Slovakia U18 – Switzerland U18 5:6 (2:3 after SO) | Czech Republic U18 – USA U18 3:4 (end) | Finland U18 – Sweden U18 1:2 (end)
Canada U18 – Russia U18 2:1 (0:1 after SO)
after shootout (0:1)
Canada U18
2:1 (0:1, 1:0, 0:0 - 0:0)
Russia U18
Friday 14.08.2015, 19:00 • Hlinka Gretzky Cup • Semi-Final
     
    Welcome. This game starts at 19:00 CET, 20:00 MSK, 13:00 ET.
     
    That grand old hockey rivalry, Canada vs Russia, renews here in Břeclav, Czech Republic, in the semi-finals at the 2015 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup.

    Canada won all 3 games in the group stage, outscoring the Czech Republic, Sweden and Switzerland 14-3 to finish 1st. The Russians went 2-1 in the group stage, beating the Americans and Slovaks but losing to the Finns to finish 2nd.

     
    Starting Lineups:

    Canada U18: Wells (Hart) – Fabbro, Bean, Clague, Mete, Quenneville, Girard, Poirier, Mahura – Dube, Jost, Bitten – Kaspick, McLeod, Malenstyn – Benson, Patrick, Kyrou – Howden, Steel, Dubois.

    Russia U18: Sukhachev (Kalyayev) – Yakovenko, Alexeyev, Gromov, Afanasev, Makeyev, Ryzhenkov, Shvyriev, Akhmetgaliev – Kayumov, Rubtsov, Popugayev – Geraskin, Ivanov, Veriayev – Verba, Mescheryakov, Avraymenko – Ivanyuzhenkov, Shevchenko, Bayn

    Referees: Hodek, Šír – Gebauer, Lederer.
     
    The national anthems are finished and the game will start shortly.

    Canada is designated as the home team and are wearing red jerseys with white and black trim. Russia is designated as the visiting team and wearing white jerseys with red and blue trim.
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    00:33
    Early Russian rush, Popugayev tried to backhand it but caught from behind and doesn't get much of a shot.
     
    00:40
    Quickly back the other way, offside Canada.
     
    00:56
    Offside Canada again.
     
    01:09
    Yet another offside call against Canada, who are having trouble entering the Russian zone.
     
    01:17
    Now Canada does finally enter the zone, Howden is upended by Pavel Ryzhenkov, who goes off for tripping. Canada to the power play.
     
    01:40
    Shot from Kyrou, pad save Sukhachev and the Russians clear the zone.
     
    02:18
    Canadians move the puck around on the power play, traffic in front and play is whistled because there's a Canadian player in the crease, faceoff outside with :59 left in the power play.
     
    02:46
    Slapper from the point by Fabbro, Sukhachev had trouble with it but finally covers with :31 left in the penalty.
     
    03:12
    Steel in tight, hits Sukhachev, play continues.
     
    03:40
    Russians back at full strength but can't get out of their zone.
     
    05:15
    Clague fires a wrister wide.
     
    06:10
    Canadians again threatening in the Russian zone, shot deflected wide.
     
    06:43
    Puck out of play in the Russian zone, faceoff inside.
     
    06:53
    Icing Russia.
     
    07:45
    Another icing against Russia, who are having problems trying to get out of their own end.
     
    09:10
    Canada getting their first penalty of the game, Nolan Patrick for holding against the boards in the attacking zone. Russia to the power play.
     
    09:57
    The puck is frozen against the boards in the Canadian zone, faceoff inside with 1:14 left in the Russian PP, which is still without a shot.
     
    10:36
    Russia called for icing on the PP, as the stretch pass attempt was off target. :34 left in the penalty.
     
    10:52
    Kale Clague with an opening shorthanded, hits Sukhachev in the mask and play is stopped. :18 left in the penalty.
    10:52.
     
    11:40
    Canada back at full strength, Russians move the puck around the Canadian zone but don't get a shot.
     
    11:52
    Icing Canada.
     
    12:40
    Clague with a long shot from the line that goes wide.
     
    13:52
    Icing Russia.
     
