Editor's Note: The US Paralympic Sled Hockey Team won its fifth-straight Paralympic Winter Games gold medal. The US defeated Canada on Sunday, March 15, 2026 in the gold medal game, 6-2. Team USA finished the Paralympics with a perfect record and outscored their opponents 46-6.
The U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey team has been nothing short of dominant at the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Milano-Cortina.
On Friday, the team overcame their latest hurdle on the way to a fifth consecutive Olympic crown; they beat Czechia 6-1 in the semifinal game to move on to Sunday’s gold medal match against Canada. But if you were to have asked the team about their Olympic streak back in training camp last January, they would have told you that wasn’t the focus.
“Sometimes in sports you get caught up focusing on the end result and you don't get the performance you want,” David Hoff, the team’s head coach, said. “We're trying to really focus on the performance, and if we can play as well as we can, we believe we've got a chance.”
U.S.A. paralympic sled hockey playera, Landon Uthke, left, and Liam Cunningham practice at the ice rink with the team during practice at Blue Sport Stable in Superior, Colo. on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. 
U.S.A. paralympic sled hockey player, Jack Wallace, practices at the ice rink with the team during practice at Blue Sport Stable in Superior, Colo. on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. 
USA sled hockey's Kayden Beasley races over the ice during a practice in Superior. Nov. 13, 2025.
Sled hockey made its Paralympic debut at the 1994 Winter Games in Lillehammer, Norway. Team USA didn’t begin competing until 1998. Since 2002, the team has won six medals: five gold and one bronze.
“There was just something about this team that is magical,” Captain Josh Pauls said. “It's the work that these guys want to put in, the work that they just don't care how good they are. They still know they can be better. And we all know that, and we feel that, and I think that's kind of made us successful.”
Pauls has won all four gold medals since the streak began at the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver. During that stretch, he’s seen relative lows, like losing a shutout streak in Sochi in 2014. But they came back during that same game to beat Russia with President Vladimir Putin in attendance. Then, at the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang, they pulled out a comeback win against Canada.
“USA Hockey expects a lot from us. I think they've supported us,” said Declan Farmer, a three-time medalist. “We've kind of been the team that's been most consistently winning for them for their marketing and philanthropy efforts.”
And they have tough acts to follow after the men’s and women’s hockey teams won thrilling overtime victories to reach the top of their respective podiums last month. If they can duplicate that success, the United States would be the first country to sweep the sport of hockey at the Winter Olympics and Paralympics.
“We're the top dogs of the Paralympics, top dogs internationally as well. So I think that puts a lot of pressure on us as human beings and as a team,” said Malik Jones of Aurora. “But knowing who these guys are, knowing who I am, who everyone else is, I think everyone is ready to step up to the plate and take on the challenge. I don't think anyone here on this team shies away from any challenge.”
Team USA opened the tournament by giving up a goal to host Italy. But they ended up beating the Italians 14-1. They then dominated Germany 13-0 and closed out group play with a 7-1 win over a fast and skilled China team.
Farmer, who now lives in Colorado, has terrorized blue lines and goalies throughout the tournament. He’s the team’s leading scorer with 14 goals and 10 assists. He has scored at least a hat trick in every game in the tournament.
He also set two career milestones that could be extended on Sunday. Against China, he set the all-time career record for points scored at the Paralympics. He currently has 64 points. Against Czechia, he set a new Paralympic single tournament record for goals (14) and points (24).
“That pressure isn't necessarily just to win gold; it's to be the best team we can be,” Farmer said. “We've worked really hard. I don't think we have any regrets in how we've approached our preparation. So it really just comes down to executing and the tiny amount of time you get to show your stuff on the ice.”
So far, that mentality has paid off. USA plays Canada for the gold medal on Sunday at 9:05 a.m. MT.
