United States, Canada to Meet in Final

Canada shook off a slow start Friday night, the United States struggled through a sluggish second half, but both advanced to tonight’s gold-medal game of the International Ice Hockey Federation In-Line Hockey World Championship.

The Canadians, down two goals in the first quarter, scored 10 consecutive goals and rolled to an 11-5 victory over Finland in the first semifinal at Disney ICE.

In the other semifinal, the U.S. raced to a six-goal lead and held off Switzerland, 10-4.

Roller Hockey International is expected to announce today that it will return in 1999, so it was fitting that a number of its executives were among the announced crowd of 975 who watched many of that league’s former standouts contribute on Friday. Former Sacramento River Rat Gerry St. Cyr had three goals and former Blade Doug Ast scored twice for Canada.

The U.S. jumped out to a 6-0 halftime lead with a decidedly Bullfrog flavor. Bullfrog forward Bill Lund scored on a power play five minutes into the game. Taj Melson, who left the Bullfrogs recently after signing a contract with the Las Vegas Thunder of the International Hockey League, knocked in a rebound off Swiss goaltender Matthias Muller with six minutes 18 seconds left in the quarter. Melson finished with three goals.

Joe Cook, who retired from the Bullfrogs in the middle of the 1997 season following a series of concussions, went top shelf on Muller at the 1:55 mark. After a goal from former Blade Hardy Sauter 15 seconds later, Lund made it 6-0 with back-to-back goals.

The Swiss, coached by former San Diego Barracuda Coach Steve Martinson, were no match for former San Jose Rhino Joe Bonvie, now with Columbus of Major League Roller Hockey. Bonvie stopped 16 shots in two shutout quarters. He gave way to Bullfrog goalie Rob Laurie in the second half, but at one point, the Swiss sliced the lead to 7-4.

“We got up 6-0 and we started thinking about the gold-medal game,” Cook said. “That’s natural, but our coaches had to get us refocused.”

The U.S. is the two-time gold medalist, having defeated Canada both times. “No doubt, they’re favored,” said Canadian Coach Doug McCarthy, a defenseman who helped the Bullfrog win the 1997 RHI title. “We’re happy to be in the game, but if we get our best game together we may have a chance to beat them.”

Canada has averaged nearly 11 goals in its four IIHF victories. The U.S. has averaged 14.

“Defense will win this one,” said Canadian Mark Woolf, a Bullfrog winger. “It will be low-scoring. We have to stay out of the penalty box.”

Bonvie said it will come down to his performance and that of Canadian goalie David Gorverde, another former Bullfrog.

“I just concentrate on stopping the puck and let the other guys have a chance,” Bonvie said.

The U.S. has allowed 10 goals overall. Canada has allowed 19. But the Canadians have spent twice as much time in the penalty box. That contributed to the Finns’ early success.

“I thought we dominated play, but we got several penalties,” McCarthy said. “I think I have the best skaters in the world, but I sometimes don’t think that the referees have given us justice.”

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In-Line Hockey

* What: In-Line Hockey World Championships

* When: Today

* Where: Arrowhead Pond, Disney ICE

* Today’s schedule: 10:30 a.m., Disney ICE--Italy vs. Russia for seventh place; 1:30 p.m., Disney ICE--Germany vs. Austria for sixth place; 4:30, Pond--Finland vs. Switzerland for bronze medal; 7:30, Pond--Canada vs. United States for gold medal.

* Tickets: Pond games: $6-$18 adults, $6-$14 children 12 and under. Available at Pond box office or call TicketMaster at (714) 740-2000. Games at Disney ICE are free.

* Information: (714) 940-2888

* Web site: https://www.inlinehockeyworld.com