Canada tops Finland 4-3 to claim fifth at Hlinka Memorial Cup
The eight-year run of gold at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup may be over, but a late goal from Michael Rasmussen (Tri-City Americans) ended the tournament on a high note, securing a 4-3 win over Finland as Canada claimed fifth place in the tournament.
Owen Tippett (Mississauga Steelheads) fed Rasmussen at the side of the Finnish net on a two-man advantage with 8:36 remaining in the third period to clinch the victory for Canada.
Sami Moilanen opened the scoring for Finland at 5:04 but Canada would draw even inside the final minute of the first on a goal by Ian Mitchell with assists to Joseph Veleno (Saint John Sea Dogs) and Jonathan Smart (Kelowna Rockets).
Mitchell struck again 2:44 into the second on the power play as Veleno and Maxime Comtois (Victoriaville Tigres) drew assists.
Game over! #TeamCanada tops Finland 4-3 to finish the #HlinkaMemorial in fifth place.
STATS: https://t.co/bLfLOOPjvu pic.twitter.com/FPRaOukWrf— Team Canada Men (@HC_Men) August 12, 2016
Nick Suzuki (Owen Sound Attack) gave Canada insurance on another power play tally at 9:26 as Veleno collected his third assist of the game.
Finland’s Linus Nyman pulled Finland to within one with 4:58 remaining in the second as Canada led 3-2 headed to the third period.
Santeri Virtanen knotted the score at three on the power play 5:52 into the third frame, but Rasmussen’s winner less than six minutes later would stand as the difference maker.
Canada improved its all-time record at summer under-18 tournaments to an impressive 85-13-6 with the victory.
OTHER SCORES FROM DAY 4:
Slovakia 6, Switzerland 3
United States 4, Russia 3 OT
— USA: Lodnia (Erie Otters – 1G), Chmelevski (Ottawa 67’s – 1G, 1A)
Czech Republic 2, Sweden 1 OT
Team Canada includes 20 players from the Canadian Hockey League including 11 from the Ontario Hockey League, six from the Western Hockey League and three from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Canada has won gold at the annual summer under-18 tournament eight 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.
