Team Canada has wind in its sails entering the medal round at the Parapan Am Games.
Okotokian Zak Madell scored a game-high 30 tries as the No. 5 ranked Team Canada knocked off the top-ranked United States 46-41 in wheelchair rugby action on Tuesday at the Parapan Am Games in Santiago, Chile to close the preliminary round as the only undefeated team (5-0).
“Everything was on,” said Madell, a three-time Paralympian, in a post-match interview with the Canadian Paralympic Committee. “The defence, we were where we needed to be. The offence was running smooth and we were taking care of the ball.
“That’s something we’ve really emphasized lately, the last couple of months leading up to this event, take care of that ball and good things will come.
“That’s what we did today.”
Team Canada soundly defeated Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Colombia earlier in the preliminary round.
Canada will play Brazil or Colombia in the semifinal on Wednesday, Nov. 22 at 1 p.m. MST.
The bronze and gold medal games follow on Thursday at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. respectively.
https://twitter.com/CDNParalympics/status/1727050630856872199
“Likely this is going to be a sneak peek of what we see in the final,” said Madell, a Holy Trinity Academy alumnus. “We still have a semifinal to get through, we’re not going to overlook that game.
“But we’re going to go back, watch some video from this game and hopefully comeback, if we see (the Americans) again, and be even more prepared next time.”
CBC Sports is live-streaming the Parapan Am Games.
For links to live coverage, go to cbc.ca/sports/parapanam.
