USA Wins Bronze at 2014 Hlinka Memorial Cup

PIESTANY, SLOVAKIA - Dennis Yan (Ann Arbor, Mich.) scored in the final minute of overtime to give the U.S. Under-18 Select Team a 5-4 victory over Sweden and claim third place in the 2014 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup. Goaltender Matthew Jurusik (La Grange, Ill.) made 42 saves in the U.S. net.

"After an emotional loss yesterday it was great for our guys to respond and beat a very good Swedish team to capture third place," said Derek Plante, head coach of the U.S. Under-18 Select Team.

Sweden jumped out to a 2-0 lead, scoring twice in the first half of the opening period.

In the latter half of the opening stanza, the U.S. answered with three goals, leapfrogging Sweden for the 3-2 lead. While Sweden had possession inside the U.S. zone, Tom Novak stole the puck at the blue line, carried it down ice and snapped a shot far side from the right hashmarks.

At 14:07, Matt Filipe (Lynnfield, Mass.), Erik Foley (Mansfield, Mass.) and Tanner Laczynski (Shorewood, Ill.) rushed into Sweden's zone and pushed the play behind the goal. Foley came from behind the left side of the net and put the puck in to even the game at two. Two minutes later as the U.S. was cycling the puck, Robby Jackson (Alameda, Calif.) passed to Troy Terry (Highlands Ranch, Colo.), who walked into the left slot and fired the puck in for the go-ahead goal.

The second period was scoreless, so the U.S. entered the third period still leading 3-2.

At 3:20 of the third, Karch Bachman (Wolcottville, Ind.) snagged a loose puck near his own blue line and raced up ice for a shorthanded, breakaway goal.

Sweden made it 4-3 midway through the third period, and then forced overtime with two minutes left to play.

Both teams had quality chances in the five-minute overtime, but the U.S. capitalized in the final minute when Tory Dello's (Crystal Lake, Ill.) shot was deflected by Zach Wilkie (Villa Park, Ill.) and Yan finished the play by stuffing the puck in for the 5-4 final.

Notes: Novak finishes as the tournament's leading scorer, with 11 points (5-6) over five games ... Brock Boeser (Burnsville, Minn.) finishes as the tournament's leading goal scorer, notching six goals in five games. Boeser (6-2), Yan (4-4) and Finland's Petrus Palmu (4-4) tied as the tournament's second leading scorers with eight points each... Team USA finishes the tournament 2-1-2-0 (W-OTW-L-OTL).