EDMONTON, Alberta – With a hat trick from Gavin Burcar (Coto De Caza, Calif.), the U.S. Under-18 Men’s Select Team commenced the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup with a 6-4 win over Czechia today at Rogers Place.
“I’m proud of our performance today against a well-coached and skilled Czech team,” remarked Reid Cashman (Red Wing, Minn.), head coach of the U.S. Under-18 Men’s Select Team. “Our penalty kill was outstanding, led by Todd Knott, who has effectively coached that unit. Gavin Burcar’s hat trick was remarkable. We are enthusiastic about this start and anticipate the next challenge tomorrow against Finland.”
Joey Cullen (Moorhead, Minn.) gave the U.S. the lead at 9:57, redirecting a shot from Jake Prunty (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.) over Czech goaltender Jaroslav Martinek’s shoulder from the slot.
Team USA increased its advantage at 13:29, as Burcar sent a wrist shot over Martinek’s blocker from the bottom of the left faceoff circle after receiving a pass from Nash Roed (White Bear Lake, Minn.).
Lukas Kachlir narrowed the gap for Czechia with 1:52 left in the period on a power play, scoring with a one-timer from the point through traffic that found the back of the net.
Burcar netted a shorthanded goal for the U.S. just 17 seconds into the second period, firing a quick shot over Martinek’s glove to restore the two-goal lead.
GAME PHOTOS
GAME STATS
The U.S. extended its lead to three at 4:03, as Ryland Rooney (Dellwood, Minn.) fired a wrist shot from the top of the right faceoff circle that slipped past Martinek.
Colin Grubb (Burlington, N.D.) scored 24 seconds later, beating relief goaltender Krystof Stepanek with a shot from just outside the slot to put Team USA ahead, 5-1.
Czechia responded at 5:34, as Jiri Gombar scored on a shot from the point that hit the post and deflected off U.S. goaltender Kaeden Tate (Huntington Beach, Calif.) into the net.
Burcar completed his hat trick on the power play with 5:00 remaining, delivering a one-timer from the bottom of the left faceoff circle past Stepanek after a pass from Gerry DiCunzolo (Buffalo, N.Y.) to give the U.S. a 6-2 lead.
Kachlir netted his second goal of the game at 8:52 of the third, scoring from a sharp angle at the bottom of the right circle to reduce the U.S. lead to 6-3. Czechia cut the U.S. advantage to two at 10:03 when Adam Nemec scored from the slot, resulting in the 6-4 final score.
Tate concluded the game with 24 saves in the victory.
The U.S. Under-18 Men’s Select Team will continue Hlinka Gretzky Cup competition tomorrow (Aug. 4) against Finland at 7 p.m. local (9 p.m. ET) at Downtown Community Arena in Edmonton.
NOTES: Gavin Burcar was named U.S. Player of the Game … Czechia outshot Team USA, 28-23 … The U.S. converted 1-1 on the power play, while Czechia went 1-6.
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