Canada wins to open 2015 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup
Monday August 10, 2015
Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team opened the 2015 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup with a 3-1 victory over the Czech Republic on Monday.
The Canadians erased an early deficit with three unanswered goals including a pair of first period tallies by Dillon Dube (Kelowna Rockets) and Nolan Patrick (Brandon Wheat Kings) nine minutes apart.
Beck Malenstyn (Calgary Hitmen) scored the third goal for Team Canada midway through the third period.
Michael McLeod (Mississauga Steelheads), Pierre-Luc Dubois (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles), and Jake Bean (Calgary Hitmen) each picked up assists.
Carter Hart (Everett Silvertips) earned the win in goal making 15 saves.
Team Canada outshot the Czech Republic 40-16 in the contest.
Canada continues its quest for an eighth consecutive gold medal at the tournament with the second of three preliminary round robin games against Sweden on Tuesday morning before facing Switzerland on Wednesday.
Team Canada includes 20 players from the Canadian Hockey League including 12 from the Western Hockey League, six from the Ontario Hockey League, and two from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Canada has won gold at the annual summer under-18 tournament seven consecutive years.
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.