Hlinka: U18s close with win

Press Release

BRECLAV, Czech Republic - The U.S. Under-18 Select Team scored a pair of power-play goals and added an empty net tally to earn a 3-1 win over the Czech Republic and finish fifth at the 2011 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament.

Team USA posted a 1-2-0-1 (W-OTW-OTL-L) overall record, losing only once in four outings.

"We played our best defensive game of the tournament this afternoon," said Seth Appert, head coach of the U.S. Under-18 Select Team. "We're disappointed to win four out of our five games this week, including the exhibition, and not have a shot at first place. But, as a staff, we couldn't be more proud of our players."

The U.S. took a 1-0 lead four minutes into the game when Nicholas Schilkey (Smiths Creek, Mich.) scored the lone first-period goal on the power play.

Following a scoreless second period, the Czech Republic knotted the score, 1-1, at 4:32 of the third period. But Alex Galchenyuk (Kalamazoo, Mich.) responded with a power-play goal just over two minutes later to restore Team USA's one-goal edge.

With less than two minutes remaining in the period, Daniel O'Regan (Needham, Mass.) added an empty-net goal to secure the win for Team USA. U.S. goalie Jon Gillies (South Portland, Maine) made 21 saves in the

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)