If Corey McNabb wanted to coach elite level cricket, he wouldn’t know where to begin.

“I don’t even know what the bat is called, or the stick, or whatever you use,” he said with a chuckle. “I would have no idea how … to teach kids."

So what would help Hockey Canada’s senior manager of coaching and playing development instruct athletes in a sport he doesn’t know much about?

An interactive digital resource for coaches that includes printable drill diagrams, accompanying descriptions, and videos demonstrating exactly how those drills are done, would certainly be a good place for him to start.

Replace the cricket pitch with a hockey rink, and that’s exactly what McNabb and his staff have created to help coaches across the country prepare players who are Peewee age or older for elite level hockey – which could include participation in Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence, celebrating three decades of on-ice success this year.

From the pitch to the rink, and everywhere in between, he said there’s nothing else quite like the new Hockey Canada Program of Excellence Drills and Videos DVD available in the sports world. Not unlike the Team Canada Skills of Gold video series that came before it, this special multimedia coaching tool shows, once again, that Hockey Canada is at the forefront of sport development.

“The Program of Excellence DVD is bar none, the best resource in the world for teaching,” McNabb said of the brand new resource for hockey coaches, now available for $39.95 online right HERE on Hockey Canada’s website.

“It’s different than a traditional DVD because … we designed it all in Flash, which makes it much more user-friendly,” he said. “It’s the only one that really combines manual, which is the actual drill and the description, with video.”

In addition to about 140 video drill demonstrations, the DVD features 180 drill diagrams, more than 50 different skill concepts, 15 set practice plans and the ability for coaches to mix-and-match all of that material to create upwards of 60 different practice progressions for their teams.

McNabb’s favourite features are that you can access the matching video by clicking your mouse directly on the drill diagram, and “the fact that you can print off the practice plans and take them to the rink with you.”

Perhaps one of the DVD’s top selling point is that its “designed right after the Hockey Canada Program of Excellence manual,” which means its jam-packed with knowledge from many of the country’s top hockey minds.

“Tom Renney, Mike Johnston, Mike Babcock, Ken Hitchcock, Brent Sutter – all the guys who have coached in that program before, we’ve collected drills and concepts (from),” he said. “They’ve basically said, ‘This is what players should know.’ ”

In fact, it’s what Canadian players NEED to know if they want to fulfil their dreams of representing their country on the ice, McNabb said. That includes players such as Emerance Maschmeyer, who won a gold medal with Canada at the 2012 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women’s World Championship in the Czech Republic, and is featured on the DVD demonstrating Program of Excellence goaltending skills.

Young up-and-comers such as the Western Hockey League’s Troy Bourke of the Prince George Cougars and Colin Smith of the Kamloops Blazers also perform drill demonstrations featured on the DVD’s video clips, which were filmed over the course of three summers at Rexall Place in Edmonton.

Ultimately, the goal is to get the DVD filled with skills and drills into the hands of as many coaches as possible across the country, McNabb said, so that each and every Canadian player can be at their best – including those who will one day wear a maple leaf on their jerseys.

“It’s really trying to provide some standard of play, skill and understanding, as far as what coaches are teaching and players are learning,” McNabb said. “Too many times some of our high performance materials only get into the hands of the coaches and players once they actually get to the high performance level. This is all about preparing them in order to get there.”

Its consistency at the grassroots level across the country that will result in Canadian gold medals on international ice, McNabb said, adding the Hockey Canada Program of Excellence Drills and Videos DVD is the best way for coaches to tap into the incredible potential of their players.

“It’s one-stop shopping,” he said. “This is the only thing you need; it’s got everything you want.”

Order your copy at www.HockeyCanada.ca/Breakaway today.

PIESTANY, SVK – Head coach George Burnett has announced that defenceman Ryan Murray (White City, Sask./Everett, WHL) will serve as captain of Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team at the 2010 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka, which begins Monday in Piestany and Breclav, Czech Republic.

Murray is the only player on Canada’s 22-man roster who has previously been a part of Hockey Canada’s under-18 program – he was the lone underage player to be selected to play for Canada at April’s 2010 IIHF World Under-18 Championship in Belarus, where he was named one of Canada’s top three players by the coaching staff, which included Burnett.

