Canada to play for Gold at Ivan Hlinka
Friday August 15, 2014
PIESTANY, Slovakia – Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team will play for the gold medal at the 2014 U18 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup after defeating the United States 11-5 in Friday’s semifinal in Piestany. Canada will face the Czech Republic, which defeated Sweden 4-3 in the other semifinal, in the gold medal game on Saturday in Breclav, Czech Republic (11 a.m. ET/8 a.m. PT).
On Friday, Canada got a hat trick from Dylan Strome (Mississauga, Ont./Erie, OHL) and at least one point from 16 of its 18 skaters to record the semifinal win. Travis Konecny (Clachan, Ont./Ottawa, OHL) scored twice, while Jansen Harkins (North Vancouver, B.C./Prince George, WHL), Mathew Barzal (Coquitlam, B.C./Seattle, WHL), Lawson Crouse (Mount Brydges, Ont./Kingston, OHL), Adam Musil (Delta, B.C./Red Deer, WHL), Mitchell Stephens (Peterborough, Ont./Saginaw, OHL) and Tyler Soy (Surrey, B.C./Victoria, WHL) added singles for Canada, which reached double-digits in goals in a summer under-18 game for the first time since 2000.
Canada finished first in Group B in preliminary round play with a 3-0 record, including wins over Switzerland (5-1), Sweden (5-1) and Slovakia (5-1). The Czech Republic finished atop Group A, also with a 3-0 record.
Saturday’s game will mark the 20th all-time summer under-18 meeting between Canada and the Czech Republic; Canada holds a 15-2-2 advantage in the first 19 match-ups.
The gold medal game at the 2014 U18 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup will be streamed live online. To watch, CLICK HERE. Please note, a small fee is required to watch the webcast.
Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team includes 22 players from the Canadian Hockey League including eight players from the Ontario Hockey League, eight from the Western Hockey League, and six from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League competing at the 2014 U18 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup, Aug. 11-16 in Breclav, Czech Republic and Piestany, Slovakia.
For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team, please visit www.hockeycanada.ca, or follow along through social media at www.facebook.com/hockeycanada, www.twitter.com/hockeycanada and www.twitter.com/hc_men.