2023 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup: Team USA Tops Finland 5-2, Captures Bronze Medal
Team USA captured their fourth bronze medal in Hlinka-Gretzky Cup history
Trenčín, Slovakia — The U.S. Under-18 Men's Select Team topped Finland, 5-2, in the bronze-medal game of the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, earning their first medal since 2016 and fourth bronze medal in tournament history.
Team USA wasted little time jumping out to a 2-0 lead less than two minutes into the first period.
Mac Swanson scored his first goal of the tournament just 15 seconds into the game, cleaning up the rebound in front after Tory Pitner’s initial shot was turned aside.
The Americans doubled up their lead on the power play shortly after, with Will Felicio wristing a shot from the point through traffic and in.
The goal marked the University of Denver commit’s third of the tournament.
Trevor Connelly continued his remarkable tournament, giving Team USA a 3-0 lead less than 10 minutes into the opening period.
The Tri-City Storm forward carried the puck end-to-end, chipping a shot over the left shoulder of Finnish netminder Kim Saarinen and in.
Team Finland had a couple of power-play opportunities over the last 10 minutes of the first period but could not convert on either as USA netminder Caleb Heil remained brilliant.
Finland made a strong pushback in the second period, making it a one-goal game just over seven minutes into the frame.
The Finns got on the board, converting on a shorthanded chance. Heikki Ruohonen won the footrace against Felicio and snuck a backhand shot past Heil.
Moments later, Tuomas Suoniemi fired a shot on goal from the blueline. Heil stopped the initial chance, but Roope Vesterinen corralled the rebound in front, turned, and fired a shot into the back of the net.
Team USA avoided disaster heading to a penalty kill immediately after seeing their three-goal lead reduced to just one.
However, Connelly very nearly put the Americans back up by two with a remarkable individual effort below the net, carrying the puck in front and attempting to score, but Saarinen turned the chance aside.
Back at full strength, Connelly found Will Zellers on the back door for the second time in the period for the one-time blast opportunity, but the Finnish netminder stopped both.
Team USA finally broke through, regaining their two lead before the end of the second period on a shorthanded chance. JJ Monteiro broke up the play at the point, finding Chase Stefanek up-ice, who beat Saarinen five-hole.
The US made it a 5-2 lead in the third period on the power play, with Will Zellers walking the puck in from the side wall and firing a shot from the high slot. Aidan Park re-directed the puck in front of the net and in.
Connelly, who was named Player of the Game for Team USA, was feeling it, attempting “The Michigan” late in the game.
With ten points (five goals, five assists), Connelly tied Alexander Chmelevski’s record for second-most points scored (10) by an American at the Hlinka. His draft stock is certainly trending up heading into the 2023-24 USHL season.
(All videos courtesy of NHL Network)