From: USA Hockey.comBRECLAV, Czech Republic – DU recruit Paul Phillips who will attend DU in 2009 was on the short end of the scoreboard along with his USA Under-18 teammates yesterday. The USA fell to Finland, 6-5, in its second game at the 2008 Under-18 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka tournament. Steven Whitney (Wakefield, Mass.) scored a shorthanded goal and added three assists to lead Team USA.
The U.S. Under-18 Select Team returns to action tomorrow when it faces the Czech Republic at 1 p.m. EDT in Breclav, Czech Republic. (Read full story)
NOTES: The 2008 Under-18 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka tournament includes teams from Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States ... The 21 players on the U.S. roster represent 13 different states ... Team members were chosen from the 2008 USA Hockey Select 17 Player Development Camp and features many of America's best hockey players born in 1991 ... The Under-18 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka was called the Junior World Cup until 2005.
The U.S. Under-18 Select Team returns to action tomorrow when it faces the Czech Republic at 1 p.m. EDT in Breclav, Czech Republic. (Read full story)
NOTES: The 2008 Under-18 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka tournament includes teams from Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States ... The 21 players on the U.S. roster represent 13 different states ... Team members were chosen from the 2008 USA Hockey Select 17 Player Development Camp and features many of America's best hockey players born in 1991 ... The Under-18 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka was called the Junior World Cup until 2005.
Finland 6 - United States 5
Scoring by period:
USA 1-3-1 -5
FIN 1-1-4 -6
Scoring by period:
USA 1-3-1 -5
FIN 1-1-4 -6
Team USA 2008 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka Tournament Schedule
August 12-16 • Breclav, Czech Republic and Piestany, Slovakia
August 9 Canada* L 4-6
August 10 Slovakia* W 6-2
August 12 Russia L 1-5
August 13 Finland L 5-6
August 14 Czech Republic
August 16 TBD
* exhibition game
4 comments:
Geez, another US team floundering in international competition. Hard to figure why these guys can't get better results playing internationally.
This is not the strongest USA Under 18 Team as some of the best Under 18 players are trying out for the World Junior Championship Under-20 Team.
That being said, the number of males playing youth hockey in the US has been in serious decline lately despite growth in the Sunbelt/West. Until & unless the US can get our best athletes to play and stick with youth hockey we're going to get waxed by the Canadians, Russians, Finns & Swedes.
I thought more and more kids in the US are playing hockey and the talent base is getting better all the time?
The number of kids playing is remaining about the same or dropping slightly, but since the number of girls playing is increasing the boys numbers are declining.
As for the level of play, there is no doubt that the "select" teams and elite programs are producing more top quality players than ever before. However, high school hockey is declining in quality and quantity virtually everywhere including hotbeds such as Minnesota and Massachusetts.
The greatest NHL hockey legends grew up playing hockey on ponds and backyard rinks. We are entering an era when the best youth players spend thousands of hours in cars driving to far flung hockey tournaments.
How many of tomorrow's stars are going to come from lower income families that can't afford ice time, constant travel and expensive equipment?
Post a Comment