The Prairie Storm Minor Hockey Association product joins an exclusive list of players who have worn the ‘C’ for Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team, a list the includes a pair of 2010 Olympic gold medallists – Brent Seabrook (2002) and Jonathan Toews (2005) – and 2008 NHL first-overall selection Steven Stamkos (2007).

In addition, Burnett also announced that four players will be Canada’s alternate captains during the tournament: Philip Danault (Victoriaville, Que./Victoriaville, QMJHL), Scott Harrington (Kingston, Ont./London, OHL), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Burnaby, B.C./Red Deer, WHL) and Duncan Siemens (Sherwood Park, Alta./Saskatoon, WHL). The four will wear the ‘A’ on a rotating basis, with two serving in each game.

Arguably the most important figure in Czech hockey, and undoubtedly one of the best players in his country’s history, Ivan Hlinka was a teenage hockey star, making his debut in the Czechoslovak league at the tender age of 16.

By 20 he was the captain of his Litvinov team and a member of the Czechoslovak national team, for whom he played 256 games with, scoring 132 goals. Hlinka won IIHF World Championship gold medals in 1972, 19, and was runner-up at the inaugural Canada Cup tournament in 1976, where he was named Top Forward. He also won a pair of Olympic medals, in 1972 (bronze) and 1976 (silver). Hlinka was captain of the national team from 1977-80

In his Czechoslovak league career he scored 347 goals in 544 games, and was named the league’s top player for the 1977-78 season. Following the 1980-81 season, Hlinka and fellow Czech Jiri Bubla joined the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks, where, in 1982, the pair became the first Czech players to play in a Stanley Cup Final, losing in four straight to the New York Islanders. They also became the first Czech citizens to play in the NHL with the permission of the Czech authorities. To this day Hlinka co-holds the Canucks’ franchise record for points in a season by a rookie, with 60.

After two seasons in the NHL, Hlinka returned to Europe to finish his playing career, retiring following the 1984-85 season with EV Zug in Switzerland.

With his playing days over, Hlinka returned to Litvinov as head coach, where he actually made an on-ice comeback during the 1986-87 season with his team languishing at the bottom on the Czechoslovak league standings. He played 19 games and racked up 23 points (8 goals, 15 assists), impressive numbers for a 37-year-old who hadn’t played competitively in almost two years.

In the early 1990s Hlinka joined the Czechoslovak, and later Czech, national team as head coach, leading them to a bronze medal at the 1992 Winter Olympics, and bronze at the 19 IIHF World Championships.

After a three-year hiatus in the mid-90s, Hlinka returned to the national team in 1997 and became a national hero by leading the Czech Republic to a gold medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics, the first involving NHL players. He cemented his reputation in 1999 when his team took home gold from the 1999 IIHF World Championship.

After spending a year-and-a-half in the NHL with the Pittsburgh Penguins, leading them to a surprising berth in the Eastern Conference Final in 2001, Hlinka returned to the Czech Republic to spend one year as general manager of the national team and one as head coach of Avangard Omsk of the Russian Superleague. He was also inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2002.

Tragically, Hlinka died in a car accident on near Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic at the age of 54 when his car collided with a truck driving on the wrong side of the road.

In his memory, the Under-18 Junior World Cup – held annually in the Czech Republic and Slovakia since 1997 – was re-named the Memorial of Ivan Hlinka.

The eight-team tournament brings together national under-18 teams from around the world for a summer tournament. Unlike the IIHF World Under-18 Championship held every April, the Memorial of Ivan Hlinka is not an official IIHF event.

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has announced the three Canadian Hockey League (CHL) general managers that will make up the Program of Excellence management group for the 2024-25 season.

Yanick Lemay (Drummondville, QC/Drummondville, QMJHL) will make his debut as a member of the POE management group, guiding the under-17 program through the 2024 U17 World Challenge in Sarnia, Ontario, while Dave Brown (Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON/Erie, OHL) returned to the POE for the second year in a row, serving as under-18 lead by helping Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team win its third-straight gold medal at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Edmonton in August. Peter Anholt (Naicam, SK/Lethbridge, WHL) is part of the management group for the fourth-consecutive season and leading the under-20 program for the second time in as many years, advising Canada’s National Junior Team through the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa.

In addition, Team Canada alumni Kyle Turris (New Westminster, BC) and Brent Seabrook (Tsawwassen, BC) have joined the management group of the under-17 and under-20 programs, respectively. Turris will work alongside Lemay, making his management debut, while Seabrook returns to the under-20 program for the second-straight year to work alongside Anholt. 

