DULUTH — Future Minnesota Duluth forward
captained the United States Under-18 Men’s Select Team to victory at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup over the weekend via a
on Saturday.
The U.S. finished the tournament 4-1,
avenging the lone loss it suffered this month playing in Slovakia and Czechia. The U.S. reached the championship via a 4-3 shootout win over Canada in the semifinals.
Puchner, a 5-foot-10 forward from New Germany, Minnesota, is heading into his senior season at
in 2025-26. He finished the tournament with a goal and three assists. He was previously part of the U.S. U17 team than won the 2024 Five Nations Tournament in Slovakia.
In addition to Puchner, current Bulldogs assistant coach
was an assistant coach for Team USA under head coach Kevin Porter, who is an assistant coach for USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program.
Duluth native
a former standout goaltender at Duluth Marshall, was also on the team, making 28 saves
in a 5-3 preliminary round loss
to Sweden.
USA women win both series against Canada
USA Hockey’s Collegiate Women’s Select Team and Under-18 Women’s Select Team
both won their series over Canada in Lake Placid
last week. The U.S. college all-stars beat the Canadians via two wins — one coming in a shootout — and shootout loss. The U18s went 2-1 after dropping the series opener. It’s the first time that the U.S. won both of the summer series.
Bulldogs senior captain
had a goal in Saturday’s shootout loss for the United States. She suited up in all three games of the collegiate series, as did UMD senior defenseman and assistant captain Tova Henderson, who played for Canada.
Future Bulldogs forward
of Woodbury had a goal and an assist for the U.S. in the U18 series, which also included future Bulldogs forward
and uncommitted Proctor/Hermantown Mirage sophomore forward
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