Ice sledge hockey: Americans blank Japan to take sledge hockey gold Mar 20, 2010

Vancouver (AFP) - The US men's sledge hockey team captured the gold medal at the Vancouver Paralympics on Saturday, beating Japan 2-0 to go through the tournament without surrendering a goal.

Alexi Salamone, the American's leading scorer during the tournament with four goals and eight points in five games, scored at 4:10 of the first period after picking up the puck in a scrum in front of the Japan crease and backhanding it into the net.

"I didn't even think about the whistle. I was watching the play, staying patient and waiting for the puck to squeak out (from the scrum). I wanted to take my time and get the shot. That's what I did," said Salamone, a double amputee who was born in the Ukraine with deformed legs 14 months after the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident. He was later adopted by an American family.

"To win this gold medal in the Paralympics, the highest stage of competition, I'm so grateful to everyone for what they have done for me all the way," said the Buffalo, NY, native.