“We are grateful for Yanick, Dave, Peter, Kyle and Brent’s commitment and dedication to the Program of Excellence, as these three general managers and two recognized alumni bring a wealth of experience and leadership to Hockey Canada’s under-17, under-18 and under-20 programs,” said Scott Salmond (Creston, BC), senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations. “The POE has been successful to start the new season, with Dave helping our under-18 program capture gold on home ice, and we know Yanick, Kyle, Peter and Brent are excited to continue to contribute to Canada’s success on the international stage in the coming months.”

Lemay is currently in his second season as general manager of the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). Last season, he helped lead the Voltigeurs to a 102-point season, winning the Trophée Gilles-Courteau as QMJHL champions and earning a spot in the Memorial Cup. Prior to joining Drummondville, he served as an amateur scout with the Winnipeg Jets for 12 seasons (2011-23), was the head scout of the QMJHL’s Montréal Junior for three seasons (2008-11), and spent 10 seasons with the QMJHL’s Cape Breton Screaming Eagles as a scout (1998-2002) and head scout (2002-08).

Brown guided the under-17 program in 2023-24, helping Canada White to a gold medal at the 2023 U17 World Challenge. He is currently in his 10th season (2015-24) as general manager of the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) after serving four seasons as director (2014-15) and assistant director (2011-14) of hockey operations with the team. Brown led Erie to an OHL championship in 2017, and contributed to a CHL record of four-consecutive 50-win seasons (2011-15). Prior to joining the Otters, he spent seven seasons with the Mississauga/Niagara IceDogs, serving as assistant general manager (2003-05) and general manager (2005-10).

Anholt led the under-20 program last season, as well as the under-18 program for two seasons (2021-23), helping Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team win a gold medal at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He is currently in his ninth full season (2015-24) as general manager of the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League (WHL) after being promoted from assistant general manager in 2014. Anholt also spent time as head coach of the Hurricanes for part of the 2014-15 season, and has won the WHL Executive of the Year award twice (2015-16, 2019-20). He brings a wealth of WHL experience as a head coach, assistant coach and scout, including stints with the Prince Albert Raiders (1986-89, 2002-07), Seattle Thunderbirds (1989-92, 2012-14), Red Deer Rebels (1992-95, 1998-2000, 2007-08, 2011-12) and Kelowna Rockets (1996-98).

Turris played in 776 NHL games over 14 seasons with the Phoenix Coyotes (2008-11), Ottawa Senators (2011-17), Nashville Predators (2017-20) and Edmonton Oilers (2020-22), amassing 424 points (168 goals, 256 assists). He suited up for Canada at all levels of the POE, winning gold medals at the 2006 U18 Junior World Cup and 2008 IIHF World Junior Championship, and won gold with Canada West at the inaugural World Junior A Challenge in 2006, where he led the tournament in scoring and was named Most Valuable Player. Turris also played at three IIHF World Championships (2014, 2018, 2019), serving as captain and winning a silver medal in 2019.

Seabrook played in 1,114 NHL games over 15 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks (2005-20), recording 464 career points (103 goals, 361 assists), serving as an alternate captain for 11 seasons and winning the Stanley Cup three times (2010, 2013, 2015). He won a silver medal at the 2002 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, gold medals at the 2002 Eight Nations Cup and 2003 IIHF World U18 Championship, and gold (2005) and silver (2004) at the IIHF World Junior Championship. Seabrook also suited up for Canada at the 2006 IIHF World Championship and won gold at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Prior to his professional career, he played four WHL seasons (2001-05) for Lethbridge, serving as Hurricanes captain for two seasons (2003-05).

The management group will work alongside Salmond, Benoit Roy (Sudbury, ON), director of hockey operations, U20 head scout Al Murray (Regina, SK), U17 head scout Byron Bonora (Brooks, AB) and Scott Walker (Cambridge, ON), player development coach, as well as the organization’s hockey operations staff. Day-to-day operations for the POE management group include assisting in coach and player selections, supporting the coaching staffs and providing input during camps and tournaments throughout the season.

