USA – Sweden2 5:4 (after OT) | Czech Republic – Canada2 2:6 (end)
final
Czech Republic
2:6 (0:4, 2:1, 0:1)
Canada2
Saturday 16.08.2014, 17:00 • Hlinka Gretzky Cup
     
    Well, that's all from the 2014 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup. Don't forget to check into the tournament website HlinkaMemorial.com for complete post-game and post-tournament wrap-up, though.

    On behalf of all of the commentators who have contributed from Breclav and Piestany this week, thank you for following and hopefully we'll be back next year! (19:14:25)
     
    The Canadians are now lined up on the blueline, facing the flags, and I presume they are singing O Canada, though there is no music accompanying it and the noise of the crowd is drowning them out from this distance.
     
    The Czechs now skate around the ice saluting the fans, who salute them back in turn, and at the same time the Canadians pose at centre ice for a picture with the Cup.
    Deserved win for Canada. For the seventh time in a row! But Czechs can be proud, too.
     
    The two teams are now shaking hands.
     
    Now captain Travis Konecny, who has Czech roots, accepts the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup on behalf of Team Canada, and the whole team crowds around him.
     
    Captain David Kase now accepts the 2nd place award on behalf of the Czech team and another thunderous ovation from the crowd.
     
    Players of the Game:

    CZE – Libor Hajek
    CAN – Mitchell Marner
     
    The Canadians pour off the bench to celebrate their 7th straight Ivan Hlinka Cup title, and the crowd rise and cheer, saluting their Czech team with a "Hoši děkujeme!" (Thank you boys).
     
    60:00
    Game over.
     
    59:28
    2-on-1 Czechs, blocker save Sawchenko.
     
    58:45
    Wrister from Durac, stick save Sawchenko.
     
    57:40
    Back the other way Hajek shoots wide, Czechs now at full strength.
     
    57:15
    Crouse fires wide from a sharp angle.
     
    56:48
    Icing Canada with :51 left in their power play.
     
    56:18
    Stezka makes the save amid a crowd of players and we have a bit of a wrestling match down there now. I can't make out the combatants, but there are no penalties, surprisingly. Faceoff in the Czech zone with 1:21 left in the Canadian power play.
     
    55:39
    A rather humourous exchange as Roman Dymecek tried to cut in on goal but was ridden out and crunched into the boards by Ethan Bear. Unhappy, Dymecek held onto Bear's stick and wouldn't let him go as play headed up ice. Dymecek is getting a penalty for holding the stick.
     
    54:43
    Icing Canada, as the teams are now 4-on-4. Canada will get a very brief :06 power play soon.
     
    54:35
    Now Doudera with the slapper, blocker save Sawchenko.
     
    54:00
    One-time slapper from Zboril, blocked and Canada ice it.
     
    53:12
    That was a very short 5-on-3, as captain David Kase takes a tripping penalty off the faceoff. It's still a 4-on-3 power play for the Czechs.
     
    53:06
    The puck is cleared over the glass and, after an officials' conference, Tyler Soy is getting a penalty for delay of game, so the Czechs have a 5-on-3 for 1:27.
     
    52:33
    Nicolas Meloche is getting a penalty for cross-checking, so the Czechs are going to the power play.
     
    51:38
    Goal for Team Canada!
    Marner sent a fluttering shot toward the net that changed direction in the crowd in front. They're giving the goal to LAWSON CROUSE.
    Assist: Mitchell Marner (3 pts).
     
    51:09
    Icing Czech Republic.
     
    49:49
    Barzal a wrister, pad save Stezka, it's loose for a while and he finally covers it.
     
    48:35
    Dufek the wrister through a crowd, turned away by Sawchenko.
     
    48:07
    Offside Canada.
     
    47:50
    Spencer a long blast, stick save Stezka.
     
    47:15
    One-timer from Krenzelok, blocked by Crouse.
     
    46:47
    Czech rush, Simon Stransky with the long wrister, right on Sawchenko holds it.
     
    46:22
    Czechs at full strength, Canadians still with possession in the Czech zone. Jeremy Roy's shot is right on Stezka, Strome was in front but no rebound.
     
    45:13
    The Canadians move it around but don't get a shot and it's finally iced.
     
    43:59
    The Czechs were back at full strength but with the Canadians threatening they take another penalty, Radek Koublizek for hooking in front of the net.
     
