CALGARY – A competitive friendship between teammates Billy Bridges and Brad Bowden is paying dividends for Canada at the World Sledge Hockey Challenge.
Bridges had two goals and an assist for the second straight game, and Bowden earned player of the game honours Monday night with a one goal, one assist performance in Canada’s 5-2 victory over Norway.
“I always love seeing my boy get that MVP,” said Bridges, a Summerside, P.E.I., native who has played both sledge hockey and wheelchair basketball with and against Bowden since they were youngsters.
“He was my best man at my wedding and he’s been my best friend since we were about 10-years-old. I’m one of his groomsmen at his wedding next summer.”
Although they don’t play on the same line, Bowden and Bridges like to challenge each other to play at their best each and every game.
“Even when we’re not cheering for each other, we’re competing against each other which makes it tough,” Bridges said. “But at the same time, if we’re competing against each other to get points, to get hits, we’re going to win,”
“We do push each other,” added Bowden, who hails from Orton, Ont. “He’s a phenomenal gifted athlete and he’s always been there to push me and I’ve always been there to push him. When we were kids we’d compete all the time, but now we’re grown men and we just love to see each other excel in the sport and win.”
Canadian coach Mike Mondin definitely likes what he’s seen from both Bowden and Bridges so far in the four-team tournament.
“They do push each other, absolutely,” Mondin said. “They just play hard every game. They’ve very competitive and they play hard in all situations.”
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Adam Dixon of Midland, Ont., chipped in with a goal and an assist each for Canada (2-0), while Anthony Gale of Brampton, Ont., also scored.
Goalie Corbin Watson of Kingsville, Ont., stopped nine-of-11 shots he faced to record the victory.
Morten Vaernes and Rolf Pedersen scored for Norway (0-2), while netminder Roger Johansen finished with 15 saves.
“We’re not ready in the game, so that’s not good enough,” said Norwegian coach Morten Haglund. “To play Canada, we have to be prepared at the start of the game.”
Bridges counted goals two minutes and four seconds apart early in the first period to give Canada a 2-0 lead.
“Every time you come out to play you want to have a quick start and that’s what we did,” Mondin said. “Boy, it helped us out as the game went on.”
Vaernes then converted a feed from Stig Tore Svee during a 5-on-3 man advantage to pull the Norwegians within a goal.
Canada had a great chance to build on its lead when Gale was awarded a penalty shot. Johansen, however, made a nice arm save to turn aside the scoring threat.
After Bowden set up Gale for an easy tap-in goal, Pedersen fired a shot past Watson to cut Norway’s deficit to one goal once again.
Bowden then took a pass from Dixon and fired a shot in off the crossbar to give Canada a 4-2 lead after a hectic opening period.
Bowden credited his linemates Greg Westlake of Oakville, Ont., and Gale for teaming up with him to help Canada regain its two-goal lead.
“When our backs are against the wall like that, I don’t know what it is, but we just love it,” Bowden said. “It’s kind of nerve-wracking but it brings out the best in us and we really push for each other and work hard for each other.”
Neither team managed to score in the second period, although the Canadians came close when Bridges rang a shot off the crossbar during a late power-play opportunity.
After Norway failed to capitalize on a pair of power-play chances in the third, Dixon scored an insurance goal during a man advantage for Canada.
Earlier on Monday afternoon, Taylor Lipsett had two goals and an assist to lead the United States (2-0) to a 6-2 win over Japan (0-2).
The preliminary round wraps up on Wednesday when Norway takes on Japan in the afternoon followed by a night game between Canada and the U.S.
Semifinal action will take place on Thursday, while the bronze medal and gold medal games are slated for Saturday.
Notes: Bridges and American defenceman Nikko Landeros are tied for the tournament scoring lead with six points apiece after two games. Bridges has scored a tournament-leading four goals to go with two assists, while Landeros has three goals and three helpers. … There’s a 32-year age difference between Norway’s oldest and youngest player. While Svee will turn 48 on Dec. 16, forward Magnus Bogle recently celebrated his 16th birthday on Nov. 27.
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