The Program of Excellence is overseen by Katherine Henderson (Thunder Bay, ON), Hockey Canada’s president and chief executive officer; Pat McLaughlin (Saint John, NB), Hockey Canada’s chief operating officer and executive vice-president, strategy; Salmond; Roy; Dan MacKenzie (Guelph, ON), CHL president; Bryan Crawford (Hamilton, ON), OHL commissioner; Mario Cecchini (Saint-Lambert, QC), QMJHL commissioner; and Dan Near (Markham, ON), WHL commissioner.

For more information on Hockey Canada and the Program of Excellence, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

EDMONTON, Alberta – Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team has won the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, edging Czechia 2-1 in the gold medal game Saturday night at Rogers Place.

It’s the third year in a row Canada has won the annual summer under-18 tournament, and the 25th time in 32 tries dating back to 1991.

Liam Kilfoil (Quispamsis, NB/Chicoutimi, LHJMQ) opened the scoring for Canada just over six minutes into the first period, potting his second goal of the tournament and giving the Canadians a lead they would not relinquish.

“Canada’s expectations are always to win,” said head coach Kris Mallette (Kelowna, BC/Kelowna, WHL). “I’m so proud of the group in there. It’s amazing to see all of the coaches’ ideas come to fruition and be on display in a short tournament like this. I’m happy to be able to achieve this with this group…and to win for the third year in a row is extra special.”

Caleb Desnoyers (Saint-Hyacinthe, QC/Moncton, LHJMQ), scored the eventual game-winning goal with 52 seconds left in the opening frame.

Czechia drew within one on a power play with less than 10 seconds remaining, but Jack Ivankovic (Mississauga, ON/Brampton, OHL) locked things down, backstopping the Canadians with an 18-save performance. Ivankovic was lights out for Canada, finishing with four wins to go along with a 0.75 goals-against average and .967 save percentage. He’s just the second goaltender in Canadian summer U18 tournament history to appear in four games and fashion a sub-1.00 GAA, joining Scott Ratzlaff (2022).

 “Singing that anthem with all the boys is a memory we will never forget,” said Ivankovic. “It’s my favourite song tonight, that’s for sure. We came out of the gate flying. We knew it would be a hard game with a gold medal on the line, but we just kept working and got it done.”

A full game summary can be found at HlinkaGretzkyCup.ca.

“This is every kid’s dream [to win a gold medal for Canada],” said alternate captain Gavin McKenna (Whitehorse, YT/Medicine Hat, WHL). We are all so proud to wear this Maple Leaf… we battled hard all week long, and to win this with this group is something we will remember forever.”

Canada finished the preliminary round in first place in Group A after wins over Switzerland (10-0), Slovakia (5-1) and Sweden (2-1). It earned its spot in the gold medal game with a 5-1 win over the United States in the semifinals.

Cole Reschny (Macklin, SK/Victoria, WHL) and Émile Guité (Chambly, QC/Chicoutimi, LHJMQ) finished as Canada’s co-leaders in scoring, recording three goals and four assists apiece.

Sweden wins bronze

Earlier in the day, Sweden won the bronze medal with a 6-2 win over the United States.

Eric Nilson led the offence with a hat trick, while Love Härenstam made 34 saves. 

It is the eighth time Sweden has won summer U18 bronze, and 13th medal overall.

For more information on Hockey Canada and the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, please visit hlinkagretzkycup.ca or follow along via social media on Facebook, X and Instagram. 

Four wins down, one to go for Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team, which – for the second year in a row – faces off against Czechia in the gold medal game at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

Last Game

Canada moved into another gold medal game by beating the United States 5-1 in Friday’s late semifinal. Jack Ivankovic was terrific in a 28-save performance, and five different players – Cameron Schmidt, Alex Huang, Cole Reschny, Luca Romano and Gavin McKenna – scored goals as the Canadians beat their North American neighbours in the semis for the second year in a row.

The Czechs booked their place in the final with a 5-1 semifinal win over Sweden. Vit Zahejsky led the charge with a two goals and an assist, his first capping off a three-goals-in-11-minutes stretch that put Czechia in control. Adam Benak added a goal and an assist, while Ondrej Stebetek finished with 18 saves.

Last Meeting

The teams met a week ago in pre-tournament play, with the Czechs earning a 6-4 win. Cameron Schmidt had a goal and an assist to pace the Canadians, but two Czechia goals in a span of 10 seconds with less than seven minutes to go proved to be the difference.

