Canada heading home with Para-hockey silver after loss to U.S.

BEIJING — Canada's hockey team at the Beijing Paralympics had hoped to make up for the overtime heartbreak suffered four years ago.

It wasn't to be.

The Canadians lost 5-0 to their American rivals at the Paralympics on Sunday.

With their silver medal plus bronze in cross-country's mixed relay earlier in the day, Canada heads home with 25 medals, the second most in its history behind the 28 captured in Pyeongchange in 2018.

"It is always difficult to lose in a gold-medal game," said Canadian captain Tyler McGregor, the team's top scorer in the tournament with five goals and three assists.

"After everything our team has been through over the past four years, and especially over the past two years, we never stopped believing in each other. I could not be more proud of every player in our locker room, as well as our entire staff, for the work we have put in to get to this point. It is tough to fall short of a Paralympic gold medal, but we need to hold our heads high and be proud of the way we competed and represented Canada."

Canada has won a Para-hockey medal in six of the last eight Games, including silver in a 2-1 loss in overtime in 2018, and gold in 2006.

But the COVID-19 pandemic has been tough on Canadian athletes, due to travel restrictions and facility closures. The Para-hockey team had just a half dozen exhibition games this season before arriving in Beijing. In previous Games, they would have had 25 to 30 under their belt.

The game marked the final Para appearance for Greg Westlake, who carried Canada's flag in the opening ceremony with curler Ina Forrest. He'll retire after five Games appearances.

"It is an honour to wear the Maple Leaf, and despite not getting gold today, I cannot say enough good things