U.S. Under-18 Select Team Takes 6-5 Shootout Win over Slovakia at 2011 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament

Press Release

PIESTANY, SLOVAKIA - Alex Galchenyuk (Kalamazoo, Mich.) and Jordan Masters (Rochester, N.Y.) each scored third-period and shootout goals, as the U.S. Under-18 Select Team topped Slovakia, 6-5, in its final preliminary-round game of the 2011 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament.

Trailing 5-3 with less than four minutes remaining in regulation, Team USA's Galchenyuk and Masters scored 55 seconds apart to force the game into an overtime and, eventually, a shootout, where the duo connected once again.

"I'm extremely proud of our guys for overcoming so much adversity today," said Seth Appert, head coach of the U.S. Under-18 Select Team. "We stuck together through penalties and after falling behind a couple of times, and came away with a big win."


After falling behind in the first period, 2-0, Team USA stormed back to tie the game with back-to-back goals by Joseph Cox (Chelsea, Mich.) and Louie Nanne (Edina, Minn.). But Slovakia scored once more on the power play with less than two minutes remaining in the opening frame to take a 3-2 lead.


Slovakia extended its lead to 4-2 16 minutes into the second period while on a two-man advantage. But Team USA answered with a power-play tally of its own, as Masters potted his first goal of the game.

The U.S. fell behind by two once again when Slovakia scored 14 minutes into the third period. But Masters' power-play goal at 16:59 and Galchenyuk's tally at 17:54 sent the game into overtime.

After a scoreless extra stanza, the teams went to a shootout. Galchenyuk and Masters found the back of the net on Team USA's first two attempts, while U.S. goalie Jon Gillies (South Portland, Maine) denied Slovakia twice to give his team the victory.

The U.S. will play in the tournament's fifth place game on Friday (Aug. 12). Team USA's opponent, as well as the time and location of the game, will be decided later today.

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