Canada Rallies to Take Third Cup from USA

By Phillip Goodman

April 7, 2025

After winning the 4th Annual US-Eh Series, Team Canada now owns a series lead over Team USA 3-1. The Americans won Friday's game 3-2, then Canada won Saturday's tilt 3-2 and the weekend tie-breaking shootout for the series win.

This year's matchup presented by Advanced Asphalt at The Jennifer M. O’Neal Community Ice Arena was dubbed "The Goon Squad Cup" to raise funds for the Nico Goon Compassionate Scholar Award. Nico was a proud Bishop Manogue graduate and civil engineering student at Cal Poly that tragically passed away in Dec. 2024. Nico was a leader, a scholar, and above all, a kind and compassionate soul who made everyone feel seen and valued. The Nico Goon Compassionate Scholar Award carries on his legacy by supporting local seniors who lead with heart and strive for excellence so that we may all ‘Live Like Nico.’

Both teams were composed of Reno Ice Raiders players/coaches and former pros/semi-pros who live locally but also some imports for just the weekend.

"Guys travel from Canada to play this weekend each year because our community makes them feel welcome," said Alberta-native and Team Canada Captain Dan Rowan.

Through ticket sales and Hockey Day in Reno participation, the Board of Directors from The Jennifer M. O’Neal Community Ice Arena made a contribution of $7,500 to the scholarship fund. The Reno Sparks Scheels donated $2,500 and Western Nevada Supply committed to a $5,000 contribution. The sellout crowds both nights combined for another $2,000 in opportunity drawing and merchandise sales bringing the grand total raised to almost $20,000 for a great cause.

"This community never ceases to amaze me, especially the hockey community that has been built here in a relatively short period of time of only five years," Rowan added. "The fact that people take the time out of their busy schedules to come and support our love for Nico and hockey is humbling to all of us. And it's fun!  Nico was top of mind awareness for everybody that was there, it was a beautiful show of support for the whole Goon family.  The nearly $20,000 raised for the Nico Goon Compassionate Scholar Award will allow this to be funded for the foreseeable future."

In Friday's action, Carson Terpsma, formerly of the Canadian Premier Junior Hockey League, got the scoring started for Canada after Ice Raider and Ontario native Phillip Buque fed him the puck from behind the net giving Canada the 1-0 lead two minutes in. 

USA killed their only penalty of the period and only had a couple of scoring chances but Calgary native Blaine Bugg in net for Canada shut down all opportunities. 

Early in the second, Eastern Washington Univ. Eagle Garret Sliger threaded a pass through the neutral zone to Colorado College Tiger John Heyne who buried a five-holer to the game 1-1.

'The Provinces' responded with a goal by Tucker Dougherty assisted by Reno Ice Coach Adrian Nicholas for the 2-1 lead at 9:22 of the second period.

Reno Ice Hockey Director Jackson Baughman tied the game for USA with a little more than minutes left in the second on an Advanced Asphalt Power Play Goal setup by Reno Ice Gen. Manager Kevin Sunde.

Owen May potted USA's go-ahead goal three minutes into the third for USA's second power goal of the night. Sunde earned his second assist on the play.

After that, USA goalie Adam Lain shut the door on all of Canada's scoring threats and USA took game one by the 3-2 score.

A mere 10 seconds into Saturday's puck drop, Canada got the scoring early with a bounce in front off Ryan Terpsma of the Senior AA Devon Barons in Alberta's North Central Hockey League.

Five minutes later, Ice Raiders' Captain and Reno Ice Youth Coach Andrew Peterson skated the puck coast to coast and roofed a beauty over Bugg for the game tying goal.

British Columbia native and current Ice Raider Charlie Montgomery put Canada back on top 2-1 with a power goal assisted by Reno Ice's Assistant Hockey Director Adrian Nicholas with just under six minutes left in the opening frame.

Sunde tied the game at 2-2 with USA's first power play goal of the day, assisted by Peterson and May.

Carson Terpsma answered right back with a snipe of his own with Nevada Men's Ice Hockey Coach Dan Rowan assisting. Canada took a 3-2 lead to the locker room.

Bugg and Lain kept their opposing teams off the board in the third period despite the numerous chances at both ends and each team getting one power play attempt. 

The 3-2 Canada win meant the Nico Goon Squad Cup Series would be decided by a five-minute overtime. Each team had another power play try but neither could convert, sending the series to a shootout. Charlie Montgomery and Adrian Nicholas scored for Canada while Andrew Peterson and Garret Sliger were denied by Bugg giving Canada their third US-Eh series win.

"The guys are excited to come back next year and do it all again," Rowan said.

Leading up to Saturday's game was the Hockey Day in Reno which featured jamboree-style youth games, an all-girls scrimmage, a special sled hockey session, ball hockey, food trucks, local fire and police visits, vendor booths, arts and crafts, plus figure skating performances during each intermission of the Goon Squad Cup Games.

"As a community rink, it was a privilege to do our part to honour Nico and do what we can for the Goon Family," said Reno Ice General Manager Kevin Sunde. "The second-ever Hockey Day in Reno brought in a ton of people to contribute to the cause and share the compassion Nico's scholarship is named for. We are very grateful to all the volunteers, coaches, staff, organizers, and fans for a great weekend that showed the cohesive and loving spirit of Reno Ice."