2002-03 National Men's Under-18 Team

August 12, 2002
Piestany, Slovakia

Canada's National Under 18 Team cruised to a 9-1 victory today over the host team from Slovakia at the Eight Nations Tournament in Piestany, Slovakia.

Despite being outshot 17-14 in the first period, Canada managed to put three pucks past Slovak goaltender Jaroslav Halak, including two from Kootenay Ice forward Nigel Dawes (Winnipeg, MB) to take a 3-1 lead into the dressing room.

In the second period, Canada added four more goals as Dawes added his third of the game while Shawn Belle (Tri-Cites, WHL/Edmonton, AB), Stephen Dixon (Cape Breton, QMJHL/Halifax, NS) and Jean-Francois Jacques (Baie Comeau, QMJHL/L'Assomption, QC) all notched their first goals of the tournament.

With a commanding 7-1 lead heading into the third period, Canada put the game on ice with two more goals courtesy of Belle and Corey Perry (London, OHL/Peterborough, ON).

Kelowna Rockets goaltender Josh Lepp (Dalmeny, SK) stopped 26 of the 27 shots he faced to earn the victory between the pipes.

Canada went 5 for 11 on the powerplay while the penalty killing unit was perfect, thwarting all 10 Slovak man advantages.

In other Eight Nations action, Russia knocked off Sweden 6-2, Switzerland beat Finland 7-3 and the Czech Republic defeated USA 6-3.

Canada's next game will be tomorrow when they will face-off against Finland at 3:00pm (9:00am ET) in Piestany, Slovakia.

Game Summary

Box Score	Canada	3	4	2	9
	Slovakia	1	0	0	1

First Period/1re période

Scoring/Buts :
1. CAN, Nigel Dawes (Brent Seabrook) 3:23
2. CAN, Nigel Dawes (Corey Perry, Nathan Horton) 4:29 PP
3. SVK, Pavol Stastny (Ivan Dornic) 7:42
4. CAN, Nathan Horton (Nigel Dawes, Corey Perry) 12:22 PP

Penalties/Pénalités :
Dion Phaneuf CAN (Charging / Assaut) 0:42; Adam Jrgon SVK (Cross checking / Double echec) 4:03; Martin Kubaliak SVK (Hooking / Accrochage) 4:18; Mike Green CAN (Holding / Retenu), Vlado Kutny SVK (Interference / Obstruction) 5:40; Shawn Belle CAN (Elbowing / Donne du coude) 8:17; Vladimir Dravecky SVK (Charging / Assaut) 11:29; Shawn Belle CAN (Interference / Obstruction) 12:30; Brian Ihnacak SVK (High sticking / Baton eleve) 12:46; Stephen Dixon CAN (Checking from behind / Mise en echec par derriere, Game misconduct / Inconduite de partie), Adam Jrgon SVK (Interference / Obstruction) 13:21; Braydon Coburn CAN (Holding / Retenu) 15:10; Michal Sersen SVK (High sticking / Baton eleve) 18:53

Second Period/2e période

Scoring/Buts :
5. CAN, Nigel Dawes 1:25 PP
6. CAN, Shawn Belle (Stefan Meyer) 7:48
7. CAN, Stephen Dixon (Anthony Stewart, Mike Richards) 13:08
8. CAN, Jean-Francois Jacques (Dion Phaneuf) 15:01

Penalties/Pénalités :
Bench SVK (Too many men / Trop de jouers) 2:26; Brent Seabrook CAN (5 min Elbowing / Donne du coude, Game misconduct / Inconduite de partie) 3:58; Branislav Fabry SVK (Slashing / Coup de baton) 6:39; Jamie Tardif CAN (Tripping / Trebucher) 8:48

Third Period/3e période

Scoring/Buts :
9. CAN, Shawn Belle 7:44 PP
10. CAN, Corey Perry (Mike Green) 11:52 PP

Penalties/Pénalités :
Nathan Horton CAN (Roughing / Rudesse) 0:34; Brian Ihnacak SVK (Slashing / Coup de baton) 0:57; Steve Bernier CAN (Elbowing / Donne du coude) 3:01; Pavol Gurcik SVK (High sticking / Baton eleve) 5:52; Adam Jrgon SVK (5 min Spearing / Darder, Game misconduct / Inconduite de partie) 7:44; Stefan Ruzicka SVK (Slashing / Coup de baton) 11:10; Benoit Mondou CAN, Pavol Stastny SVK (Roughing / Rudesse) 14:26; Paul Bissonnette CAN (Holding / Retenu) 15:45; Alexandre Picard CAN (High sticking / Baton eleve) 19:28

Goaltenders	Canada	Josh Lepp
	Slovakia	Jaroslav Halak, Marek Novotny

		First	Second	Third	Final
Shots on Goal by	Canada	17	14	13	44
	Slovakia	14	8	5	27

Officials	Referee	-
	Linesmen	-

Attendance	-,---