Canada tops U.S. to win third-straight Hlinka gold

Canada made it a hat trick of gold medals at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, topping the U.S., 1-0, in the final, played at Zimny  Stadion in Piestany, Slovakia.

The win is Canada's third straight at the elite summer under-18 championship, and its sixth title in the last seven years.

"A great effort, a great feeling," Canada coach George Burnett told Canadian Press. "When you put the time in that these guys have to prepare and go through this whole thing, and to come out on top, it's a pretty special feeling."

 Canada center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored the game's lone goal just 1:42 into the first period, and Tyson Teichmann made 22 saves to register the shutout. Canada had other chances to grow its lead, but U.S. goalie Steve Michalek stopped 23 of 24 shots, including denying Canada on all four of its power plays.

Canada had scored 25 goals in its first four games, including at least six in every game.

"To go 59 minutes thereafter with no more goals was somewhat unexpected," said Burnett. "There were a lot of ups and downs through the first 40 minutes, but I thought our team really settled down, and we may have only given up only one quality scoring chance in the third period."

The goal was the team-best fifth for Nugent-Hopkins, who plays for the WHL's Red Deer Rebels, is a top-rated prospect for the 2011 Entry Draft and will attend the 2010 NHL Research, Development and Orientation Camp Fueled by G Series next week in Etobicoke, Ont.

The silver medal is the seventh for the U.S. in the event, and its first since 2006 -- when they were shut out by Canada in the gold-medal game. Then, the tournament was known as the Under-18 Junior World Cup.

The U.S. has one gold medal in the event, in 2003.

The U.S. had its chances to score, but went 0-for-3 on the power play.

"Our guys gave it everything they had today," U.S. coach Tim Army told USA Hockey's Web site. "We couldn't have asked for anything more from these players, who really came together in a short period of time and played well against tough international competition all week."

Nugent-Hopkins will be joined by 12 of his gold-medal winning teammates in Toronto for the NHL RDO Camp, which will be held Aug. 18-19 at the Toronto Maple Leafs' practice facility -- Teichmann, defensemen Myles Bell, Scott Harrington, Xavier Ouellet and Dougie Hamilton, and forwards Jonathan Huberdeau, Boone Jenner, Michael Curtis, Garrett Meurs, David Broll, Alan Quine and Daniel Catenacci.

Also, two players from the U.S. team will take part in the camp -- forward Seth Ambroz and defenseman Keegan Lowe.

Contact Adam Kimelman at [email protected]