Coach has one period cut short in Canadian game (7)
I believe the answer is:
caribou
'cut short in canadian game' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both animals as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'coach has one period' is the wordplay.
'coach' becomes 'car' (as in a train coach or car).
'has' says to put letters next to each other.
'one' becomes 'i' (Roman numeral).
'period' becomes 'bou' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'car'+'i'+'bou'='CARIBOU'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for caribou that I've seen before include "Creature" , "Large North American deer" , "Wild animal" , "N.American reindeer" , "Ruminant" .)