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Tampa’s Declan Farmer ready for Paralympics gold medal showdown

It is the United States vs. Canada on Saturday night with the Tampa native a key player.
 
Published March 16, 2018|Updated March 16, 2018

Another United States vs. Canada match for the gold medal.

Tampa native Declan Farmer, 20, said he could not envision a better scenario for Saturday night's showdown in the sled hockey final at the Paralympic Winter Games in Gangneung, South Korea.

"I'd be lying if I didn't say it: It would be cooler playing Canada in this game, our biggest rival," Farmer said late Friday night by phone from Gangneung. "This is the game you dream about as a kid, playing against your biggest rival in the Paralympics hockey gold medal game. I know I've been dreaming about this game since I started playing competitively at 12."

The game can be seen live on NBCSN and live streamed at NBCOlympics.com.

Just like the United States women's national team, which beat Canada in a shootout to win gold last month in the Winter Olympics, the two best sled hockey teams are meeting to decide the ultimate prize.

"We didn't want to take anyone lightly," Farmer said. "Over the last few years Canada and us have been the best teams. We kind of expected this."

The rivals met for the last three world championships, with Canada winning twice. The last victory was a 4-1 win in the 2017 Para Sled Hockey World Championships in Gangneung.

Team USA is looking for its third straight Paralympic gold medal. Farmer, a Berkeley Prep graduate who is currently a sophomore at Princeton University, could take home his second Paralympic gold. He was 16 when the United States beat Russia in the 2014 Sochi Games.

Canada, which earned the bronze in Sochi, last reached the gold medal game in 2006.

Both teams are 4-0. The United States has allowed one goal. The Canadians are unscored upon and have given up just 13 shots.

Farmer enters the final with nine goals and 14 points during this tournament. He has 12 goals in his nine career Paralympic Games, which ties him with teammate Brody Roybal for the most in USA Paralympic history.

Records, Farmer said, are for another time.

"The goal is definitely the gold," he said. "Brody and I are both young and we both hope to play on this team for several more Paralympic Games so we both have time to beat each for that record if we can do that, but we both care about winning. If I don't score a single goal (Saturday), I'll be happy as long as we win. But ultimately you want to help the team win."

Contact Roger Mooney at rmooney@tampabay.com. Follow @rogermooney50