PIESTANY, SLOVAKIA — The U.S. Under-18 Select Team fell to Canada, 11-5, in the semifinal round of the competition at the 2014 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup.
 
“Obviously, things didn't go our way today,” said Derek Plante, head coach of the U.S. Under-18 Select Team. “Now we have to get refocused and prepared to play in the third-place game tomorrow.”
 
Less than a minute into the game, Canada jumped out to a 1-0 lead.
 
At 3:25, Thomas Novak (River Falls, Wis.) knotted the score at one. He used his speed to beat everyone on the outside, cutting in on goal and beating Zachary Sawchenko with a forehand deke.
 
Canada scored two goals four minutes apart to end the period with a 3-1 lead.
 
Team USA opened the scoring in the second period on a delayed penalty call—Dennis Yan (Ann Arbor, Mich.) passed to Brock Boeser (Burnsville, Minn.) camped in front of the net for an easy goal.
 
Canada cashed in on four-on-four and man-advantage situations, climbing to a 5-2 lead.

The U.S. answered on the power play when Tanner Laczynski (Shorewood, Ill.) one-timed a cross-ice pass from Troy Terry (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) at 11:00.

Beginning at 12:16, Canada tallied five goals in less than 20 minutes of play for a 10-3 lead.
 
The U.S. netted two goals in the midst of the third period to end Canada’s run. First, Nicholas Swaney (Lakeville, Minn.) setup Karch Bachman (Wolcottville, Ind.) for a one-timer. During a power play at 16:09, Novak notched his tournament-leading 10th point, snapping a laser upstairs from the faceoff dot.
 
Canada scored in the last minute of play for the 11-5 final.
 
Team USA will face Sweden in tomorrow’s (Aug. 16) third-place game at 9 a.m. ET.
 
Follow @USAHockeyScores for in-game updates. Play-by-play is available at euroscoreslive.com. 

First Period—Scoring: 1, CAN, Strome (Marner, Knott), 0:50; 1, USA, Novak (Spenser, Gabriele), 3:25; 2, CAN, Strome (Marner, Knott), 14:33; 3, CAN, Harkins (Stephens, Brisebois), 17:55. Penalties: CAN, Meloche (hooking), 17:34 (SH).

Second Period—Scoring: 2, USA, Boeser (Yan, Novak), 4:40; 4, CAN, Barzal (Merkley), 8:15; 5, CAN, Strome (Meloche, Hobbs), 9:58 (PP); 3, USA, Laczynski (Terry, Dello), 11:00 (PP); 6, CAN, Konecny (Harkins, Bear), 12:16; 7, CAN, Konecny (Harkins, Barzal), 15:20; 8, CAN, Crouse (unassisted), 19:25. Penalties: CAN, Musil (boarding), 5:00; CAN, Crouse (slashing), 6:35; USA, Dello (holding), 8:08; CAN, Roy (roughing), 10:46.

Third Period—Scoring: 9, CAN, Musil (Hobbs, Stephens), 2:04; 10, CAN, Stephens (Soy, Brisebois), 10:53; 4, USA, Bachman (Swaney), 11:24; 5, USA, Novak (Gabriele, Boeser), 16:09 (PP); 11, CAN, Soy (Roy, Merkley), 19:17. Penalties: USA, Bachman (holding), 11:47; CAN, Brisebois (tripping).