CANADA DEFEATS SWITZERLAND 9-2 AT HLINKA MEMORIAL

Tyler Benson (Edmonton, AB./Vancouver, WHL) turned Canada’s offence into high gear as he recorded four points (1g-3a) to help lift Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team to a 9-2 victory over Switzerland at the 2015 U18 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup. Canada wraps up the preliminary round with a 3-0 record and officially clinched the top spot in Group A.

Canada will move on to face Russia on Friday in a semi-final showdown with the time to be confirmed once all preliminary match-ups conclude.

Benson opened the scoring at the 5:41 mark of the first period as he beat Swiss netminder Philip Wuthrich on a backhand attempt. Kale Clague (Lloydminster, AB./Brandon, WHL) converted on a Canada power play to increase the lead to 3-0. Moments later, Clague made a perfect pass to teammate Tyson Jost to give Canada a commanding 4-0 lead.

Switzerland was able to cut Canada’s lead by half when they closed the gap to 4-2 early in the middle frame but it was all Canada the rest of the way. The Canadians restored their four goal to 6-2 with a pair of goals midway through the second period.

Nolan Patrick (Winnipeg, MB./Brandon, WHL) Sam Steel (Sherwood Park, AB./Regina, WHL) and Josh Mahura (St. Albert, AB./Red Deer, WHL) all chipped in with a goal each in the third period to make the score 9-2 for Canada. Patrick and Steel also registered two assists each to cap off three point performances. 

Carter Hart (Sherwood Park, AB./Everett, WHL) turned aside 13 shots including a penalty shot attempt in the third period to pick up his second win of the tournament.

Canada took advantage on special teams after converting twice on seven power play opportunities. Switerzerland went scoreless on their lone man advantage.

Canada outshot Switzerland by a 49-15 margin in the win and has outshot its opponents 127-52 through three games thus far in the tournament.