2001-02 National Men's Under-18 Team

April 21, 2002
Piestany, Slovakia

Piestany, Slovakia - Canada's National Under 18 Team finished in 6th position at the 2002 IIHF World Under 18 Hockey Championship, after losing 5-3 to Belarus in it's final game on Sunday.

Canada ran into penalty trouble early and it proved costly as Belarus opened the scoring, as Andrei Kastsitsyn put a one-timer past Tyler Weiman while Belarus was up two men, who was making his first start for Canada at the Championship. Canada tied it at 1-1 when Adam Henrich set up Eric Staal, of Thunder Bay, ON for a goal.

But Belarus struck back on another powerplay, as Kastsitsyn scored again. And on the heels of the same powerplay, Aliaksander Zhydkikh scored as Belarus took a 3-1 lead. It could have been more had it not been for the play of Weiman, of Lloydminister, AB who was stellar, including a save on a penalty shot to close out the period.

Canada's powerplay came to life in the middle frame. Dylan Stanley, of Edmonton, AB, scored from the point to make it 3-2 at 10:53. Then at 14:46, Louis-Philippe Martin, of St-Jérôme, Qc, beat Belarussian goaltender Dmitry Kamovich from in tight to even things up at 3-3. Both goals were scored on the powerplay.

Canada carried the play early in the third period, but couldn't get the puck past Kamovich. And Belarus rewarded their goaltender with the go ahead goal at 9:49, as Mikhal Grabovski scored from the slot to make it 4-3 Belarus. Canada had numerous opportunities over the next few minutes, but continued to be thwarted by Kramovich. And at 18:49, Kastsitsyn completed his hat trick into an empty net to give Belarus a 5-3 win.

Canada was taking part in it's first ever World Under 18 Hockey Championship, and was made up of players born in 1984, not involved in the playoffs in either the CHL, university or Junior "A" leagues at the time the team was named. Players and staff return to Canada on Monday, April 22nd.

Game Summary