BRECLAV, Czech Republic – Dominic Turgeon (Denver, Colo.) scored the game's only goal, and goaltenders Alex Nedeljkovic (Parma, Ohio) and Blake Weyrick (Ojai, Calif.) combined for a 27-save shutout to help the U.S. Under-18 Select Team defeat the Czech Republic, 1-0, in its lone pre-tournament game leading up to the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament.
 
"I was very pleased with the overall effort today; the compete level was extraordinary," said Bob Corkum, head coach of the U.S. Under-18 Select Team. "Both of our goalies were great, and our penalty kill did a great job. We sacrificed bodies to make plays, and it was a good first game for us. We'll only get better from here."
 
Turgeon scored the game-winner when he converted on a rebound in front of Czech Republic goaltender Jan Pechek at 16:17 of the opening period.
 
Nedeljkovic, who started in net and played the first 36:07 of the game, turned away all 16 shots he faced. Weyrick entered the contest with 3:53 remaining in the middle period and stopped 11 shots to complete the Team USA shutout.
 
The U.S. Under-18 Select Team used tight defensive coverage to successfully kill off all eight Czech Republic power plays in the pre-tournament game.
 
Team USA begins play in the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament on Monday (Aug. 5) against Finland. A full schedule can be found below.
  
NOTES: Nick Schmaltz (Verona, Wis.) was named U.S. Player of the Game ... Follow the 2013 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament on Twitter by following @USAHockeyScores and using #IvanHlinka ... The 2013 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament features teams from Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States ... Team USA has finished in the top three of the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament 10 times since the tournament's inception in 1991, including a first-place finish in 2003. The U.S. has finished second seven times (1993, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2006, 2010) and third twice (1991, 1995) ... Team USA finished in seventh place last year ... The 22 players on the U.S. roster represent 10 different states. Minnesota leads the way with eight representitives, while Michigan has four and both Illinois and Colorado have two ... Bob Corkum (Salisbury, Mass.) serves as head coach and John Gruden (Virginia, Minn.), assistant coach with USA Hockey's National Team Development Program, Matt Herr (Hackensack, N.J.) a regional manager of USA Hockey's American Development Model, and Derek Plante (Cloquet, Minn.), assistant coach at the University of Minnesota Duluth, serve as assistant coaches.
 
Game Summary 

 
Scoring By Period 1 2 3 Total
USA    1   0    0     1
CZE    0    0    0    0
 
First Period -- Scoring: 1, USA, Turgeon (unassisted), 3:43. Penalties: USA, Bittner (kneeing), 6:58; CZE, Pastrnak (tripping), 10:24; USA, Haydon (tripping), 15:08; USA, Nardella (holding), 18:12.
 
Second Period -- Scoring: None. Penalties: USA, Nardella (roughing), 1:18; CZE, Kutak (roughing), 1:18; USA, Dougherty (roughing), 2:43; USA, Wagner (roughing), 8:19; USA, Turgeon (high-sticking), 10:26; USA, Dougherty (holding), 17:28.
 
Third Period -- Scoring: None. Penalties: CZE, Pyrochta (tripping), 1:11; USA, Malmquist (slashing), 5:35; CZE, Vopelka (cross-checking), 18:48.
 
Shots By Period 1 2 3 Total
USA    10   9    13   32
CZE    10    8    9    27

Goaltenders (SV/SH) 1 2 3 Total
USA, Nedeljkovic 36:07
USA, Weyrick 23:53    10/10  --    6/6  2/2  --  9/9  16/16  11/11
CZE, Pechek 40:00
CZE, Vanecek 20:00    9/10  --    9/9  --    --  13/13    18/19  13/13 

Power Play: USA, 0-3; CZE, 0-8
Penalties: USA, 9-18; CZE, 4-8