EDMONTON, Alberta — The United States Under-18 Men’s Select Team fell to Russia 5-4 in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup third-place game Saturday afternoon at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta.
Trailing 2-0 early in the third period, Team USA captain John Farinacci (Chatham, N.J.) provided a spark with a power-play goal at 3:27, his second goal of the tournament, but Russia answered with its second power-play goal of the game two minutes later.
Undeterred, the U.S. again pulled to within one goal at 13:53 when Arthur Kaliyev (Delray Beach, Fla.) scored on the power play to make it 3-2, but again the Russians responded, scoring 22 seconds later to re-establish a two-goal lead.
U.S. forward Nicholas Robertson (Northville, Mich.) scored his team-leading fourth goal of the tournament, also on the power play, to cut the margin to 4-3 with 2:32 remaining in the game, but Russia answered less than a minute later to make it 5-3.
Again the U.S. shaved the lead to a single goal, with Josh Nodler (Oak Park, Mich.) sweeping a shot off the post and in with 18 seconds remaining to make it 5-4, but time eventually ran out on Team USA.
NOTES: Russia finished with a 35-30 advantage in shots on goal for the game, but Team USA outshot Russia 16-7 in the third period … U.S. goaltender Derek Mullahy (Scituate, Mass.) stopped 30 of 35 Russian shots … The U.S. went 3 for 6 on the power play; Russia went 3 for 5 ... Luke Toporowski (Bettendorf, Iowa) finished the tournament tied with Robertson for the team lead in goals with four ... Nodler (1G, 6A) finished as the team's overall points leader with seven in five games.
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. |