2008-09 National Men's Under-18 Team

WHEAT KINGS HOOK UP ON GAME-WINNER FOR CANADA

PIESTANY, Slovakia – A little bit of Brandon Wheat Kings magic helped Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team as it kicked off the 2008 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka tournament with a 5-3 win over Switzerland on Tuesday.

Brayden Schenn (Saskatoon, SK/Brandon, WHL) set up his Brandon teammate Scott Glennie (Winnipeg, MB/Brandon, WHL) for the game-winning goal just shy of the midway point of the third period, Canada’s third powerplay goal of the game.

Schenn, streaking down the left side, fed a perfect pass to an open Glennie, who snapped the puck over the arm of Swiss goaltender Benjamin Conz, giving the Canadians a 4-2 lead.

It was Schenn’s second assist of the game, as he earned a helper on another 2-on-1 in the first period, feeding the puck to Evander Kane (Vancouver, BC/Vancouver, WHL) who made no mistake in slipping the puck by Conz.

The Swiss had opened the scoring just 27 seconds after the game’s opening face-off, but it took just six minutes for Kane to draw Canada even.

Canada took a two-goal lead in the second period on goals by Louis Leblanc (Kirkland, QC/Lac St-Louis, LHMAAAQ) and Ryan O’Reilly (Seaforth, ON/Erie, OHL). Leblanc made a great forehand to backhand move in tight on the Swiss netminder, finishing a play set up by Taylor Hall (Kingston, ON/Windsor, OHL) and Canadian captain Matthew Duchene (Haliburton, ON/Brampton, OHL).

The Swiss cut Canada’s lead to 3-2 just 34 seconds into the third before goals from Glennie and Duchene pushed the Canadian lead to three goals.

Duchene, who was dominant throughout, was named Canada’s player of the game.

Canada outshot Switzerland 47-19, including 18-2 in the second period. Nathan Lieuwen (Abbotsford, BC/Westside, BCHL) made 16 saves for the win in the Canadian goal.

Up next for the Canadians will be a game with Sweden on Wednesday, beginning at 9 a.m. EDT. The game can be followed only at hockeycanada.ca.

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Final

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Goals/Buts :
00:27 SUI Schappi (Engler, Niederreiter)
06:27 CAN Kane (Schenn, Elliot) PP

Penalties/Pénalités :
01:38 SUI Loeffel (Hooking/Accrocher)
06:02 SUI Boss (Cross-checking/Double-échec)
09:41 CAN Kane (Elbowing/Donner du coude)
10:12 SUI Mettler (Tripping/Trébucher)
11:31 CAN Ellis (Checking from Behind/Mise en échec par arrière)
15:24 Després (High Sticking/Bâton élever)
18:17 Després (Hooking/Accrocher)

Goals/Buts :
21:03 CAN Leblanc (Hall, Duchene)
38:57 CAN O'Reilly (Eakin) PP

Penalties/Pénalités :
23:29 CAN Doherty (Elbowing/Donner du coude)
32:23 CAN Ellis (Roughing/Rudesse)
32:29 SUI Scherwey (Roughing/Rudesse)
37:00 SUI Cavegn (Hooking/Accrocher)

Goals/Buts :
40:34 SUI Schappi (Niederreiter)
47:08 CAN Glennie (Schenn) PP
48:19 CAN Duchene (Hall)
54:57 SUI Scherwey (Cavegn, McGregor) PP

Penalties/Pénalités :
45:39 SUI Niederreiter (High Sticking/Bâton élever)
50:05 SUI Hobi (Tripping/Trébucher)
53:52 CAN Doherty (Crosschecking/Double-échec)
58:56 CAN Labrie (Charging/Assaut)