As mentioned, this gold medal game is a rematch of the 2023 final, an overtime thriller that ended in a 3-2 Canadian victory. After the Czechs forced extra time with just 4:47 left, Malcolm Spence provided the heroics for Canada, scoring with seven seconds left in the overtime period to give Canada a 24th summer U18 gold.

What to Watch

If Friday’s win – and the tournament as a whole – has shown us anything, it’s how deep the Canadian lineup truly is. Every night, it seems as if someone new is stepping up to provide offence. Through four games, 17 of 20 Canadian skaters have at least a point, six are averaging at least a point a game and no one has scored more than three goals (Reschny, McKenna, Romano, Schmidt and Émile Guité have all reached that mark). The top defensive pairing of Huang and Matthew Schaefer has combined for 10 points, the ‘D’ corps as a whole has been terrific – allowing only three goals in four games – and Ivankovic has been lights out with a 0.67 goals-against average and .973 save percentage.

All eyes on Benak. After co-leading the tournament in scoring a year ago as an underager, the 5-foot-7 forward has been as good as advertised in Edmonton. His goal and assist against the Swedes gives him 10 points (4-6—10) in four games – the same number he had in 2023 and just one back of Swedish sniper Viktor Klingsell for the tournament lead. Benak has found the scoresheet in every game, highlighted by a hat trick and two helpers in a win over Germany on Tuesday. He’ll ply his trade in North America this season, joining the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms after producing a point-per-game (8-21—29 in 29 games) with HC Plzen in the Czech U20 league last year.

A Look Back

The Canadians and Czechs have been frequent foes in summer under-18 competition, facing off 24 times dating back to 1997 (Canada has won 20 of those 24).

That list includes six gold medal game meetings; in addition to last year’s win, the Canadians prevailed in 2002, 2004, 2005, 2014 and 2017 (led by a goal and two assists from 2022 Olympian Jack McBain).

All-time record: Canada leads 20-2-2 (1-0 in OT/SO)
Canada goals: 109
Czechia goals: 45

It’s on to the medal round for Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team, which takes on the United States in an all-North American semifinal Friday night at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

Last Game

Canada closed out an unblemished preliminary round with a 2-1 win over Sweden on Wednesday night. Benjamin Kindel got the scoring started seven minutes into the first period and Gavin McKenna provided the winner with 7:28 left in the third for the Canadians, who held off a late Swedish push to top Group A.

The Americans romped to a victory in their prelim finale, getting a goal and four assists from Alexander Donovan, and two goals and a helper apiece from Mason Moe, Sam Spehar and Nicolas Sykora in a 12-3 win over Germany. The U.S. took control with a six-goal second period, outshooting the Germans 21-1.

Last Meeting

The rivals met a year ago at this stage of the tournament, with Canada coming from behind for a 7-2 semifinal win in Trencin, Slovakia. Maxim Massé and Berkly Catton led the offence with two goals apiece for the Canadians, who scored six unanswered goals over the final 40 minutes, outshooting the Americans 29-13 over that span.

More recently, it was a Canada-U.S. gold medal game at the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship last spring. McKenna was the star in that one, scoring a hat trick – including a pair of goals in the decisive third period – to lead the Canadians to a 6-4 comeback win for their fifth world title.

What to Watch

Jack Ivankovic has been lights out in the Canadian goal, allowing just a single goal across his two starts and keeping the Swiss and Swedes scoreless for more than 113 minutes to start the tournament. The Mississauga native has fashioned a tournament-leading 0.50 goals-against average and .977 save percentage, adding to his already-impressive international résumé; last November, he backstopped Canada White to a gold medal at the 2023 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge with a 2.51 GAA and .923 SV% across eight games, both tops among netminders who played at least three games, and making 34 saves in the gold medal game. He also earned a gold medal at U18 Worlds, serving as Canada’s third goaltender.

One of only two Canadian Hockey League players on the American roster, U.S. captain Blake Fiddler has felt right at home at Rogers Place. The 6-foot-4 defenceman, who plays his club hockey with the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings, recorded a goal and two assists in the preliminary round, opening the scoring in Wednesday’s win over Germany. Fiddler will face a number of familiar faces in the semifinal; the Texas-born blue-liner won gold with Canada White at the 2023 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge before trading in the Maple Leaf for the Stars and Stripes, and will line up Friday against nine players he won gold alongside in Charlottetown.

