SOCHI, Russia -- Greg Westlake scored the games only goal while Corbin Watson made seven saves for his second straight shutout Tuesday as Canada defeated the Czech Republic 1-0 in sledge hockey at the Sochi Paralympics. Darius Slay Jersey . Westlake broke the scoreless tie at 7:33 of the second period, ripping a shot upstairs from in tight for his second goal of the tournament. Canada had a number of chances to extend the lead but was forced to hang on late as the Czechs made one final push in the dying seconds. "Theyre a big team. Theyre physical," said Westlake. "Theyve got a lot of men on their team. "Its a lot of cycling against the Czechs. They have a big goalie so you have to pick your spots. If youre not shooting the puck well its going to be a low-scoring game." Canada has surrendered just one goal on 18 shots through three round-robin victories while outscoring its opponents 15-1. "It was a fun game to play and it was a necessary game to play because we get better and we needed a team to push us going into the medal round," said Westlake. Czech goalie Michal Vapenka stopped 17 shots in defeat as his team was eliminated from the competition. "We had some scoring chances, there was just no finish," said Canadian head coach Mike Mondin. "The kid in net is a good goalie. "Hes a big guy so theyre trying to go high and we shot a lot of them over the net." Canada clinched first place in its pool and will take on the United States in one of Thursdays semifinals. The Americans, who won gold four years ago in Vancouver, dropped a hard-fought 2-1 decision to the host Russians earlier Tuesday to finish second in their group. Russia will meet Norway in the other semifinal. Canada won Paralympic gold back in 2006 but had a disappointing fourth-place finish in 2010. Elsewhere on Tuesday, biathlete Mark Arendz battled pouring rain and dense fog to win a bronze medal in the mens 12.5-kilometre standing category. Its the second medal of the Games for the native of Hartsville, P.E.I., who captured silver earlier in the week. He finished in 30 minutes 31 seconds. Russias Azat Karachurin won gold in 29:30.0 while Norways Nils-Erik Ulset captured silver. "To get a medal is awesome and that was the goal," said Arendz. "There were mistakes out there both in shooting and on the course so it was not a perfect race, but any time you are on the podium I have to be happy because this is strong field." Arendzs medal was Canadas seventh so far in the competition (one goal, two silver, four bronze). Host Russia continues to lead with a whopping 34 medals, 23 ahead of second-place Ukraine. Canada and the United States are tied in third. Arendz, who shot 19-of-20, said the poor visibility made the race extra challenging. "It was the same conditions for everyone," he said. "I wasnt perfect in shooting so I know there are still mistakes that need to be cleaned up." In para-alpine skiing, Braydon Luscombe of Duncan, B.C., was the top-placing Canadian, finishing second in the standing division with a time of 52.17 seconds. Josh Dueck of Kimberley, B.C., placed fifth in the sitting category in 59.93 seconds. Standing athlete Kirk Schornstein of Spruce Grove, Alta., was 17th and Mac Marcouxopf Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., and guide Robin Femy of Mont-Tremblant, Que., did not finish their run in the visually impaired category. Sit-skiers Caleb Brousseau of Terrace, B.C., Calgarys Kurt Oatway and standing athlete Matt Hallat of Coquitlam, B.C., also did not finish. In the womens slalom, standing skier Calgarys Alexandra Starker was the top-placing Canadian in 1:06.59. Torontos Erin Latimer was eighth. In wheelchair curling, Canada improved to 5-1 and moved into a first-place tie with Russia with an 8-5 victory over China. Darryl Tapp Womens Jersey . It offers no assurances and doesnt apply any context, like, for example, taking injuries into account. Last year, this method forecasted the first round at a 7-1 clip; this year it was 5-3, with losses on Columbus, Colorado and San Jose. C.J. Mosley Youth Jersey . Wedge will manage the final three games of this season against Oakland before the Mariners begin a search for a new manager. "Its got to the point where its painfully obvious to me that I just wasnt going to be able to move forward with this organization," Wedge said before Fridays game.ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Every big shot Wisconsin needed, Frank Kaminsky hit. The 7-footer carried Wisconsin to the Final Four with 28 points, including six in overtime, as the Badgers defeated Arizona 64-63 in a physical West Region final Saturday night. Kaminsky had 11 rebounds and scored from inside and outside, including three 3-pointers, for the No. 2 seed Badgers (30-7). Its Wisconsins first Final Four appearance since 2000, and first for 69-year-old coach Bo Ryan, who earned his 704th career victory. "We want a national championship now," Kaminsky said. "We have made it to the opportunity to get there, so why not go get it?" Ryan had a long tradition of attending the Final Four as a spectator with his father, who died in August. "Today would have been my dads 90th birthday," he said. "I just thought Id throw that in." Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers joined the locker room celebration, telling the Badgers hed been following them all season. Kaminsky proved the only reliable scorer on a night when the rest of the Badgers disappeared offensively. Sam Dekker was 2 for 5, Ben Brust went 2 for 7, Traevon Jackson was 4 of 14 and Nigel Hayes was 2 of 8. "Their big guy really had a great game," Arizonas Nick Johnson said. "He raised his level." Johnson had the ball with a chance to win, but he missed a shot that launched just after the buzzer for Arizona (33-5), the top-seeded team that has yet to win a West Region final in Anaheim in four tries. Johnson led the Wildcats with 16 points, and Aaron Gordon had 18 rebounds in the relentlessly physical game. It was the record-tying seventh OT game of this years tournament. Johnson stood with his hands on his hips, staring straight ahead, while Kaminsky and the rest of the Badgers rushed to celebrate. "I wish I would have taken one less dribble, get the shot off, give us a little chance," Johnson said. Jackson added 10 points for the Badgers, and Kaminsky was chosen as most outstanding player of the West Region, part of a breakout season for the junior with the deadpan sense of humour. "They tell me hes funnier that he used to be, and his eyes are more wide open now," Ryan said.. Vaughn Martin Jersey. "If you see him sitting sometimes you think, Oh, look, Franks asleep. Hes not asleep. But hes got that sleepy look." Kaleb Tarczewski scored 12 points and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson had 10 points for the Wildcats, who were trying to get coach Sean Miller to the Final Four for his first time. Instead, Miller was sent to the sidelines on the same day his younger brother Archies Dayton Flyers lost to Florida in the South Region final. "When you lose, its like a car crashes," Miller said. "Its just -- youre done." The first 40 minutes were a back-and-forth struggle between the only 1-2 seeds remaining in the regionals, with neither team leading by more than three points over the final 12:09 of regulation. Overtime was even more dramatic, with Arizona having an answer for just about everything Wisconsin did. Brust hit a 3-pointer to put the Badgers up at the start of the extra session; Gordon answered with a 3 to tie it up again at 57. Kaminsky scored inside and Gordon dunked at the other end for another tie. Kaminskys jumper and a free throw by Josh Gasser gave Wisconsin a 62-59 lead. Tarczewskis two free throws and Jordin Mayes tip-in drew the Wildcats to 64-63 with 58 seconds left. T. J. McConnells jumper missed, but Arizona got the offensive rebound and found Johnson, who missed and got called for the push-off on Gasser with 3 seconds left. "I thought it was a really, really tough call," Miller said. "Im going to stop there. Ive already been fined." Wisconsin inbounded on the baseline, and a scramble ensued in front of Arizonas bench with 2 seconds left. The initial call gave the ball to the Badgers. The referees viewed replays for several minutes before deciding Wisconsin touched the ball last. "It was the longest minutes of my life," Hayes said. Ryan said, "Mainly we spent most of it knowing that it wasnt going to be our ball." That call set up the final play, with Pac-12 player of the year Johnson unable to bail out the Wildcats. "I knew he wasnt going to pass it with only two seconds on the clock," Gasser said. "It was a good battle out there, and fortunately, he didnt make a play there." wholesale nfl jerseys ' ' '
