***UPDATE***Battalion front and centre at international event

It may be August but a big time hockey tournament gots underway today in Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

Team Canada coached by Battalion Head Coach Stan Butler and featuring Battalion forward Zach Poirier opened with a 3-1 win against the Czech Republic at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup.

While the US team featuring defenseman Cam Dineen lost 5-1 to Finland.

Poirier was held off the score sheet in the opening game.

In tuneup games on Saturday, Canada defeated Slovakia 12-1 and the US was edged 2-1 by the Czech Republic.