period to break the tie.
The final three minutes of the game were stress-free and full of smiles.
“I got a chance to look over at Corey Gordon, the assistant. I just had the chance to say we did it. You know?” Hoff said with emotions building. “Two guys from small town North Dakota, what do you say? It’s pretty cool. Just a math teacher and a mental health professional. I’m so proud of what we did, but really, it's about these guys.”
Farmer cried as he received his medal. Wallace cut up with fellow goal-scorer Beasley. It was impossible to find a Team USA staffer on the ice without a smile on their face.
The United States is now the first country to sweep all three Olympic and Paralympic hockey finals. It is also the only nation to hold all seven global hockey titles in 2025–26 — Paralympic, Olympic men’s and women’s, Para Worlds men’s and women’s, and IIHF World Championship men’s and women’s.
This marks five consecutive years of Paralympic gold for Team USA. It has been 20 years since the United States last went without a gold medal.
“Five straight is kind of crazy. I can't believe it. It's the ultimate honor. You don't ever set out to do that, but to be able to carry on a legacy and to build a culture that's sustainable is the best thing that we've done,” captain Josh Pauls said. “Big players show up when they need to, and we had guys do that in every single one of the finals I've been a part of. It's all about the culture and the brotherhood we're cultivating.”
Only four more years to go for six in a row.
Alex Carpenter is a reporter for the Paralympics Project, a partnership between USA Today Network and the College of Communication and Information at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: USA sled hockey beats Canada to win fifth straight Paralympic gold
Continue reading...