    15:50
    After a prolonged stretch of play without much action, the puck is deflected out of play in the Russian zone, faceoff inside.
     
    15:59
    Canada's Nolan Patrick gets his second penalty in the attacking zone, this time for high-sticking. Russia to the power play, 0/1 today.
     
    16:50
    One-timer by Alexeyev from the point, stick save Wells, Canadians clear the zone.
     
    17:41
    Puck goes out of play in the Canadian zone, faceoff outside with :18 left in the penalty.
     
    18:15
    Canada back at full strength, and back in to the Russian zone.
     
    18:26
    Shot by Quenneville, right on Sukhachev covers.
     
    18:43
    Icing Russia.
     
    19:10
    Goal for Team Russia!
    3-on-2 Russia, Kayumov to Iakovenko for the shot, save Wells but GERMAN RUBTSOV scores on the rebound.
    Assists: Alexander Iakovenko, Artur Kayumov.
    19:10. GERMAN RUBTSOV - 0:1
     
    20:00
    1st period finished.
     
    Canada with a wide edge possession-wise in that period but the actual number of shots on goal was quite low for both teams. It's Russia with the late goal who has the lead 1-0 after 1.

    Shots on goal: Canada 7, Russia 4.

    2nd period begins at 19:46 CET, 20:46 MSK, 13:46 ET.
     
    The teams are returning to the ice and the 2nd period will start shortly.

    During the intermission the other semi-final finished, so these teams now know that the winner of this game will face Sweden for gold tomorrow and the loser will face Finland for bronze.
     
    20:01
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    22:00
    Russia with a glorious chance to take a 2-0 lead, a rebound came to Veriaev at the side with the near side open but fired wide.
     
    23:05
    Quenneville with a blast from the point that goes wide. Still no shots this period for either team.
     
    23:20
    Puck out of play in the Russian zone, faceoff inside.
     
    25:09
    Penalty coming to Russia as Maxim Bain is called for holding. Canada to the power play.
     
    25:33
    Kale Clague with a slapper from the point, blocker save Sukhachev. First shot for either team this period.
     
    25:44
    Goal for Team Canada!
    There was a bit of a scramble in front of the Russian net and Benson fed JORDAN KYROU who was open at the side, and he put it in. Power-play goal.
    Assist: Tyler Benson.
    25:44. JORDAN KYROU - 1:1
     
    26:17
    Canada back into the attacking zone, Jost's rising wrister is caught and held by Sukhachev.
     
    27:05
    Low shot by Dubois, butterfly save Sukhachev.
     
    27:16
    Canada now getting a penalty, Josh Maruha, Russia to the power play, 0/2 today.
     
    28:09
    Wrister from Alexeyev goes wide, then Canada ice it.
     
    28:46
    A pair of slappers from the point by Afanasev and Makeyev are both stopped by Wells, and he covers with :30 left in the penalty.
     
    29:40
    Canada back at full strength, puck deflected out of play, faceoff in the Russian zone.
     
    29:55
    Benson blasts it wide.
     
    31:04
    Scramble in front of the Russian goal, first Dubois with the shot, then a big scramble for the rebound but Sukhachev finally covers.
     
    31:04
    Russia getting a penalty on the play for holding, Mikhail Mescheryakov for holding. Canada to the power play.
     
    32:00
    Canada threatening, Benson's shot is stopped, then Patrick denied on the rebound.
    32:00.
     
    32:29
    A couple more Canadian shots, they're really coming on now. Sukhachev covers with :35 left in the penalty.
     
    32:43
    Another shot by Jost is stopped, rebound fired wide.
     
    33:12
    Russia back at full strength but Sam Girard tees up a big shot from the top of the slot, right on Sukhachev, who's under fire now.
     
    33:12
    Another Russian penalty on the play, Alexander Iakovenko for cross-checking. So Canada, who by my count had 7 shots on their last PP, go right back at it.
     
    33:40
    Benson tries to stuff it in the short side, doesn't go.
     
    34:04
    That looked like a sure goal for Canada! Steel found Dubois at the backdoor but the net was knocked off its moorings as he shot. Canadians want a penalty for delay of game but none coming. 1:08 left in the penalty.
    34:04.
     
