Declan Farmer’s Record-Breaking Performance Propels U.S. to Paralympic Gold Medal Pursuit

MILAN – Declan Farmer (Tampa, Fla.) delivered a performance for the ages, scoring three goals and adding three assists, as the U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team stormed past Czechia 6-1 in the semifinals of the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games. The victory, secured at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Friday, marks a significant milestone for Farmer, who now holds the new Paralympic single-tournament records for both goals (14) and points (24).

This win propels Team USA into the gold medal game for an impressive fifth consecutive time at the Paralympic Winter Games. They will face the winner of the second semifinal matchup between Canada and China. The highly anticipated gold medal game is scheduled for Sunday, March 15th, at 11:05 a.m. ET and will be broadcast live on NBC and streamed on Peacock.

Dominant Performance from Start to Finish

“I thought we had a really solid effort from start to finish,” commented David Hoff (Bottineau, N.D.), head coach of the 2026 U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team. “I liked how we stayed with what we were trying to do and I thought our team had patience and persistence, which gives us a chance to play in the game we all want to on Sunday.”

Czechia initially drew first blood, with Michal Geier capitalizing on a loose rebound during a power play just 5:08 into the game. However, the U.S. responded swiftly and decisively.

Farmer Sets New Records, Team USA Responds

Declan Farmer ignited the U.S. offense, scoring his first goal at 10:26 of the first period to tie the game at 1-1. This goal not only leveled the score but also cemented Farmer’s place in Paralympic history with new single-tournament records for goals and points. The rebound came off a shot from Travis Dodson (Deming, N.M.).

The second period saw Team USA surge ahead, scoring two goals in a mere 19 seconds. David Eustace (Stoneham, Mass.) skillfully backhanded a rebound past Czech netminder Patrik Sedlacek, followed by a beautiful cross-ice pass from Eustace to Farmer, who elevated the puck for his third goal of the game.

Third Period Seals the Victory

Josh Pauls (Green Brook, N.J.) extended the lead early in the third period with a low shot from the slot, making it 4-1. Farmer continued his stellar performance, adding his third goal of the game with 7:08 remaining, showcasing his agility and skill as he cut through the defense and tapped the puck past the outstretched goaltender.

The final goal came from Noah Grove (Frederick, Md.) on a power play with 6:11 left in the game. Receiving the puck from Brody Roybal (Northlake, Ill.) at the faceoff dot, Grove skillfully maneuvered and snaked a shot inside the post, securing a commanding 6-1 victory for Team USA.

Griffin LaMarre (Haverhill, Mass.) stood strong in net, making four crucial saves.

Game Statistics

The U.S. dominated the shot count, outshooting Czechia 41-5. Team USA went 1-3 on the power play, while Czechia converted 1-1 of their opportunities.

You can find more information about the Paralympic Winter Games at the official Paralympic website.