PARALYMPICS: Dominant power play vaults Canada into paralympic semifinals

In a high-stakes clash for Group B supremacy at the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, Canada secured its direct ticket to the semifinals with a commanding 4-1 victory over Czechia. The win preserves Canada’s perfect 3-0 preliminary record and sets the stage for a highly anticipated medal-round showdown against China this Friday.

Special teams and tactical grit

Captain Tyler McGregor once again proved why he is among the world’s elite, orchestrating the offense with a three-point performance (one goal, two assists). While the final score suggests a comfortable margin, the path was defined by “beautiful chaos.” Canada’s vaunted power play remained its greatest weapon, accounting for three of the team’s four goals.

The Canadians controlled the pace from the opening puck drop, relentlessly testing Czech goaltender Patrik Sedlacek. Though Sedlacek stood tall in a scoreless first period, the sheer volume of Canadian rubber—26 shots to Czechia’s 12—eventually wore down the defense.

Overcoming Adversity

The game wasn’t without its tense moments. During a delayed penalty, a communication breakdown nearly resulted in Canada scoring on its own empty net. However, the team recovered instantly. James Dunn silenced any nerves by netting his fifth goal of the tournament shortly after the mishap.

The momentum surged as Vincent Boliy doubled the lead, showcasing tenacity by burying his own rebound on the power play. McGregor followed suit, pouncing on another rebound to notch his 10th point of the Games, tying him for second in overall scoring. The goal also marked a historic milestone for veteran Dom Cozzolino, whose assist earned him his 200th career point.

Defending the Clean Sheet

Czechia finally broke through in the third period when Zdenek Habel beat goaltender Corbin Watson on the short side after a powerful rush down the wing. It was the first goal conceded by Canada in the entire tournament, ending a remarkable shutout streak. Liam Hickey eventually iced the game with an empty-netter, bringing his personal tournament tally to eight points.

Looking Ahead

Canada played Tuesday’s contest without legend Greg Westlake, who sidelined due to an injury sustained against Japan. The team is optimistic about his return for the knockout stage.

The road to gold now runs through a formidable Chinese squad. Canada is scheduled to face China in the semifinal on Friday at 2:05 p.m. ET, with a spot in the Paralympic final on the line.

RS/MS