Canada finishes Ivan Hlinka prelims a perfect 3-0
Wednesday August 12, 2015
Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team has advanced to Friday’s Semi-Finals of the 2015 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup with a perfect 3-0 preliminary round record capped off by a 9-2 victory over Switzerland on Wednesday.
Canada will now face Russia who finished the round robin with a 2-1 record in the Group B standings, while the other Semi-Final contest features Finland who finished first place in Group B with a 3-0 record against Sweden who went 2-1 in Group A.
13 different Canadian players found the scoresheet on Wednesday led by Tyler Benson (Vancouver Giants) with a goal and three assists.
Other CHL multi-point performers included Nolan Patrick (Brandon Wheat Kings) and Sam Steel (Regina Pats) each with a goal and two assists, while Kale Clague (Brandon Wheat Kings) picked up a goal and an assist, and Pierre-Luc Dubois (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles) had two assists.
Josh Mahura (Red Deer Rebels), and Samuel Girard (Shawinigan Cataractes) also scored for Canada, with Dillon Dube (Kelowna Rockets), Beck Malenstyn (Calgary Hitmen), William Bitten (Flint Firebirds), Zach Poirier (North Bay Battalion), and captain Brett Howden (Moose Jaw Warriors) all picking up single helpers.
Carter Hart (Everett Silvertips) earned his second win of the tournament between the pipes with 13 saves.
Canada held a 49-15 advantage in shots on goal, and has outshot opponents 127-52 in three tournament games.
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.