By USA Hockey, 08/12/25, 12:30PM EDT
TRENČÍN, Slovakia – Despite goals from Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll (Midway, Utah), Levi Harper (Tampa, Fla.) and Blake Zielinski (Berlin, N.J.), the U.S. Under-18 Men’s Select Team dropped a 5-3 decision to Sweden in its second game of the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup here today at Pavol Demitra Ice Stadium.
“We need to find a way to close out games as a group,” said Kevin Porter (Plymouth, Mich.), head coach of the U.S. Under-18 Men’s Select Team. “Sweden is a good team, and we got into penalty trouble that cost us. Fortunately, we have another opportunity tomorrow in a win-or-go-home game.”
Gordon-Carroll gave the U.S. an early lead 1:57 into the contest with an unassisted tally, as he forced a turnover near the blue line and fired a wrist shot from the right faceoff circle home.
Harper put the U.S. up 2-0 with a power-play goal at 16:41. He corralled a pass from Kalder Varga (Geneva, Ill.), navigated past a defender near the point and ripped a wrist shot into the back of the net.
Sweden cut Team USA’s lead to one on the power play 2:32 into the second on a tally from Marcus Nordmark.
The U.S. responded 1:12 later on a man advantage, as Zielinski fired a one-timer from the left circle that just snuck past the goal line following a feed from Will McLaughlin (Hudson, Wis.).
Bosse Meijer added another power-play goal for Sweden at 17:05 of the middle frame on a one-timer to trim Team USA’s advantage to one.
U.S. netminder Kaenan Smith (Duluth, Minn.) denied a breakaway opportunity during a Swedish power play at 4:04 of the third to keep his team ahead. He finished the contest with 28 saves.
Sweden scored three goals 1:26 apart, as Malta Gustafsson, Mikael Kim and Elton Hermansson each found the back of the net to give their team a 5-3 lead with 11:35 left in the third.
Jaxson Williams (Cary, N.C.) nearly cut Sweden’s lead to one with 3:25 left in regulation, but his shot from the top of the circles hit the post.
The U.S. Under-18 Men’s Select Team takes the ice tomorrow (Aug. 13) for its final preliminary round game against Germany. Puck drop is slated for 3:30 p.m. local time (9:30 a.m. ET). All U.S. contests at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup will be broadcast by NHL Network.
NOTES: Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll was named U.S. Player of the Game … The U.S. outshot Sweden, 44-33 … Team USA went 2-for-8 on the power play and 4-for-7 on the penalty kill.
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