TAMPA BAY, Fla. — Shawn Neary will have a gold medal to show his daughter when she comes into the world.
Neary was solid on the back end as Team Canada posted a 5-1 win over Canada Wolfpak in the gold-medal showdown at the 2014 International Street & Ball Hockey Federation (ISBHF) World Masters Championship Sunday in Tampa Bay at the All Sports Arena in nearby New Port Richey.
The 41-year-old Corner Brook native picked up an assist on Team Canada’s fourth goal, coming on a power play in the later stages of the third period that saw the champions score three unanswered goals en route to hoisting the championship trophy.
Paolo Musto, captain of Team Canada, led by example as he notched a hat trick to lead the charge in a penalty-filled affair that saw Neary and company record three goals with a man advantage.
Team Canada, with Neary the only Newfoundlander suiting up for the squad, earned a berth in the final by eking out a 2-1 win over the United States in semifinal action Saturday night when Mike Allaby scored the winning goal with a mere second left in regulation time.
Canada, who finished first in its group with a 3-0 record, posted a 5-1 win over Greece in a quarter-final matchup to keep its quest for the world title in check.
Canada opened the tournament with a 3-2 win over Greece with Neary leading the charge with a goal and an assist.
Neary won player of the game for his team in a tough 2-0 shutout win over BallHockey.com, another Canadian entry in the 11-team tournament showcasing the top players in the over-40 age group, in its second preliminary game. A 4-1 win over the District of Columbia in its final round-robin game set the stage for the playoff run for Neary and company.
For his efforts, logging extra minutes on special teams and fitting into the team's top four defenders, Neary was named to the tournament all-star team.
Neary is expected to arrive back in Corner Brook Tuesday. It is expected his financee Joy Green will deliver the couple’s second child — a girl — on this day.