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Gameday: U.S. ready for third-place game against Russia at Hlinka Gretzky Cup

By USA Hockey, 08/11/18, 10:15AM EDT

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Puck drops at 5 p.m. ET on NHL Network

The United States Under-18 Men's Select Team will look to secure a third-place finish at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup when it takes on Russia today at 3 p.m. MT (5 p.m. ET). The game will be played at Rogers Arena in Edmonton, Alberta, and broadcasted live on NHL Network (U.S.) and TSN (Canada).

Tonight’s Opponent: Russia

Team USA is 3-2 (W-L) in its last five meetings with Russia at the Hlinka Tournament. Prior to Russia's 8-3 win in this year's preliminary round, the teams last met in the 2016 semifinals when the U.S. won 4-3 in overtime. Michael Pastujov (Bradenton, Fla.), now at the University of Michigan, scored the game-winning goal for Team USA in overtime.

In 2015, the teams met in the preliminary round with Russia posting a 5-2 victory. In 2014, the U.S. skated to a 7-4 preliminary-round win over the Russians highlighted by a hat trick from Brock Boeser (Burnsville, Minn.), who went on to be named a finalist for the NHL's Calder Trophy and earn NHL All-Star Game MVP honors in 2017-18, becoming the first rookie since Mario Lemieux in 1985 to be so honored.

Team USA defeated the Russians again in the 2013, also in the preliminary round, by a score of 4-2.

Since the tournament was renamed the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in 2006, Russia has finished in the top three seven times, including two second-place finishes.

Game 4 Recap

Nicholas Robertson (Northville, Mich.) scored a hat trick, but the U.S. Under-18 Men’s Select Team fell to Canada in overtime, 6-5, in the semifinals of the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup at Rogers Place.

The U.S. outshot Canada, 37-35, finished 1-for-4 on the power play and 3-for-5 on the penalty kill.

Josh Nodler (Oak Park, Mich.) extended his point streak to four games, recording two assists while Arthur Kaliyev (Delray Beach, Fla.) recorded two assists, extending his point streak to three games.

Dustin Wolf (Tustin, Calif.) finished the game with 29 saves.

Making Plays

Nodler's two helpers against Canada brought him to six total assists through four games at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. The six assists is good for the team lead and second-most among all skaters in the tournament. Committed to play for Michigan State University, Nodler recorded 14 assists in 18 games with HoneyBaked Hockey Club in suburban Detroit last season.

Luke Toporowski (Bettendorf, Iowa) scored his fourth goal of the tournament against Canada and leads all American skaters in the goal scoring department. Most recently, the left winger recorded 23 points in 61 games during his rookie season with the Spokane Chiefs.

U.S. Roster

U.S. Homepage

Tournament Website


2018 U.S. Schedule

Date Opponent Round Time (Local/ET)/Result Location
Sat., Aug. 4 Slovakia Exhibition W, 10-4 Nexsource Arena
Sylvan Lake, Alta.
Mon., Aug. 6 Czech Republic Preliminary W, 6-0 Servus Arena
Red Deer, Alta.
Tues., Aug. 7 Finland Preliminary W, 6-2 Servus Arena
Red Deer, Alta.
Wed., Aug. 8 Russia Preliminary L, 3-8 Servus Arena
Red Deer, Alta.
Fri., Aug. 10 Canada Semifinals OTL, 5-6 Rogers Place
Edmonton, Alta.
Sat., Aug. 11 Russia Third-Place Game L, 4-5 Rogers Place
Edmonton, Alta.

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