Slovakia U23 upset USA, Hryzák netted three

Igor Polák from Slovakia opened the scoring, giving his team a one-goal advantage. In the second period, the Slovaks upped the tempo, and suddenly, Ivan Hryzák netted two goals just nine seconds apart! Brandon Garneau found the back of the open net right after the start of the final period, and Joe Melillo followed suit less than a minute later, narrowing the Slovak lead to just one goal. With nine minutes remaining, the American bench erupted in celebrations as the USA equalized thanks to Ricky Anesin. Their joy didn't last long, however, as Slovakia regained the lead in the dying minutes, Martin Solenčík and Andrej Straka being the heroes. With 23 seconds to go, Ivan Hryzák completed the hat trick when he tapped in an empty-netter.

Home Credit Arena

6-3

(1:0, 2:0, 3:0)

Slovakia U23 - USA U23

Penalties

5:5

PPG

0:3

SHG

0:0

Shots on goal

31:33

Goals and assists

12. Polák, 29. Hryzák (Straka, Lopušan), 29. Hryzák (Straka, Kolenčík), 41. Kolenčík (Polák), 43. Straka (Hryzák, Korbáš), 45. Hryzák – 31. Garneau (Bujdos, Anesin), 32. Melillo (Tolman, Chernetskiy), 37. Anesin (Albright, Bujdos)

Referees

Vojtěch Filipiec, Michal Škrobák

Official game sheet

Slovakia U23

Balogáč – Černák, Gajdoš (A), Jenčuš, Kaščák (C), Solník, Muráň, Cifranič, Horváth, Lopušan – Korbáš, Pisarovič, Prna, Klenčík, Longauer, Hryzák, Straka, Tomovič, Polák, Zummer, Béreš, Čirč, Štefanka

USA U23

O'Connel – Albert, Holman, Maloy, Melillo, (C), Ferris, Steinberg, Dickhut – Miller, Drew, Andes, Tolman, Crousy (A), Callahan, Geatens, Bujdos, Dorsey, Chernetskiy, Albright, Garneau (A), Anesin

COACHES´ REACTIONS

Marián Longauer (SVK): "First, I would like to thank the guys for showing tremendous heart throughout the match that we had within our grasp. When America equalized at 3-3, we quickly regrouped, picked ourselves up, and as a result, took the lead, which we then extended. I am incredibly grateful to the players, it was fantastic."

Dan Geatens (USA): "It was a tough game. We pressed ourselves early, but we fell back in the third period. The special teams were incredible for us. We killed all penalties and scored three power play goals. Our special teams were our strongest asset, but in five-on-five situations, we need to play better. Congratulations to them; they played a great game."