CALGARY – Adam Dixon of Midland, Ont., drew hefty praise after scoring a goal and adding an assist during Canada’s 8-0 win over Japan in Sunday’s opening game of the World Sledge Hockey Challenge.
As well as being named Canada’s player of the game, Dixon earned accolades from coach Mike Mondin and teammate Billy Bridges of Summerside, P.E.I.
“Once again tonight, he proved he’s the Bobby Orr of sledge hockey,” said Mondin, who marvelled at a behind-the-back pass that Dixon made in the first period to set up Bridges for his first of two goals.
“That was the sweetest pass I’ve ever seen anybody make,” said Bridges, who also had an assist for a three-point outing. “I think Drew Doughty was watching that one. It was unbelievable. I didn’t know first of all if he saw me. Second of all I thought he was going to get hit. Just for his ability to be able to hand off that pass, I knew I had to bury it.”
Dixon was definitely pleased to see Bridges fire the puck past Japanese goalie Shinobu Fukushima.
“I don’t even know what I was thinking,” Dixon said. “It just came to me and I’m just glad that Billy buried it there. I might have got in trouble if I did it and he didn’t score or if I turned it over.”
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Dixon explained that former Canadian captain Jean Labonte first referred to him as the Bobby Orr of sledge hockey.
“He was my D partner so I think he was just giving some good words so hopefully I gave him some passes on the ice,” said Dixon, who shrugged off the post-game accolades he received.
Instead, he commended Bridges for his outstanding effort.
“He’s huge out there and he’s always calling for the puck,” Dixon said. “He wants the puck and he’s going to score if you get it to him.”
Greg Westlake of Oakville, Ont., and Kevin Rempel of Dundas, Ont., added two goals apiece during the onslaught, while Edmonton’s Kieran Block had the other goal.
Netminder Benoit St-Amand of St-Hubert, Que., turned aside eight shots for the shutout, while Fukushima finished with 17 saves.
With Japan’s Kazuhiro Takahashi in the penalty box for holding, Canada quickly jumped out to a 1-0 lead at 2:44 of the first period. Westlake took a pass from Brad Bowden of Orton, Ont., and roofed it past Fukushima.
Canada’s potent power play struck again at 14:31 of the opening frame when Bridges converted Dixon’s slick feed.
Japanese coach Kojin Nakakita wasn’t pleased with the fact that his team gave Canada two early power-play chances.
“We cannot afford to have mistakes like that,” Nakakita said. “There were no positives at this point to me.”
Canada increased its lead midway through the game when Westlake fired a wrist shot past Fukushima before Rempel put the host team up 4-0 late in the second period.
At 10:39 of the third period, Dixon showed great patience as he outwaited Fukushima before flipping a shot into the top corner. Rempel, Bridges and Block then added more insurance goals to complete the rout.
Norway will face off against the United States on Sunday night in the second game of the four-team tournament at the WinSport Canada Athletic and Ice Complex at Canada Olympic Park.
Canada will next face Norway on Monday night before rounding out the preliminary round of the tournament on Wednesday with a game against the Americans.
Notes: Canada won the gold medal at the World Sledge Hockey Challenge last April in London, Ont., with an 8-0 win over Norway in the final. Canada outscored the opposition 48-2 while posting a perfect 5-0 record. … It was Canada’s 100th win in international competition since the program started under the Hockey Canada umbrella in 2004. … Bridges now has 120 goals in 119 international games played with Team Canada since 2004.
Note to readers: This is a corrected version of an earlier story. Adam Dixon led Canada’s offence, not Kevin Dixon as previously stated.
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