2010-11 National Men's Under-18 Team

CANADIAN UNDER-18 TEAM ADVANCES TO GOLD MEDAL GAME AT IVAN HLINKA TOURNEY

BRECLAV, Czech Republic – Canada has steamrolled its way through the Memorial of Ivan Hlinka under-18 hockey tournament, but its biggest rival awaits in the final.

Lucas Lessio scored twice in a 6-2 semifinal victory over the Czech Republic on Friday, giving Canada a chance to win gold at the event for the sixth time in seven years.

It'll face the U.S. in Saturday's final.

The Canadians boarded a bus after their semifinal win and made the two-hour trip back to Piestany, Slovakia, where the championship game will be held. There wasn't much time to prepare for the Americans.

“Rest is most important right now,” said coach George Burnett. “We'll keep the U.S. information until (Saturday) morning after a good meal and a good walk.”

He expects the U.S. to be a “hungry and gritty” team.

The Canadians haven't been so bad themselves, outscoring their opponents 25-9 while winning all four games at the tournament. Burnett is quick to point out that it won't mean much without one more victory.

Alan Quine, Matt Puempel, Brett Ritchie and Garrett Meurs also scored for Canada in the semifinal.

“We had a great start to the game,” said Burnett. “We were up 3-0 in the first and really dominated the play. There was a lot of energy in the building and I think our guys fed off of that.

“I think that was our best game.”

Vaclav Tomek and Tomas Hertl replied for the Czech Republic.

Several Canadian players battled the flu early in the tournament but most have since recovered. One exception is captain Ryan Murray, who earned plenty of praise from his coach.

“He's a long way from 100 per cent,” said Burnett. “He gave us a yeoman effort here tonight until we sat him down for the third (period). He's our captain, he wants to be in there and I think that's why he's our leader.”

Goals/Buts : 
06:10 CAN Lucas Lessio (Duncan Siemens)
10:35 CAN Alan Quine (David Broll)
19:41 CAN Matt Puempel (Dougie Hamilton)

Penalties/Pénalités : 
00:07 CZE Stepan Jenik (Delay of Game/Retarder le match)

Goals/Buts : 
03:19 CAN Lucas Lessio (Matt Puempel, Phillip Danault) PP/AN
15:19 CZE Vaclav Tomek PP/AN
18:47 CAN Brett Ritchie (Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Ryan Murray)

Penalties/Pénalités : 
02:22 CZE Tomas Hyka (Hooking/Accrocher)
03:40 CAN Austen Brassard (Tripping/Faire trébucher)
07:04 CAN Xavier Ouellet (Roughing/Rudesse)
07:04 CZE Lukas Kralik (Roughing/Rudesse)
13:49 CAN Phillip Danault (Hooking/Accrocher)
18:20 CZE Stepan Jenik (Interference/Obstruction)
18:24 CAN Daniel Catenacci (Delay of Game/Retarder le match)

Goals/Buts : 
11:59 CAN Garrett Meurs (Myles Bell)
16:07 CZE Tomas Hertl (Dmitrij Jaskin) PP/AN

Penalties/Pénalités : 
03:32 CAN Myles Bell (Slashing/Coup de bâton)
06:56 CAN Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Roughing/Rudesse)
09:00 CAN Ryan Murray (Tripping/Faire trébucher)
15:28 CAN David Broll (Interference/Obstruction)
16:36 CZE Lukas Kriz (Roughing/Rudesse)
18:15 CAN Austen Brassard (Roughing/Rudesse)
19:15 CAN Brett Ritchie (Roughing/Rudesse)
19:15 CZE Dmitrij Jaskin (Roughing/Rudesse)