U.S. shuts out Team Canada to win 2025 Para Hockey Cup championship

DAWSON CREEK, B.C. — Organizers in Dawson Creek have touted the week-long 2025 Para Hockey Cup a “smashing success,” with Canada coming away with a silver medal.

The tournament finished on Saturday, December 6th, with the United States defeating team Canada by a score of 2-0 with goals from Brett Bolton and Brody Roybal for the gold medal.

It was the second game between the two teams in four days, as the Americans had previously beat Canada in the round-robin on December 3rd.

Hockey Canada organizing committee head and general manager of community services for the City of Dawson Creek, Ryan MacIvor, felt the event was “an incredible experience” for attendees, and thanked volunteers, sponsors, players and the community.

“This event further builds upon the event hosting that we have done,” said MacIvor. “Whether it be hosting the World U-17 Hockey Challenge in 2015 and 2017, or hosting the women’s national team. This just rounds out our repertoire in terms of our hosting experience and capability.

“I think it just puts another feather in our cap in terms of Dawson Creek and the hosting [qualities] the Peace region can have.”

MacIvor said attendance “went really well” adding crowds at Canada games were “better than expected.” 

He told Energeticcity.ca Ovintiv Canada’s Goals for Food campaign – a drive for donations with every goal scored during the tournament – collected a grand total of $10,500 from the company and 200-plus food bags donated by Dawson Co-op.

MacIvor also said the visiting countries, which also included China and Czechia, gave the city “an economic jolt” from each team’s trips out in the community.

“The Czech team went out and played with a rec team,” said MacIvor. “They checked out local sites and restaurants. The Americans found a couple of the local coffee shops. 

“I think that it just speaks to the [idea that] the athletes are here to play, but they’re also here to check out the community [and] be good ambassadors for their countries too.”

In the bronze medal match played earlier on December 6th, China outlasted Czechia by a score of 4-2.

Four different Chinese players scored, and the team outshot Czechia by a total of 28 shots to nine. 

MacIvor mentioned reviews from attendees taking in para ice hockey – a variation of ice hockey with a sled instead of skates due to mobility and accessibility issues – was positive, especially those watching the sport for the first time. 

“The people that did come and see it were really impressed with the agility, the athleticism, the contact [and] the speed,” said MacIvor. “Being ambidextrous, in terms of the passing and how the players communicate and utilize their sleds.

“[People] understood just because you may have a disability, it may not hold you back. I think that there’s a lot of positive outcomes from it, and a lot of people really enjoyed it.”

The 2025 Para Hockey Cup took place from November 30th to December 6th at the Ovintiv Events Centre in Dawson Creek and was the final tune-up for para ice hockey teams leading up to next March’s Winter Paralympics in Italy.