Five things to know: USA's sledge hockey team

The USA won all of their games at the Vancouver 2010 Paralympics en route to winnning the gold medal.

1. The USA will try to become the first ice sledge hockey team to win back-to-back Paralympic titles in Sochi. At the Vancouver 2010 Paralympics, the Americans defeated the Japanese in the gold-medal game. Eight players will return from that title team.

2. American Steve Cash, nicknamed “Money,” is arguably one of the best and most respected goaltenders in the world. At Vancouver 2010, in his second Paralympics, he did not allow a single goal in five games, stopping all 33 shots that came his way. He recorded a .923 save percentage at the 2012 World Championships and made 14 saves at the 2013 World Championships.

3. Four members of the USA team heading to Sochi 2014 have military ties – Josh Sweeney (US Marine Corps), Paul Schaus (US Marine Corps), Rico Roman (US Army), and Jen Lee (US Army).

4. Two American players, Declan Farmer and Brody Roybal, are high school students and will make their Paralympic debuts in Sochi.

5. Forward Josh Pauls, the USA’s top scorer heading into the Games, is very superstitious. He faces a Mr. Potatohead figure toward his opponents’ locker room before every game, and many of his teammates call him “Spuds” because of his resemblance to Mr. Potatohead.