May 16, 2009
OSTRAVA, Czech Republic -Andy Yohe(Bettendorf, Iowa) scored with 11 seconds left in the gold-medal game and Steve Cash(Overland, Mo.) turned aside all 11 shots he faced in leading the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team to a 1-0 win over Norway to secure its first-ever world title at the 2009 International Paralympic Committee Ice Sledge Hockey World Championship.
It’s a great feeling,” said Ray Maluta, head coach for Team USA. “The players showed tremendous poise, character and determination for being so young. They really pulled together as a group and were never outworked.”
Both goaltenders stayed perfect throughout the opening two frames, despite the U.S. putting up eight shots on goal in the second stanza.
With :14 remaining in the third period, Taylor Chace(Hampton Falls, N.H.) won an offensive-zone faceoff to the right of Norway’s net and got the puck to Yohe, who slapped it over Norwegian goaltender Roger Johansen’s shoulder on the far side for the gold medal-winning goal at 14:49.
