2017-18 National Men's Under-18 Team

BURZAN SCORES WINNER AGAIN, RED GETS SECOND ‘W’ AT U18 CAMP

JASON LA ROSE

CALGARY, Alta. – Luka Burzan (Surrey, B.C./Moose Jaw, WHL) set up the game-tying goal in the first period before netting the winner in the second, leading Red to a 2-1 win over White on Monday in the second of three intrasquad games at Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team selection camp.

It’s the second win in as many days for Red, which opened camp with a 5-3 victory on Sunday night. Burzan scored twice in that game, including the game-winner.

After falling into a two-goal deficit in the camp opener, White didn’t waste any time getting on the scoreboard first Monday; Chase Wouters (Lloydminster, Sask./Saskatoon, WHL) ran over Red defenceman Carter Robertson (Holland Landing, Ont./Ottawa, OHL) in the corner, then found Hunter Holmes (St. Davids, Ont./Flint, OHL) in front for the 1-0 goal just 3:20 in.

The response from Red came just over two minutes later when a point shot from Robertson bounced off the end boards and onto the stick of Burzan, whose pass in front was redirected in by Barrett Hayton (Peterborough, Ont./Sault Ste. Marie, OHL) to tie the game.

Red carried the play in the second period, outshooting White 16-5, but could only put a single puck behind White goaltender Alexis Gravel (St-Augustin-de-Desmaures, Que./Halifax, QMJHL), who made 33 saves overall.

With the clock approaching seven minutes in the middle frame, Ryan Merkley (Mississauga, Ont./Guelph, OHL) knocked down a dump-in just inside the Red blue-line and quickly sprung Burzan, who beat Gravel low to the stick side.

That would be it for offence in the game, despite a combined 13 power plays, nine for Red.

Jacob Ingham (Barrie, Ont,/Mississauga, OHL) earned the win in the Red goal, making 20 saves in his first appearance.

The teams get right back to action Tuesday (10:30 a.m. MT) in the camp finale. Following the game, 22 players will be selected to represent Canada at the 2017 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, which begins Aug. 7.