Top 2015 NHL Draft prospect Dylan Strome had a hat trick as Canada beat the United States 11-5 on Friday in the semifinals of the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup in a game played at Zimny Stadion in Piestany, Slovakia.

Canada will play the Czech Republic in the championship game Saturday. Canada has won the tournament in each of the past six years and 18 of the 23 times it's been held since 1991.

"We've got to go out and play our game," coach Jody Hull told Canadian Press. "If we can go out and play our game for 60 minutes, that's going to be the key. You've got to be ready for anything. So we're just going to enjoy this [Friday] and be focused and ready to go [Saturday]."

Travis Konecny had two goals for Canada and Mitchell Stephens and Jansen Harkins had one goal and two assists each. Goaltender Zachary Sawchenko allowed five goals on 29 shots.

Thomas Novak had two goals and an assist for the United States. Evan Sarthou started the game in goal but allowed five goals in 29:58 of action. His backup, Matthew Jurusik, allowed the final six goals. The U.S. was outshot 48-29 for the game.

The Canadian Under-18 select team closed out its preliminary-round schedule in Group B of the 2014Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup with an unbeaten record following a 5-1 victory against Slovakia on Wednesday at Zimny Stadion in Piestany, Slovakia.

Canada, the six-time and defending tournament champion, will face the United States in the semifinal round Friday at 9:30 a.m. ET. Canada has defeated the U.S. the past two years in the championship game of the Hlinka Memorial. The Americans defeated Finland 9-4 on Wednesday to advance to the semifinals.

Canada received goals from five different scorers and goaltender Callum Booth of the Quebec Remparts in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League made 12 saves in his first start of the tournament.

The United States Under-18 select team scored five goals on 10 shots in the third period on the way to a 9-4 victory against Finland in preliminary-round action in Group A of the 2014 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup on Wednesday at Zimny Stadion in Piestany, Slovakia.

The victory sets up a semifinal-round showdown against rival Canada on Friday at Zimny Stadion. Canada scored a 4-0 victory against the United States in the championship game last year to win a record sixth straight Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup. The Canadians also earned a 3-2 victory against the United States in the gold-medal game at the 2012 tournament.

Right wing Brock Boeser scored three goals to help rally the United States to a 7-4 victory against Russia in Group A play of the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup on Tuesday at Alcaplast Arena in Breclav, Czech Republic.

The United States, which held a 46-25 advantage in shots, scored three goals in the third period to snap a 4-4 tie.

"This was an important match for us," U.S. coach Derek Plante said. "Our goal is to get the championship, so we needed a win today. This is a short tournament, so we have to keep getting better really quickly. Russia has a great team, but we had many power plays, which helped us a lot. In the last game against the Czech Republic [a 4-2 loss Monday], we were highly penalized and even though we played well, lost because of that. [On Tuesday], it was a big deal."

Center Mitchell Stephens scored two goals to lead Canada to a 5-1 victory against Sweden in preliminary-round play in Group B of the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup on Tuesday at Zimny Stadion in Piestany, Slovakia.

The six-time and defending tournament champion, which outshot Sweden 41-28, will look to earn its third straight victory on Wednesday when it faces Slovakia at 11:30 a.m. ET.

"I thought as the game went along we got better as a group," Canada coach Jody Hull said. "We're starting to come together as a team and every player was doing the right thing. Moving forward, that's going to be key."

Lukas Jasek had two goals and two assists to lead the Czech Republic to a stunning 4-2 victory against the United States in preliminary-round action of the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup tournament Monday at Alcaplast Arena in Breclav.

The Czech Republic, which outshot the United States, 39-24, scored three unanswered power-play goals in the second period to build a 3-1 lead. Jasek had a goal and two assists in the period, when the Czech Republic outshot the U.S. 19-2.

Forwards Brock Boeser of Burnsville High School in Minnesota and Robby Jackson of the Chicago Steel in the United States Hockey League scored the goals for the United States. Boeser, a 6-foot, 187-pound right wing committed to the University of Wisconsin in 2015-16, was named to NHL Central Scouting's Futures List of top prospects eligible for the 2015 NHL Draft in Sunrise, Fla. Jackson's goal, which pulled the Americans within 3-2, was scored on a penalty shot.

Defenseman Rasmus Andersson, who is considered a top prospect eligible for the 2015 NHL Draft, will join the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League in 2014-15.

The announcement was made on Monday by Colts general manager Jason Ford.

The 6-foot, 214-pound right-shot Andersson spent the past two seasons with Malmo in Sweden's Allsvenskan. This season will mark his first playing hockey in North America.

"Andersson will enter the OHL as a rookie but already brings a wealth of experience; having played against men the past two seasons in Sweden," Ford told barriecolts.com. "He is a well-rounded defenseman that will help stabilize the back-end, and enters the OHL trying to pursue his dream of being an NHL player. We are very excited about this addition to our lineup."

Center Mathew Barzal had a goal and an assist to help lead Canada to a 5-1 victory against Switzerland in the opener of the 11th Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup on Monday at Zimny Stadion in Pietsany, Slovakia.

Barzal, who plays for the Seattle Thunderbirds in the Western Hockey League, is one of many top prospects eligible for the 2015 NHL Draft representing the six-time and defending champion at the tournament. Barzal scored an even-strength goal 10:12 into the first period to give Canada a 2-0 lead.

Dylan Strome of the Erie Otters in the Ontario Hockey League, Lawson Crouse (Kingston Frontenacs, OHL), Mitchell Vande Sompel (Oshawa, OHL) and Mitchell Stephens (Saginaw, OHL) also scored for Canada. Barzal, Strome, Crouse and Vande Sompel are all listed on NHL Central Scouting's Futures List of top draft-eligible prospects for 2015 from each league.

The United States Hockey League revealed Wednesday that the USHL/NHL 2015 Top Prospects Game will be held Jan. 13 at Mystique Community Ice Center in Dubuque, Iowa.

The USHL and host club Dubuque Fighting Saints made the joint announcement during a press conference at the Mystique Community Ice Center.

The game will feature 40 of the top blue-chip prospects from the USHL eligible for the 2015 NHL Draft in Sunrise, Fla., on June 26-27. Players will be chosen for the event based on a selection process that includes the input of USHL general managers, NHL Central Scouting, and NHL team scouts and decision makers.

Mathew Barzal, a potential first-round pick at the 2015 NHL Draft, was among the 22 players picked to play for Canada at the 2014 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup.

The tournament will be played Aug. 11-16 in Breclav, Czech Republic, and Piestany, Slovakia.

Canada has won the tournament the past six years and 18 times in the 23 times it's been held since 1991.

The roster was picked after a four-day selection camp in Calgary.

Barzal, a 5-11, 174-pound center, plays for the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League. He tied for third among first-year WHL players last season with 40 assists and tied for fifth with 54 points.