    42:28
    Hobbs' slapper hit Soustal in the foot and he was hobbling there, but stayed on the ice until the whistle. Stezka covers again with :33 left in the penalty.
     
    41:58
    They move the puck around, Strome shoots from down low, stopped and covered by Stezka with 1:03 left in the penalty.
     
    41:30
    Konecny with a long wrister off the end boards, Stezka covers with 1:31 left in the penalty.
     
    41:01
    The Canadians are going to the power play as Jan Dufek is called for holding.
     
    40:45
    Czech shoot-in, icing indicated, then waved off, puck bounces off the end boards and covered by Sawchenko. The Canadians thought it should have been icing, but the faceoff is in their end.
     
    40:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    The teams are returning to the ice and the 3rd period will begin shortly.
     
    A much stronger period from the Czechs, and the Canadians seemed to play with much less urgency. it's still an uphill battle for the home team, but the game looks a lot more repsectable right now than it did after the first.

    Shots on goal in the 2nd period (and game): CZE 5 (13), CAN 9 (17).

    Quality scoring chances: CZE 2 (4), CAN 2 (6).

    3rd period begins at 18:32 CET, 12:32 ET.
     
    40:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    38:48
    Goal for Team Czech Republic!
    The Czechs are quick on the transition, Doudera head mans to LUKAS JASEK and from just inside the blueline he unloads an absolute rocket that beats Sawchenko.
    Assist: Lukas Doudera.
     
    38:40
    Konecny to Hobbs, stopped by Stezka.
     
    38:25
    Now Konecny one-times it wide.
     
    38:07
    J Roy with the slapper, hits Stezka in the shoulder.
     
    37:30
    Lukas Jasek leads a rush but he's kept to the outside and never gets a shot away.
     
    36:36
    Hobbs with the low wrister, steered to the corner.
     
    34:46
    Once again Canada is called for crowding the crease and the faceoff goes outside.
     
    34:37
    Konecny tries to find Harkins going to the net but the pass is too high.
     
    33:25
    Czechs threatening, Hajek centres for Jasek but he fans on the shot.
     
    32:23
    Marner with the wraparound attempt, denied by Stezka.
     
    31:20
    Czech shoot in is too high and goes out of play, faceoff in the neutral zone.
     
    30:11
    Lukas Doudera with the low wrister from the point, caught and held by Sawchenko. Doudera spent some time in the top Czech pro league last year as a 16-year-old. He's expected to play full time this year.
     
    29:29
    Goal for Team Canada!
    The puck came to Spencer at the point and he unloaded a slapper into the crowd of players in front and it went off NICOLAS ROY's stick and in.
    Assist: Matthew Spencer.
     
    28:02
    Offside Canada.
     
    27:43
    Harkins tries to cut in from the boards to the net and gets a weak backhander on goal as he's checked.
     
    26:55
    Zboril's slapper is blocked, Canada at full strength.
     
    26:30
    Now it's Jeremy Roy who ices, Czechs still shotless on this power play.
     
    25:50
    Harkins ices it and then the long change for the PK unit.
     
    24:42
    Now Canada's getting another penalty as Matthew Spencer is called for slashing. This crowd is back in the game.
     
    23:26
    Goal for Team Czech Republic!
    They keep the pressure up on the power play and RADEK KOBLIZEK gets another chance in front and he makes no mistake this time, one-timing it in.
    Assist: Daniel Krenzelok.
     
    23:10
    Loose puck in the zone, Koblizek fires wide.
     
    22:28
    Adam Musil is going to the box for charging, so the Czechs go to the power play.
     
    21:34
    Dangerous Canadian rush, Harkins to Barzal for the quick shot, Stezka juggled it but barely kept if from crossing the line.
     
    21:13
    Offside Canada.
     
    20:52
    Spencer with a big slapper, off Stezka's shoulder and out of play.
     
    20:35
    Nic Roy with a wrister from the slot, kicked out by Stezka.
     
    20:01
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    The two teams are back on the ice and the second period will start in about 1 minute.
     
    That period was pure dominance on the part of Team Canada, who have now scored 15 goals in the last four periods. This crowd is stunned, as is the Czech team leaving the ice, and they'll hope to come out with a stronger effort over the last 40 minutes to try to make this respectable.

