PIESTANY, Slovakia – Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team has won the gold medal at the 2013 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka tournament, defeating the United States 4-0 in Saturday’s gold medal game in Piestany. Canada has won the summer under-18 tournament six consecutive years and nine of the last 10.

On Saturday, Michael Dal Colle (Vaughan, Ont./Oshawa, OHL), Jayce Hawryluk (Roblin, Man./Brandon, WHL), Aaron Ekblad (Belle River, Ont./Barrie, OHL) and Brendan Lemieux (Buckingham, Que./Barrie, OHL) scored goals as the Canadians earned their 18th summer under-18 gold medal since 1991.

Dal Colle got the scoring started four minutes in, wiring a wrist shot past American goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic, and Hawryluk went five-hole to double the lead just past the midway point of the second period. Ekblad, on a power play, and Lemieux scored 1:48 apart in the third period to provide the final margin of victory.

Julio Billia (St-Léonard, Que./Chicoutimi, QMJHL) made 20 saves for the shutout in the Canadian goal, and Spencer Watson (London, Ont./Kingston, OHL) added three assists to finish as the tournament’s leading scorer with 10 points (four goals, six assists).

Canada’s roster is made up of 13 forwards, seven defencemen and two goaltenders, and features eight players from the Ontario Hockey League, seven from the Western Hockey League and seven from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

CLICK HERE FOR CANADA’S NATIONAL MEN’S SUMMER UNDER-18 TEAM ROSTER