    34:25
    Canadian pressure continues, shot from Fabbro deflected high.
     
    34:35
    Puck out of play, faceoff outside the Russian zone with :37 left in the penalty.
     
    35:10
    Bad pass goes back to the Canadian zone, and that will do it for the power play.
     
    35:26
    Icing Canada, who had numerous chances on those last two power plays but are still deadlocked at 1-1.
     
    35:54
    Puck deflected out of play in the neutral zone, faceoff at centre ice.
     
    36:24
    Chance for Russia, Iakovenko's wrister is right on Wells, who holds it.
     
    37:00
    Long shoot-in is caught and held by Sukhachev.
     
    38:10
    Howden blasts a one-timer wide.
     
    38:35
    Low wrister from Rutsov kicked away by Wells.
     
    39:18
    Another wild scramble in the Russian crease but the Canadians just can't put it in. That was McLeod and Girard there.
    39:18.
     
    39:30
    Icing Russia.
     
    40:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    Vyacheslav Shevchenko with one last save at the siren at the end of that period, which is appropriate as he was a busy man, especially the last 12 minutes or so. However, despite numerous chances Canada score only once and this game is tied 1-1 after 2 periods.

    3rd period begins at 20:32 CET, 21:32 MSK, 14:32 ET.
     
    The teams returning to the ice and the 3rd period begins shortly.
     
    40:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    40:18
    We're getting a penalty right at the start of the period, Russia's Dmitri Alexeyev for slashing, and Sukhachev also made a nice glove save on the play. Canada to the power play again.
     
    41:10
    Patrick the wrister, stick save Sukhachev.
     
    41:29
    The Canadian power play is over as Kale Clague is called for hooking. We'll play 4-on-4 for :49.
     
    41:35
    Russia drove right to the net off the draw and very nearly scored.
     
    42:03
    The other way Fabbro the slapper, pad save Sukhachev and then he had to really stretch to stop the rebound.
     
    42:36
    Now William Bitten in alone and Sukhachev makes a huge glove save. :53 left in the Russian power play.
    42:36.
     
    43:15
    Offside Russia with :14 left in their power play.
     
    43:40
    Canada back at full strength, and they're called for icing.
     
    44:19
    Alexeyev the lead pass to Popugayev, his wrister goes off the crossbar and out of play. Faceoff in the Canadian zone.
     
    45:19
    Jost tries to cut in, but he's denied and the puck goes out of play. Faceoff in the Russian zone.
     
    45:30
    Shot by Kyrou stopped by Sukhachev, rebound goes wide.
     
    45:58
    Russian power play coming up as Jordon Kyrou is called for hooking, and he may have saved a goal on that play.
     
    46:15
    Canadian shorthanded 2 on 1 but a great sweep check by Iakovenko to knock the puck away.
    46:15.
     
    46:50
    Iakovenko's slapper misses the net and rings all the way around back to the Russian zone.
     
    47:42
    McLeod on the penalty kill with the long wrister, gloved and held Sukhachev with :16 left in the penalty.
     
    48:20
    Canada back at full strength and they're called for icing.
     
    48:42
    Slapper from Quenneville deflected wide.
     
    48:48
    Icing Russia
     
    49:07
    Canada applying pressure again, Bean's slapper blocked.
     
    49:41
    Icing Russia.
     
    49:41
    Timeout Russia. They're under pressure again and this line's tired.
     
    50:00
    Kale Clague busts through up the middle, all alone on Sukhachev but the Russian goalie denies him.
     
    51:20
    Veriaev tries to cut in from the side but is headed off.
     
    51:45
    Wild back and forth play there. First a chance for Canada at one end, then the Russians right back the other way with numbers. Wells was down doing snow angels but the puck ends up under him.
     
    52:26
    Icing Canada.
     
    53:16
    Offside Canada.
     
    53:50
    Another Canadian rush, wrister from Benson but another big glove save by Sukhachev. He's been terrific today.
     
    54:00
    The puck slides down to Dylan Wells, who covers.
     