    Shots on goal: CZE 8, CAN 8.

    Quality scoring chances: CZE 2, CAN 4.

    2nd period starts at 17:49 CET, 11:49 ET.
     
    20:00
    1st period finished.
     
    19:58
    Long wrister from Soustal, save Sawchenko, then a scramble in front of the Canadian net and Sawchenko makes another save off Soustal, this time with the glove.
     
    19:37
    The Canadians move the puck around the Czech zone and it pops out front, where Stezka covers.
     
    16:51
    The Czechs are now making a goaltending chance. Out is Daniel Vladar and in is Ales Stezka.
     
    16:51
    Goal for Team Canada!
    They get possession off the draw in the Czech zone and TRAVIS KONECNY fires a slapper that beats Vladar. Power-play goal.
    Assists: Jeremy Roy, Mathew Barzal.
     
    16:46
    Nicolas Meloche with a wrister from the point, caught and held by Vladar with :29 left in the penalty.
     
    16:20
    Canada back to the power play as they break out of their own end.
     
    15:40
    We're now playing 4 on 4 in the Czech zone.
     
    15:15
    Another penalty as Jakub Zboril is called for holding. Canada will have a 4-on-3 advantage for :04.
     
    14:55
    Chlapik with a wrister, blocker save Sawchenko.
     
    14:25
    Big slapper from Martin Weinhold, caught and held by Zach Sawchenko.
     
    14:14
    The Canadian power play is over as Mitchell Marner is called for tripping. We'll play 4-on-4 for 1:05.
     
    13:19
    And Canada right back to the power play as Radek Koblizek is called for interference.
     
    13:09
    Goal for Team Canada!
    It came one second after the penalty ended but as a power-play goal for all intents and purposes. There as a bit of a scramble in front and MITCHELL MARNER put it in.
    Assist: Mathew Spencer.
     
    13:00
    Slapper from Spencer is blocked.
     
    12:20
    The Czechs ice it and both units change up.
     
    12:00
    Now J Roy with a slapper, blocked.
     
    11:40
    Jeremy Roy with a wrister from the point, deflected wide.
     
    11:08
    The Czechs are now getting a penalty as Roman Dymacek knocked down a Canadian player in front of the Canadian zone, he's called for interference. Canada to its first power play.
     
    10:30
    Soustal leads a Czech rush, his slapper is blocked.
     
    10:03
    Now the Canadians put the pressure on but the play is stopped because there's a man in the goal crease. Faceoff outside.
     
    09:39
    Big giveaway in the Canadian zone, a gift for Simon Stransky but he fires it wide.
     
    09:06
    Goal for Team Canada!
    A Czech rush was stopped at one end and the Canadians were quick on the counter. LAWSON CROUSE fired it home to make it 2-0.
    Assists: Nicolas Roy, Jeremy Roy.
     
    08:45
    Big hit into the bards by Connor Hobbs on Dufek.
     
    07:58
    Mitchell Marner with a burst of speed leads a rush into the Czech zone, doesn't get a shot away but Canada has control for a while and Vladar finally covers.
     
    07:07
    Czech 2 on 2, Soustal to Dymacek for the long wrister, right on Sawchenko holds it.
     
    06:44
    Icing Czech Republic.
     
    06:16
    Offside Czech Repubic, Canada back at full strength.
     
    05:50
    Filip Chlapik with a long wrister through traffic, Sawchenko directs it away with the blocker.
     
    05:14
    Jakub Zboril with the slapper from the point, off Sawchenko's pad and out of play with :46 left in the penalty. Zboril has 4 goals in this tournament.
     
    04:02
    Canada's Nick Merkley now with the first penalty of the game for high-sticking. Czechs to the power play.
     
    03:34
    Goal for Team Canada!
    This line does it again. Mitchell Marner led the rush into the zone, passed to RYAN STROME on his left, and Strome beat Vladar on the forehand deke.
    Assist: Mitchell Marner.
     
    03:05
    Dylan Strome with a slapper, right on Vladar holds on. Strome with a hat-trick in yesterday's semi-final.
     
    02:52
    Now another shot and it goes over the glass and hits the netting, faceoff outside the Czech zone.
     
    02:40
    Adam Musil with a long wrister high.
     
