MILAN – Three weeks after the United States defeated Canada in the Olympic hockey final, the Americans defeated their neighbors again to win Paralympic gold and complete a three-peat in Milan Cortina.
In front of a packed arena, Jack Wallace scored a hat trick as the United States defeated Canada 6-2 in the para ice hockey final on Sunday, becoming the first nation to win the hockey tournament at the Olympics and Paralympics.
There is currently no women’s category in the Paralympics as it is classified as an open gender sport.
Captain Josh Pauls said, “I’m glad we did it because I think there’s a little more pressure on winning gold medals for the men and women as well.” “But I’m glad we could do this for USA Hockey and I think it really shows how much they … invest in the grassroots programs because we have a lot of young players coming up and playing important roles on our teams.”
One of the people he has seen progress up close is Wallace.
When Wallace was asked about his hat-trick, he said with a big smile, “It doesn’t get any better than this.”
Wallace, 27, who grew up loving hockey, had his right leg amputated above the knee after a waterskiing accident at the age of 10 and thought his dreams of playing the sport at the highest level were over before discovering para ice hockey.
Pauls said, “I think watching Jack Wallace grow from the player he was when he first started, from a kid who just wanted to get back on the ice after losing his leg to now seeing him score a hat trick, being a part of people’s lives and seeing them succeed and doing things, is amazing.”
“I was on the ice for the first time when he was on his sled and so watching those guys blossom has been an absolute honor and being their teammate is the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” Pauls said.
While the U.S. men’s team won a gold medal at the Olympics for the first time since the Miracle on Ice in 1980, it’s a very different story at the Paralympics.
It was the fifth consecutive title for the US and Wallace – Wallace now has three and several of his teammates have four.
“I mean, it’s kind of crazy, I can’t believe it,” Pauls said, laughing. “I mean I don’t think you ever want to win five in a row and be the most decorated player in the game and so I think this team is pretty special.”
The United States has now won six of the last seven editions of the Winter Paralympics. It was the third consecutive loss in the final for Canada, having won its only para ice hockey gold on Italian ice in 2006 in Turin.
Earlier, China won its second consecutive bronze medal as it bounced back from conceding two goals in the opening three minutes to beat Czechia 3-2.
Sunday’s final set an attendance record for a game at a major tournament as 10,755 fans filled the stands near capacity.
The feat was achieved by 8,992 spectators in the preliminary round game of the tournament between the United States and host nation Italy.
“I don’t think I could have imagined it,” Pauls said. “I mean, it’s great. I know this building was packed for the men’s and women’s Olympic finals, and I think for us to be packed, it’s more akin to sled hockey than stand-up ice hockey.
“And I think we had some really passionate fans. I didn’t know that so much of Italy was Canadian! And there were definitely some chants, but I’m glad we were able to quiet them a little bit… It was a great atmosphere to play in.”