    54:30
    Wells had to be sharp on a deflection from the draw, then Canada comes back the other way, wraparound attempt denied.
     
    55:25
    Offside Canada.
     
    55:50
    Icing Russia.
     
    56:30
    Patrick the wrister, bloacker save Sukhachev, then a slapper from Jost and he stopped that too.
     
    57:38
    Long shoot-in from Dubois handled by Sukhachev, Russians back the other way . . .
     
    58:43
    Puck is played with a high stick by a Russian player in the attacking zone, faceoff outside.
     
    58:50
    Icing Russia.
     
    59:26
    Rubtsov the wrister on a Russian counter, stick save Wells.
     
    60:00
    3rd period finished.
     
    Well, it seems we'll need overtime and maybe more to decide this semi-final. The winner plays Sweden in tomorrow's final, the loser plays Finland for bronze.
     
    60:01
    Overtime began.
     
    60:17
    Another big glove save by Sukhachov. This time Patrick to Benson for the quick wrister from the slot.
     
    61:30
    Jost carrying the puck forever in the Russian zone but can't get a shot away, finally does an it's stopped.
     
    62:01
    Wrister from the point by Clague is deflected out of play, faceoff inside the Russian zone.
     
    62:08
    Offside Canada.
     
    62:28
    Offside Russia.
     
    62:45
    Rubstov just missed with a high wrister.
     
    63:12
    The other way Dubois fires high.
     
    63:51
    Puck frozen deep in the Canadian zone by Shevchenko, faceoff outside. No delay of game penalty, but also no slash call against Mahura, so it's all good.
     
    64:20
    Dangerous wrister from Fabbro, rebound was loose but nobody could get to it and finally cleared.
     
    65:00
    Overtime finished.
     
    And how about this, Canada and Russia are headed to a shootout.
     
    Start of shootout.
     
    Nolan Patrick will be the first shooter for Canada.
     
    1. series
    0:0
    Patrick goes off the crossbar and in, 1-0 Canada.
    NOLAN PATRICK
     
    1. series
    0:0
    Pad save Wells.
    SHVYREV
     
    2. series
    0:0
    Patrick Jost is denied.
    JOST
     
    2. series
    0:0
    Nikita Makeyev is stopped.
    MAKEYEV
     
    3. series
    0:0
    No goal, now Russia must score.
     
    3. series
    0:0
    Georgii Ivanov is poke-checked by Wells and Canada wins.
    IVANOV
     
    Canada U18 has won after the penalty shoot-out.
    The winning goal is scored by PATRICK.
     
    Game over.
     
    Players of the Game:

    RUS – Vladislav Sukhachev, G
    CAN – Dylan Wells, G
     
    Wow, what a semifinal! So tomorrow it will be Finland vs Russia for the bronze in Bratislava and Canada vs Sweden for the gold in Břeclav. (21:24:52)
    Commentary by

    Derek OBrien

    CZ@@Djob76

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 26. Kyrou (Benson), dec. goal Patrick – 20. Rubtsov (Iakovenko, Kayumov)

    Shootout:

    1. series:
    0:0   Patrick (CAN18)
    0:0   Shvyrev (RUS18)
    2. series:
    0:0   Jost (CAN18)
    0:0   Makeyev (RUS18)
    3. series:
    0:0   x (CAN18)
    0:0   Ivanov (RUS18)

    Canada U18: Wells (Hart) – Fabbro, Bean, Clague, Mete, Quenneville, Girard, Poirier, Mahura – Dube, Jost, Bitten – Kaspick, McLeod, Malenstyn – Benson, Patrick, Kyrou – Howden, Steel, Dubois.
    Russia U18: Sukhachev (Kalyayev) – Yakovenko, Alexeyev, Gromov, Afanasev, Makeyev, Ryzhenkov, Shvyriev, Akhmetgaliev – Kayumov, Rubtsov, Popugayev – Geraskin, Ivanov, Veriayev – Verba, Mescheryakov, Avraymenko – Ivanyuzhenkov, Shevchenko, Bayn
    Referees: Hodek, Šír – Gebauer, Lederer