Canada's Para hockey team set to open defence of world title in Buffalo

The Canadian Press

· Posted: May 23, 2025 6:20 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 hours ago

Canada seeks back-to-back satellite titles astatine the World Para Hockey Championship starting Saturday successful Buffalo, N.Y.

The big Canadians dented the caller dominance of the United States successful the athletics by beating the Americans 2-1 for the golden medal past twelvemonth successful Calgary.

It was Canada's archetypal golden medal connected location crystal and archetypal aft falling to the U.S. successful 3 consecutive finals.

Canada's 17 players announced earlier this period by Hockey Canada unfastened defence of the crown Saturday against Germany astatine LECOM Harborcenter, which is the signifier installation of the NHL's Buffalo Sabres.

There are 16 returning players from past year's squad, including goalie Adam Kingsmill of Smithers, B.C. He stopped 24 of 25 shots successful the gold-medal game.

Dominic Cozzolino of Mississauga, Ont., and Anton Jacobs-Webb of Gatineau, Que., besides instrumentality aft scoring Canada's goals successful past year's final.

WATCH l Canada beats U.S. to seizure satellite rubric connected location ice:

"Entering the satellite title arsenic the defending champions is not thing we instrumentality lightly," said caput manager Russ Herrington.

"We cognize that each state volition bring their champion against us. As a group, we person continued to turn and make implicit the past year.

"This roster has a ton of acquisition connected the large stage, and we are excited to get going."

Canada mislaid 4-1 to the U.S. successful the last of the Para Cup successful Charlottetown connected Dec. 14, and 5-3 to the Americans successful the last of the International Para Hockey Cup successful Ostrava, Czech Republic on Oct. 13.

The U.S. besides bushed Canada successful the last for Paralympic golden successful some 2018 and 2022. Their rivalry is expected to proceed into the 2026 Winter Games successful Milan-Cortina, Italy.

China and South Korea are besides successful Canada's satellite title radical successful Buffalo, portion Group B features the U.S., the Czech Republic, Norway and Slovakia.

Canada takes connected South Korea connected Sunday and China connected Tuesday. The quarterfinals May 28 volition beryllium followed by the May 30 semifinals and medal games May 31.

All 20 tourney games volition beryllium streamed connected USAHockeyTV.com.