Plenty of big hits going in at the moment, particularly by the Russians as they opt for a more physical approach...

20:41 It is possible, of course, that the crowd support can work against Russia as it so loud and maybe distracting every time they gain possession. They're struggling to find their top form this evening Russia - but are looking just about the more likely to break the deadlock.

20:35 So, players are coming back out onto the ice for the second period after the goal-less opener. Two good defences and a combined total of just three shots in that opening period. 



20:23 This could be the chance for the US and what a time it would be to score at the end of the period, but although they get a shot away it is straight at the Russian goaltender.

And there goes the buzzer. An entertaining, pulsating first period but ultimately a goalless one. It remains 0-0. 

20:20 Two minutes left in the first period and still an open game, but two very well organised defences keeping opportunities to a minimum. But now Russian are a man down as Petrov is given a two minute suspension for teeing. 

20:17 Good interplay by Alexey Amosov and Evgeny Petrov but they cannot quite get the shot away. And then Josh Sweeney gets a chance but cleared off the line by the host nation defence. 

20:14 A timeout called to make running repairs to the ice. Few real chances yet for either team but Russia do perhaps look more dangerous in possession. Or maybe it is just the crowd noise making it seem that way...

20:10 Unbelievable roars from the crowd every time Russia gain possession. A scrappy opening with both teams showing understandable signs of nerves...

20:07 Although until these Games, this has not been a particular ice sledge hockey rivalry, US v Russia is one of the most famous rivalries in international sport. 

Russia tend to adopt a shoot-first philosophy whereas the US a more patient approach. But it is the US with the early possession as Russia struggle to keep the puck.

20:04 And, a couple of minutes, late we are underway in the ice sledge hockey gold medal match



"It is the support from the fans and relatives who call us forward and demand results. After the first game we thought, 'How can we lose?' Everyone is supporting us, everyone loves us so. And we lost. About 50 per cent of our success we owe to the fans."
- Russia captain Dmitry Lisov on how home support can make the difference.

19:55 The players are out on the ice and the atmosphere is rocking in the Shayba Arena. 

Ice sledge hockey has been on the Paralympic programme since Lillehammer 1994. Many of the rules and regulations are the same as in ice hockey but instead of skates the competitors use specially designed sledges to move around the ice.

They also have two playing sticks with a spike on one end and a blade on the other - with the dual purpose of propelling the sledges around the ice and controlling and shooting the puck. There is no points classification system in sledge hockey - but all athletes have a lower limb impairment. Technically, teams can include both men and women, but none of the teams in Sochi will have a female player.

Each game is made up of three periods of 15 minutes each and there are 15 players in a team, but only five outfield players and one netminder are allowed on the ice at any time.

Bring it on, Russia

19:40 To further whet your appetite, read this blog posted on the US Paralympic website written by US veteran and team member Rico Roman looking ahead to the final. It is entitled "Bring it on, Russia" and is moving stuff indeed...


19:35 But the US will not have it all their own way this evening. Russia have never even competed in a Winter Paralympics ice sledge hockey tournament before but have made remarkable improvement in recent years. They won a bronze at last years World Championships and, lest we forget, have already beaten the US in the group stage. 

19:28 The US have taken medals at the last three Winter Paralympics in the sport, with a bronze at Turin 2006 sandwiched between golds at Salt Lake City 2002 and four years ago at Vancouver. The defending champions also won the 2009 and 2012 world titles and came second at last years event behind the Canadian team they beat in the semi-finals.

45 minutes to go. Are you ready? #SledgeHockey #USAvRUS #Paralympics
IPC ice sledge hockey, the governing body of the sport, ramp up the anticipation levels.

19:15 But Russia have a chance to add to that gold medal tally in around 45 minutes time when they take to the Shayba Arena for the ice sledge hockey semi-final. 

18:56 Russia need three more gold medals to beat the total of 29 won by Norway when Lillehammer hosted the 1994 Winter Paralympics. when there were a 133 events. 

With six more available tomorrow in cross-country as well as a further six in Alpine skiing, that is very likely indeed. 

18:50 The latest medals table is also happy reading for the host nation. With 20 gold medals more than nearest rivals Germany, it is fair to say they are not now going to be caught. Have a look here. 

18:44 Despite that curling loss earlier on this evening, the celebrations continue for Russia in the latest round of medals presentations - as Alexey Bugaev is crowned super-combined standing champion. 

A day of celebrations also for the just-announced Whang Youn Dai award winner Toby Kane who received bronze. 



Mentel-Spee and Kane named as winners of Whang Youn Dai Achievement Award

18:31 Snowboarding's first ever Paralympic champion, Bibian Mentel-Spee of the Netherlands, and Australia's super-combined bronze medal winner Toby Kane, have been named as the winners of the Whang Youn Dai award for "exemplifying the spirit of the Paralympic Games through their performances at Sochi 2014," it has been announced this evening. 