    01:23
    Hobbs with a slapper from the point, save Vladar and a big scramble in front of the net, Konecny and Barzal there but it's finally cleared.
     
    00:58
    Icing Czech Republic.
     
    00:31
    Canada goes offside and it's so loud in here nobody heard it.
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    First, a minute of silence for Ivan Hlinka, who died 10 years ago today and is the namesake of this tournament.
     
    "O Canada" and "Kde Domov Muj" have been played and the opening faceoff is moments away.

    The Czech Repubic is designated as the home team this game and are wearing their white jerseys with blue and red trim. Canada is designated as the visiting team and wearing their red jerseys with black and white trim.
     
    And the Czech team led by goaltender Michal Vladar steps onto the ice to a thundrous ovation. Then Canada gets some whistles and the national anthems are next.
     
    A carnival-like atmosphere here in Breclav. Lots of flags and horns and, 8:00 before game time, even a "Češi, Češi" chant. These fans are ready and I'm sure the players are too.
     
    Starting Lineups:

    Czech Republic: Vladař (Stezka) – Zbořil, Weinhold, Krenželok, Kaňák, Hájek, Doudera, Kalina – Koblížek, F. Chlapík (A), Jašek – Dufek, D. Kaše (C), Suchý (A) – Anděl, Šoustal, Dymáček – Stránský, Dvořák, Gago – Ďurač.

    Canada: Sawchenko (Booth) – J. Roy (A), Spencer, Briseboys, Meloche, Hobbs, Bear, Sompel – Knott, Strome, Marner – Crouse, N. Roy, Merkley (A) – Harkins, Barzal, Konecny (C) – Stephens, Soy, Musil – Beauvillier.

    Referees: Fraňo, Hodek – Bláha, Lhotský.
     
    Canada and the Czech Republic have had vastly different levels of success in this tournament. Canada has won this tournament the last six years but, despite being co-hosts, the Czechs have never won. This game is the first time they've ever even played in the tournament final and, ironically, it comes 10 years to the day after the death of its namesake, Ivan Hlinka, who is of course a Czech hockey legend.
     
    This game features the only two unbeaten teams in this tournament, as both the Czech Republic and Canada are 4-0. The Czechs swept their group here in Breclav 4-2 over the USA, 4-3 over Finland and 11-2 over Russia before edging Sweden 4-3 in yesterday's semi-final. Canada breezed through its group in Pietany, beating Switzerland, Sweden and Slovakia by identical 5-1 scores before trouncing the USA 11-5 in the semi-final.

    With a balanced attack, Canada is led by four players with 6 points -- Mitchell Stephens (4+2), Jansen Harkins, Mathew Barzal and Tyler Soy (all 2+4). In goal, Zach Sawchenko has played three of four games has a GAA of 2.33 and save percentage of .910.

    A large chunk of the Czechs' offence comes from their defence – Martin Weinhold has 7 points (all assists) and Jakub Zbořil has 6 points (4+2). Forwards Lukáš Lašek also has 6 points (3+3) and Filip Chlapík has 5 (1+4). Daniel Vladař has played three of four games in goal and has a GAA of 2.67 and save percentage of .917.
     
    Welcome. The gold medal game of the 2014 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup starts at 17:00 CET, 11:00 ET.
    Commentary by

    Derek OBrien

    CZ@@Djob76

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 24. Koblizek (Krenzelok), 39. Jasek (Doudera) – 4. Strome (Marner), 10. Crouse (N. Roy, J. Roy), 14. Marner (Spencer), 17. Konecny (J. Roy, Barzal), 30. N. Roy (Spencer), 52. Crouse (Marner)

    Czech Republic: Vladař, 16. Stezka – Zbořil, Weinhold, Krenželok, Kaňák, Hájek, Doudera, Kalina – Koblížek, F. Chlapík (A), Jašek – Dufek, D. Kaše (C), Suchý (A) – Anděl, Šoustal, Dymáček – Stránský, Dvořák, Gago – Ďurač.
    Canada2: Sawchenko (Booth) – J. Roy (A), Spencer, Briseboys, Meloche, Hobbs, Bear, Sompel – Knott, Strome, Marner – Crouse, N. Roy, Merkley (A) – Harkins, Barzal, Konecny (C) – Stephens, Soy, Musil – Beauvillier.
    Referees: Fraňo, Hodek – Bláha, Lhotský