Connelly hot for Team USA at Hlinka-Gretzky

By JIm den Hollander 

Editor/Publisher 

Midwesthockey.info 

Team USA Under-18 National team bounced back from a tough opening game at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, outscoring opponents 14-2 in its final two games and setting up a semi-final date with the rival Canadians. 

All eight teams wrapped up division play at the tournament Wednesday (August 2) with a third straight day of all teams going head-to-head. 

After opening the tournament with a 7-2 loss Monday (July 31) against the host Czechia squad, Team USA bounced back with a 6-1 win against Sweden and wrapped up on Wednesday with an 8-1 edge against Germany. 

The German squad dropped all three games played while USA, Sweden and Czechia all ended up with identical 2-1 records. 

Going on a 14-2 run through its final two games paid dividends for the American side, placing them second of the three in the ‘A’ Pool. 

While the four teams in this pool played in Breclav, Czechia, four others – Canada, Switzerland, Finland and host Slovakia had an identical schedule in Trencin, Slovakia. 

Czechia 7 Team USA 2  

Four unanswered third period goals blew a close game open for the host Czech’s who led 1-0 after a period and 3-1 before USA pulled one back late with its second goal of the middle period. 

Trevor Connelly (‘06/Tustin, CA) picked up assists on both Team USA goals. Connelly played with Tri-City Storm in the USHL this past season and has committed to Providence. 

Will Zellers (‘06/Maple Grove, MN – Shattuck/Boston U) and Eero Butella (‘06/Chicago– Chicago Mission/Northeastern) scored the Team USA goals with other assists for William Felicio (‘06/Holden, MA – Madison Capitols/Denver) and Mac Swanson (‘06/Anchorage, AK – Fargo Force/North Dakota). 

Caleb Heil (‘06/Victoria, MN – Sioux Falls Stampede) played the first 44 minutes in goal for Team USA, beaten five times on 23 shots before Thatcher Bernstein (‘06/Brookline, MA – Noble & Greenough Prep) took over kicking out six of eight down the stretch. 

Team USA 6 Sweden 1  

The Americans made up for the slow start, peppering Swedish goaltenders with 39 shots on their way to a lopsided win. 

Aidan Park (‘06/Playa Vista, CA – Shattuck St. Mary’s/Michigan) scored 31 seconds from the end of the opening period to put team USA in front to stay 2-1. The team went on to add two unanswered in the second and third periods. 

Chase Stefanek (‘06/Yorba Linda, CA – Mount St. Charles/Harvard) scored a pair for Team USA and Connelly addded two more assists while J.J. Monteiro (‘06/Hudson, MA – Mount St. Charles/Providence) opened the scoring with a shorthanded goal, adding an assist later. 

Felicio and Zellers fired the other goals with Swanson and Tanner Henricks (‘06/MIssion Viejo, CA – Anaheim Jr. Ducks/St. Cloud) adding assists. 

In goal, Heil picked up the win, stopping all but one of the 23 shots he faced. 

Team USA 8 Germany 1  

This one was a mismatch from the opening faceoff as the Americans carried a 4-0 lead out of the opening period and never looked back, outshooting Germany 43-15. 

After setting up goals in the first two games, Connelly hit the mesh himself, opening the scoring with a shorthanded marker for the second game in a row. He also closed out the scoring with his second goal and sixth point of the event. Zellers also scored twice. 

Felicio picked up a goal and a helper with other goals for Park (SH) and Alex Bales (‘06/East Amherst, NY – Yale Jr. Bulldogs/Providence) on a powerplay. 

Colin Frank (‘06/Ladera Ranch, CA – Anaheim Jr. Ducks) set up a pair of goals with other assists for Monteiro, Heil, Butella, Ryker Lee (‘06/Wilmette, IL – Shattuck St. Mary’s), John McNelis (‘06/Potomac, MD – Long Island Gulls/Boston U); Colin Frank (‘06/Ladera Ranch, CA – Anaheim Jr. Ducks), AJ Spellacy (‘06/Westlake, OH – Windsor Spitfires, Finn McLaughlin (‘06/Arlington Heights, IL – Canmore Eagles/Denver) and Adam Kieber (‘06/Chaska, MN – Lincoln Stars/Minnesota Duluth) 

Along with the assist, Heil collected his second win in goal, stopping all but one of the 15 shots by Germany.

Semi-Finals

Being ranked second was huge for Team USA as it moves them into the Championship semifinals. Crossover games on Friday will see Team USA facing off against Canada who also finished at 2-1 and were ranked at the top of the ‘B’ Pool. The other semi will see Finland taking on Czechia and the two winners will meet Saturday in the gold medal contest with the other two teams squaring off for the bronze. 

Other games on Friday will see Slovakia and Germany facing off in the 7^th Place game while Sweden and Switzerland tangle for fifth place.