BRECLAV, CZECH REPUBLIC — In its first game of the 2014 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup, the U.S. Under-18 Select Team lost to the Czech Republic, 4-2. Team USA received goals from Brock Boeser (Burnsville, Minn.) and Robert Jackson (Alameda, Calif.).

“We had some opportunities to score,” said Derek Plante, head coach of the U.S. Under-18 Select Team. “The second period was tough, there were many penalties from our side. Almost 17 minutes in the penalty box. We rallied, but we could not catch up.”

Team USA came out strong in the first, and opened the scoring on a power-play rebound tap-in from Boeser at 8:42. Dennis Yan (Ann Arbor, Mich.) wristed a shot off the goal post, and Boeser was there to wrangle the rebound.
 
In the second, two U.S. players took simultaneous penalties, giving the Czech Republic a five-on-three advantage that they used to even the score. Eight minutes later, the Czechs scored the go-ahead goal during a power play. At 16:09, the Czechs tallied yet another power-play goal.
 
Two minutes into the third, Team USA’s Jackson was on a breakaway when a Czech player brought him down, resulting in a penalty shot. Jackson took his time and stuffed the puck past the Czech Republic’s Daniel Vladar and pulled Team USA within a goal.
 
With less than a minute left in the period, Team USA pulled goaltender Evan Sarthou (La Grange, Ill.) for the extra man. After Team USA nearly scored the equalizer, the Czechs got possession of the puck and sent it down the ice for an empty-net goal and the 4-2 final.

The U.S. Under-18 Select Team continues tournament action 9:30 a.m. ET tomorrow against Russia. 

Stay tuned to USAHockey.com for complete Hlinka Cup coverage and game recaps. Also, get play-by-play action for every game at eurolivescores.com. USA games are also live streaming at UStream.com.

First Period—Scoring: 1, USA, Boeser (Yan), 8:42 (PP). Penalties: USA, Boeser (slashing), 0:10; CZE, Bench (too many men), 3:00; USA, Foley (interference), 6:02; CZE, Zboril (slashing), 7:35; USA, Filipe (slashing), 10:02; USA, Filipe (hooking), 18:36.

Second Period—Scoring: 1, CZE, Zboril (Weinhold, Jasek), 4:37 (PP); 2, CZE, Chlapik (Zboril, Jasek), 12:51 (PP); 3, CZE, Jasek (Soustal, Chlapik), 16:09 (PP). Penalties: USA, Wilkie (tripping), 3:36; USA, Laczynski (kneeing), 3:36; USA, Dello (holding), 7:59; USA, Swaney (delay of game), 9:09; USA, Boeser (hooking), 12:47; USA, Filipe (hooking); USA, Wilkie (check to the head and neck area—major), 14:51; USA, Wilkie (game misconduct), 14:51.

Third Period—Scoring: 2, USA, Jackson (unassisted), 1:50 (PS); 4, CZE, Jasek (unassisted), 19:52 (EN). Penalties: CZE, Chlapik (roughing), 0:18; USA, Bench (too many men), 1:14; CZE, Zboril (holding—PS), 1:50; CZE, Dymacek (interference), 8:25; USA, Bachman (slashing), 10:40; USA, Olson (interference), 11:57; CZE, Dymacek (slashing), 14:46.

Photo Credit: Harry Thompson/USA Hockey Magazine