By USA Hockey, 08/13/25, 12:30PM EDT
TRENČÍN, Slovakia – Blake Zielinski (Berlin, N.J.) (1g, 2a) and Nolan Duskocy (Ellington, Conn.) (1g, 2a) each recorded three points as the U.S. Under-18 Men’s Select Team defeated Germany, 8-1, in its final preliminary round game of the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup here today at Pavol Demitra Ice Stadium.
Team USA’s next opponent will be determined by the outcomes of the rest of today’s preliminary round games. For the full U.S. schedule for the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, click here. All U.S. games will be broadcast live on NHL Network.
“We had a good start to the game and knew we had to come out and play smart and focused,” said Kevin Porter (Plymouth, Mich.), head coach of the U.S. Under-18 Men’s Select Team. “In the end, we were able to build on some things in our third game in three days. Now, we wait to see how the other games finish and get prepared for what is next.”
Jaxon Williams (Cary, N.C.) opened the scoring for the U.S. with a shorthanded goal as he corralled a pass from Luke Puchner (New Germany, Minn.) and tucked the puck home on a 2-on-1 opportunity 2:14 into the contest.
Caden Harvey (Beaver, Pa.) added a second tally for the U.S. 1:35 later with a sharp-angle shot that snuck through German netminder Sascha Pitaev. Jack Hextall (Rolling Meadows, Ill.) extended Team USA’s lead to three :54 following Harvey’s goal on a one-timer after a cross-crease feed from Zielinski.
The U.S. extended its lead to 4-0 1:26 into the second, as Levi Harper (Tampa, Fla.) blasted a one-timer past Pitaev after a pass from Puchner.
Team USA netminder Brady Knowling (Chicago, Ill.) held Germany off the scoreboard at 5:23, smothering a breakaway opportunity. Knowling and Aidan Hesse (Saint Paul, Minn.) combined for 18 saves in the contest.
Duskocy added the fifth U.S. goal and second shorthanded goal of the game at 10:56 on a wraparound shot following a stellar individual effort.
Kalder Varga (Geneva, Ill.) found the back of the net after a series of passes from Zielinski and Hextall at 2:37 of the third to put Team USA ahead, 6-0. Zielinski added a power-play tally at 5:03, while Harvey scored his second of the game :23 later to extend the U.S. advantage to eight.
Germany’s Jack Peterka scored with 7:45 remaining in the third from the right faceoff circle to account for the 8-1 final.
NOTES: Jack Hextall was named U.S. Player of the Game … Team USA outshot Germany, 48-19 … The U.S. went 1-for-3 on the power play, while Germany went 0-for-4.
Tag(s): News Men's Hlinka Gretzky Cup Home
Hockey News