At long last, the United States’ pursuit of history reached its triumphant conclusion. Four years after cruising to a 5-0 victory over Canada for their fourth consecutive Paralympic title, the Americans did it again, defeating an undefeated Canadian squad 6-2 to capture a fifth straight Paralympic sled hockey gold medal in Milan.
With this victory, the United States became the first hockey team—Olympic or Paralympic—to win five consecutive titles and the first to achieve a complete Paralympic “golden sweep.” Just three weeks prior, on the same ice, U.S. teams had denied Canada Olympic gold in both the men’s and women’s tournaments. The Americans also set a new U.S. Paralympic record for goals scored in a single tournament, amassing 46 across five games.
The championship game was a display of grit and skill from the opening whistle. Both teams engaged in a relentless, physical battle, colliding up and down the ice. The United States controlled possession early, but Canada’s defense initially appeared impenetrable—until a pair of holding penalties gave the Americans an opening.
Defenseman Brody Wallace capitalized on the second penalty, scooping up a blocked shot near the faceoff dot and rifling it through traffic to the top corner of the net, giving the U.S. a 1-0 lead. Wallace, 27, completed a hat trick in the game and led the team with seven shots on goal. He also assisted on the team’s fifth tally, scored by Declan Farmer, and was named best defenseman of the tournament for the second consecutive Paralympics.
Canada responded early in the second period when Liam Hickey tied the game 1-1, but the Americans quickly regained control. With 8:36 left in the second, Zach Lavin gained the puck from Canadian Anton Jacobs-Webb off a faceoff. Kayden Beasley, a 19-year-old Paralympic rookie, intercepted it and slid a shot past Canadian goalie Corbin Watson to restore the U.S. lead. Beasley finished the tournament tied for five points with fellow rookie Brett Bolton, exemplifying the depth and scoring firepower of the U.S. squad.
Wallace added his second goal three-and-a-half minutes later and completed his hat trick early in the third period. Canada’s Hickey narrowed the gap to 4-2, but the Americans responded immediately. Shorthanded on a delay of game call, Farmer, the tournament’s leading scorer, stole the puck behind the net and poked it across to give the U.S. a 5-2 lead. Nine seconds later, after Canada pulled Watson for an extra attacker, Luke Roybal scored the Americans’ sixth and final goal, sealing the championship.
Farmer capped an historic tournament by breaking multiple Paralympic records. His goal against Canada brought his single-tournament goal total to 15, points to 26, all-time Paralympic goals to 36, and all-time Paralympic points to 66. Like Wallace, Farmer earned tournament MVP honors for the second consecutive Paralympics.
The U.S. sled hockey team’s performance in Milan was more than just victory—it was a historic display of dominance, teamwork, and resilience, cementing their legacy as the greatest Paralympic hockey dynasty of all time.
