BRECLAV, Czech Republic – The U.S. Under-18 Select Team beat Switzerland, 6-5, today in its final game at the 2008 Under-18 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka tournament. Caleb Herbert (Bloomington, Minn.), who scored two goals, was named Team USA's Player of the Game.

"It's good to see the guys find a victory in a difficult game and end the tournament on a strong note," said Team USA Head Coach Seth Appert (Albany, N.Y.). "We knew we were playing in a tremendously difficult bracket, so it is great to end it with a win."

Herbert opened the game's scoring when his wrist shot from the high slot beat Swiss netminder Remo Trub through the legs with Team USA on the power play at 12:06. Switzerland scored twice before Herbert tallied his second of the game, knocking in a long pass from Collin Bowman (Littleton, Colo.) at 17:44, to tie the game, 2-2.

After Switzerland took the lead at 8:02 of the second frame, Steven Whitney (Wakefield, Mass.) scored on an across-the-crease pass from Christopher McCarthy (Collegeville, Pa.) at 9:16 to again tie the game for Team USA. Switzerland a 4-3 lead at 11:31 before Brendan Rempel (Willington, Conn.) knocked the puck out of the air and into the back of the Swiss net at 14:28 to knot the game at four. Nick Oliver (Wannaska, Minn.) re-directed a slapshot from Bowman at 17:31 to give the U.S. a 5-4 advantage after 40 minutes.

Switzerland scored at 8:41 of the third, before Paul Phillips (Darien, Ill.) tallied the game-winning goal less than a minute later. With a delayed penalty coming against Switzerland, the U.S. pulled goaltender Casey DeSmith (Rochester, N.H.) in favor of an extra attacker, and Phillips scored on a shot off the post to account for the 6-5 final.

NOTES: The 2008 Under-18 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka tournament features teams from Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States ... The 21 players on the U.S. roster represent 13 different states ... Team members were chosen from the 2008 USA Hockey Select 17 Player Development Camp, which was held July 7-13 at the National Hockey Center at St. Cloud State (Minn.) University and featured many of America's best hockey players born in 1991 ... The U.S. roster includes seven players who were members of the U.S. Under-17 Select Team that took part in the 2007 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament in the Czech Republic ... The Under-18 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka was called the Junior World Cup until 2005.

GAME SUMMARY

Scoring By Period

First Period - Scoring: 1, USA, Herbert (Leddy), 12:06 (pp); 2, SUI, Pedretti (Hobi), 12:31; 3, SUI, Neher (Hobi), 16:01; 4, USA, Herbert (Bowman, Budish), 17:44. Penalties: SUI, Loeffel (hooking), 8:29; SUI, Mettler (slashing), 10:14; USA, Bowman (tripping), 19:05.

Second Period - Scoring: 5, SUI, Neiderreiter (Trutman), 5:20; 6, USA, Whitney (McCarthy), 9:16; 7, SUI, Neiderreiter (Holenstein), 11:31; 8, USA, Rempel (Brown), 14:28; 9, USA, Oliver (Bowman), 17:31. Penalties: USA, Bench (too many players), :42; SUI, Cazegn (interference), 5:20; USA, Rempel (hooking), 12:22; SUI, Trutman (hooking), 14:51; USA, Little (slashing), 18:36.

Third Period - Scoring: 10, SUI, Schappi (Neiderreiter), 8:41; 11, USA, Phillips (Pitlick), 9:26. Penalties: SUI, Bench (delay of game), :00; SUI, Loeffel (holding), 9:26; SUI, Boss (hooking), 13:00; SUI, Emi (hooking), 15:00; USA, Bowman (delay of game), 19:13.

Power Play: USA 1-7; SUI 0-5
Penalties: USA 5-10; SUI 8-16

Team USA 2008 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka Tournament Results
August 12-16 • Breclav, Czech Republic and Piestany, Slovakia

*exhibition