USA see off plucky Japan to secure sledge ice hockey gold

 THE USA became the first nation to win Paralympic sledge ice hockey gold for the second time with victory over Japan in Vancouver.

GOLDEN BOYS: Taylor Chace celebrates with Alexi Salamone whose goal puts the USA on the way to gold in Vancouver (Getty Images)

Goals from Alexi Salamone and Taylor Lipsett wrapped up a 2-0 win for the 2002 champions, against a plucky Japan side, who had upstaged hosts Canada to reach the final.

In the semi-finals, Japan ensured that Canada could not complete a Vancouver clean sweep, having collected gold in both the men's and women's Olympic competitions.

But the USA proved too strong for their Asian counterparts at the UBC Thunderbird Arena while Japan collected their first sledge ice hockey medal since the sports' inception into the Paralympics in 1994.

The U.S. had never trailed in this tournament and had out-scored opponents 17-0 before play started Saturday but they came under early pressure with Steve Cash the busier of the two goaltenders.

But it was Salamone who handed the USA the impetus and while Japan pressed all the way and almost levelled proceedings in the third period when Daisuke Uehara's shot went off Cash's glove and then off the left goalpost, Lipsett wrapped up victory for the USA.