The Whang Youn Dai Award has been presented to one male and one female athlete at every Paralympic Games since Seoul 1988 - for overcoming adversity and putting the spirit of the Games into motion.

Mentel-Spee has been instrumental in getting snowboard into the Games for the first time in Sochi whilst Kane has taken on a key leadership role within the Australian team during several set-backs in the lead-up to Sochi - mostly associated with the tragic death of snowboarder Matthew Robinson last month. 

Kane and Mentel-Spee were selected from a shortlist of six nominees by an independent panel of judges consisting of International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Governing Board Members Andrew Parsons, Miguel Sagarra and Duane Kale. In total, there were 25 nominations by National Paralympic Committee Presidents and Chef de Missions.

The athletes will receive the award during the Closing Ceremony tomorrow.

18:22 We have a bit of a break now until the final sporting action of day eight...but it will be well worth the wait! Because it is the Russia versus United States ice sledge hockey rematch. And this time it is the final.

It's been up and down week but boy were we up for the bronze medal match. Massive credit to @tonyzummack best coach in the business.
- British Paralympic Association chief executive Tim Hollingsworth praises the British team and their Canadian coach following the bronze medal success.

18:10 Canadian skipper Jim Armstrong repeats his Vancouver 2010 success with this Canadian team and, although a slightly controversial character following a disputed drugs ban several years ago, he is one of the greats of the sport. 

Despite the overwhelming Russian nature of the crowd there was also some Canadian support in the Curling Centre today...



18:01 Canada's victory means that they have become the first country to complete a clean sweep of all the Olympic and Paralympic curling titles following their men and women's victories during the Olympics. Britain, meanwhile, also won a medal in all competitions with the men claiming silver in the Olympics and the women bronze. 

17:57 Britain claim the bronze, the team's sixth medal of Sochi 2014, a record. 

17:48 Meanwhile, after seven ends of the bronze medal playoff Britain are 7-3 up against China. The bronze is theirs to lose. 

Canada complete wheelchair curling Paralympic hat-trick with 8-3 victory over Russia

17:43 Russia have conceded victory to Canada, who win the title for a third consecutive Paralympic Games. It looked like it was going to be Russia's day after they took a 2-0 lead in the first end in front of a passionate crowd. But in the end, Canada proved just too strong. 

17:36 Russia score their first point since the first end. But, barring a miracle, Canada are heading for a third consecutive Paralympic wheelchair curling gold medal as they enter the final end 8-3 up. 

17:21 Canada look to be heading for a record third consecutive wheelchair curling god medal as they increase their lead to 8-2 over Russia after six ends.  

Russia are looking like they will have to settle for the silver medal in the wheelchair curling as Canada head for a third consecutive gold medal ©Getty Images

17:12 Britain have increased their lead in the bronze medal playoff to 5-3 over China after five ends.

16:59 A mistake from Jim Armstrong seems to have allowed Russia an opportunity to get back into the match but the skip retrieves the situation with the bonus of another steal means Canada extend their lead to 5-2. 

16:53 After four ends of the bronze medal playoff Britain have moved into a 4-3 lead over China.

16:39 Canada are doing all they can to silence the home crowd by stealing two points in the fourth end to take a 4-2 lead over the Russians. 

16:30 It is now 3-2 to China against Britain after three ends in the bronze medal wheelchair curling playoff.

"Obviously, at the end of the day, it's not what we came here for but for the rest of my life, I'm never going to remember [Vancouver 2010]. I'm going to remember that big hunking medal that we're going to get on our necks in a couple hours and what it means to bring a medal home for Canada. Sure we would love something better, but we got a medal for Canada and that makes me so proud."
- Canadian forward Billy Bridges looks on the positive side of Canada's bronze medal in the ice sledge hockey

16:22 Cat and mouse in the wheelchair curling but it is Canadian skip Jim Armstrong who is on top at the moment and pulls his team level 2-2 against Russia after three ends. 

16:12 It's the end of the second end in the bronze medal playoff and China have increased their advantage over Britain to 3-0.

16:05 Canada pull back a point in the gold medal playoff but still trail Russia 2-1.

15:55 In the bronze medal playoff China have taken an early 1-0 lead against Britain. 

15:53 An early indication of what the Canadians will be up against in the Ice Cube where they are taking on the Russians in the final of the wheelchair curling. Every stray Canadian shot is cheered by the home crowd as they see their favourites take a 2-0 lead at the conclusion of the first end. 

Swedish ice hockey player awarded Olympic silver medal after being cleared of taking drugs