2016-17 National Men's Under-18 Team

Russia 2 - Canada 1

CANADA EDGED LATE BY RUSSIANS AT HLINKA

DAVID BRIEN

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia – A second-period goal Stelio Mattheos (Winnipeg, Man./Brandon, WHL) looked like it was going to stand up as the game-winner, but two goals in the final two minutes left Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team with a 2-1 loss to Russia on Tuesday at the 2016 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup.

It’s the first time the Canadians have come out on the wrong end of a final score against Russia since the bronze medal game in 2007; Canada is now 11-4 all-time against the Russians in summer U18 action.

The Canadians had their chances in the first period, firing 19 shots at Artyom Melnikov, but the Russian goaltender was up to the challenge and got the game to the intermission scoreless.

Mattheos struck just 1:18 into the second period, jumping on a rebound at the side of the Russian net and one-timing a quick shot past a diving Melnikov, but that would be it for offence for the Canadians.

Both teams had their chances in the second period, although Canada held Russia to just three shots on goal in the middle frame, and 11 though the first 40 minutes.

But the game opened up in the third, with the teams combining for 32 shots on goal – 17-15 in favour of Russia.

A hooking penalty to Maxime Comtois (Longueuil, Que./Victoriaville, QMJHL) with less than three minutes to go pushed the momentum to the Russians, and Ivan Chekhovich redirected a Mark Rubinchik point shot past Michael DiPietro (Amherstburg, Ont./Windsor, OHL), who made his first start in the Canadian goal, with 1:44 left.

Just 37 seconds later, Klim Kostin finished off a give-and-go with Yaroslav Alexeyev to put the Russians ahead.

DiPietro went to the bench in the final minute with the Canadians pressing, but they couldn’t find the tying goal and dropped to the third place in Group B with a 0-1-0-1 (W-OTW-OTL-L) record.

Canada will need a win in its preliminary-round finale Wednesday against unbeaten Sweden (8 a.m. ET/5 a.m. PT) if its hopes to win a ninth-consecutive gold medal at the tournament.

Game Information
Game # 5 Round Preliminary
Arena Slovnaft Arena Location Bratislava, SVK
Date Tuesday, August 9, 2016 Time 9 a.m. ET

 

Box Score 1 2 3 Total
RUS 0 0 2 2
CAN 0 1 0 1

 

Goals & Penalties
First Period
Goals :
None

Penalties :
01:45 CAN Jonathan Smart (Cross-checking)
13:48 RUS Venjamin Baranov (Hooking)
19:15 RUS Dimitrij Samorukov (Hooking)
Second Period
Goals :
01:18 CAN Stelio Mattheos (Michael Rasmussen, Antoine Crete-Belzile)

Penalties :
07:15 CAN Joseph Veleno (Tripping)
18:57 RUS Dimitrij Samorukov (Holding)
Third Period
Goals :
18:15 RUS Ivan Chekhovich (Mark Rubinchik) PP
18:52 RUS Klim Kostin (Yaroslav Alexeyev)

Penalties :
03:54 CAN Maxime Comtois (Hooking)
10:12 CAN Michael Rasmussen (Slashing)
14:00 CAN Markus Phillips (Interference)
14:00 RUS Michail Bicadze (Diving)
17:25 CAN Maxime Comtois (Hooking)

 

Goaltenders
RUS Artom Melinkov
CAN Michael DiPietro

 

Shots on Goal 1 2 3 Total
RUS 8 3 17 28
CAN 19 10 15 44
Videos
Photos
2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup: CAN 3 – CZE 2 (Gold Medal)
Spence scored overtime winner to lead Canada to gold.
2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup: CAN 7 – USA 2 (Semifinal)
Canada scored five straight to advance to the gold medal game.
2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup: CAN 5 – SUI 0 (Preliminary)
Catton scored twice as Canada finished atop Group B.
2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup: CAN 14 – SVK 4 (Preliminary)
Ritchie finished with four three to lead Canada to its first win.
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