USA U18 selects downs Czechs for fifth place

Courtesy USAhockey.com

BRECLAV, Czech Republic - The U.S. Under-18 Select Team scored a pair of power-play goals and added an empty net tally to earn a 3-1 win over the Czech Republic and finish fifth at the 2011 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament.

Team USA posted a 1-2-0-1 (W-OTW-OTL-L) overall record, losing only once in four outings.

"We played our best defensive game of the tournament this afternoon," said Seth Appert, head coach of the U.S. Under-18 Select Team. "We're disappointed to win four out of our five games this week, including the exhibition, and not have a shot at first place. But, as a staff, we couldn't be more proud of our players."

The U.S. took a 1-0 lead four minutes into the game when Nicholas Schilkey (Smiths Creek, Mich.) scored the lone first-period goal on the power play.

Following a scoreless second period, the Czech Republic knotted the score, 1-1, at 4:32 of the third period. But Alex Galchenyuk (Kalamazoo, Mich.) responded with a power-play goal just over two minutes later to restore Team USA's one-goal edge.

With less than two minutes remaining in the period, Daniel O'Regan (Needham, Mass.) added an empty-net goal to secure the win for Team USA. U.S. goalie Jon Gillies (South Portland, Maine) made 21 saves in the win, while the Czech Republic's Marek Langhamer stopped 14 shots in a losing effort.

NOTES: For the complete U.S. Under-18 Select Team roster, click here.. The 2011 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament included teams from Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States ... Seth Appert served as head coach, while Matt Herr and Matt Greason served as assistant coaches for the 2011 U.S. Under-18 Select Team.

GAME SUMMARY

Scoring By Period

CZE	0 -	0 -	1 -	1
USA	1 -	0 -	2 -	3

First Period - Scoring: 1, USA, Schilkey (Wade, O'Regan), 3:40 (pp). Penalties: CZE, Sidlik (holding), 2:02; CZE, Schleiss (boarding), 13:50; USA, Galchenyuk (hooking), 15:10.

Second Period - Scoring: None. Penalties: CZE, Volek (slashing), 0:25; USA, Johnson (hooking), 3:26; USA, Kurker (slashing), 5:44; CZE, Houfek (tripping), 9:19; Galchenyuk (hooking), 11:31; USA, Lappin (tripping), 15:33.

Third Period - Scoring: 2, CZE, Hudecek (Matejcek, Houfek), 4:32; 3, USA, Galchenyuk (Masters), 6:53 (pp); 4, USA, O'Regan (Nanne), 18:42 (en). Penalties: CZE, Slovacek (kneeing), 6:40; USA, Nieves (slashing), 11:49; CZE, Langhamer (delaying-the-game), 12:35.

Shots by Period	1	2	3	Total
CZE	6	8	8	22
USA	8	3	6	17
Goaltenders (SH/SV)	1	2	3	Total
CZE, Langhamer 58:44	8-7	5-5	3-2	16-14
USA, Gillies 60:00	6-6	8-8	8-7	22-21

Power Play: CZE 0-6; USA 2-6Penalties: CZE 6-12; USA 6-12