Canada U18 Wins 2011 Ivan Hlinka Gold
BRECLAV, Czech Republic – Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team, which includes 20 players from the Canadian Hockey League, has won the gold medal at the 2011 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka tournament, defeating Sweden 4-1 in Saturday’s gold medal game in Breclav. It is the fourth year in a row and seventh time in eight years Canada has won the tournament, formerly known as the Junior World Cup.
On Saturday, Scott Laughton (Oakville, Ont./Oshawa, OHL) broke a 1-1 tie with the game-winning goal late in the second period and Brendan Gaunce (Markham, Ont./Belleville, OHL) and Charles Hudon (Boisbriand, Que./Chicoutimi, QMJHL) added insurance goals in the third to help Canada avenge its lone loss of the tournament, a 5-1 defeat at the hands of the Swedes in Monday’s tournament opener.
Sean Monahan (Brampton, Ont./Ottawa, OHL) also scored for Canada, while Daniel Altshuller (Nepean, Ont./Nepean, CCHL) earned the win in the Canadian goal. Altshuller allowed just two goals in his final 11 periods of work following the loss to Sweden.
Canada’s roster is made up of 13 forwards, seven defencemen and two goaltenders, and features 12 players from the Ontario Hockey League, five from the Western Hockey League, three from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Hockey League, one from the Ligue de hockey midget AAA du Québec and one from the Central Canada Hockey League.
CLICK HERE FOR CANADA’S ROSTER FOR THE 2011 MEMORIAL OF IVAN HLINKA