A Look Back

Canada has not lost to its North American neighbours in summer U18 competition since 2003, and has claimed victory in 13 of the 20 all-time meetings (with three ending in ties).

The Canadians and Americans met in a semifinal thriller when Edmonton hosted the Hlinka Gretzky Cup for the first time in 2018. Dylan Cozens tied things up with a buzzer-beater in the third period before Josh Williams scored in overtime, sending Canada to play for gold with a 6-5 victory.

All-time record: Canada leads 13-4-3 (1-0 in OT/SO)
Canada goals: 85
United States goals: 46

With its semifinal spot secured, Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team goes in search of a perfect preliminary round at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup when it takes on Sweden in the prelim finale Wednesday at Rogers Place.

Last Game

Canada stayed perfect and kept its hold on top spot in Group A on Tuesday night, beating Slovakia 5-1. Cameron Schmidt and Luca Romano led the way with two goals apiece, and Émile Guité added one of his own. The Canadians finished 2-for-3 with the power play and were perfect on four penalty kills, including a late five-minute major.

The Swedes flexed their offensive muscle on Tuesday, scoring four goals in each period in a 12-1 romp over Switzerland. Ivar Stenberg finished with four goals and three assists, Milton Gästrin had two goals and six helpers, and Viktor Klingsell added up two goals and five assists for Sweden, which finished with a 55-19 advantage in shots.

Last Meeting

The last meeting between the teams at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup came in the final prelim game in 2022 in Red Deer. Canada got goals from Calum Ritchie, Zach Benson and Brayden Yager, along with 18 saves from Scott Ratzlaff, to blank the Swedes 3-0 and finish perfect atop Group A.

Most recently, the Canadians and Swedes met in the semifinals of the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship last spring. A four-goal first period – highlighted by a goal and an assist each from Ryder Ritchie and Tij Iginla – seemingly put the Canadians in control, but a furious Swedish comeback provided a thrilling conclusion in what finished as a 5-4 win for Canada.

What to Watch

Wherever Matthew Schaefer goes, he leads. And wins. The No. 1 pick in the OHL Draft by the Erie Otters in 2023, the Hamilton native burst onto the national scene at the 2023 Canada Winter Games , wearing the ‘C’ with Ontario and scoring the overtime winner in the gold medal game. Nine months later, Schaefer again served as captain and again took home gold, this time with Canada White at the 2023 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. Then he won gold with Canada at the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship (although there was no letter involved as an underager), and now he’s got the ‘C’ on his chest at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. So far, so good in Edmonton; Schaefer has two goals and two assists through two games, leading all defencemen in scoring.

A year ago, three players – Berkly Catton, Trevor Connelly and Adam Benak – led the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in scoring with 10 points in five games. Gästrin almost got there himself on Tuesday. The Örnsköldsvik native opened the scoring and added two assists in the first period, had another goal and two helpers in the second and finished his night with two more assists in the third as his line with Stenberg and Klingsell combined for a ridiculous 22 points in the win. The performance was all the more impressive when you consider Gästrin only recorded 16 points (7-9—16) in 41 games with MODO Hockey in Sweden’s U20 national league. What can the terrific trio do for an encore against Canada?

A Look Back

The head-to-head history has been one-sided in summer U18 competition, which may come as a surprise to some considering the place both countries hold as world hockey powers. But Canada has won 17 of 20 against the Swedes, including eight in a row dating back to 2013.

There is history at Rogers Place as well; when Edmonton first hosted the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in 2018, it was a Canada-Sweden matchup in the final. Sasha Mutala and Alexis Lafrenière had two goals each in that game as the Canadians erased an early two-goal deficit to earn a 6-2 win and home-ice gold.

All-time record: Canada leads 17-3 (1-1 in OT/SO)
Canada goals: 86
Sweden goals: 43

Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team is right back to action Tuesday at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, returning to the ice at Rogers Place to take on Slovakia in the second of three prelim games.

Last Game

The Canadians opened their schedule with a statement win Monday, blanking Switzerland 10-0. Cole Reschny led the offensive charge with two goals and three assists, Matthew Schaefer and Émile Guité chipped in with two goals and a helper apiece, and Jack Ivankovic turned aside all 20 shots he faced for the shutout.

Slovakia came up a goal short in a tournament-opening 4-3 overtime loss to Sweden on Monday afternoon, but it certainly wasn’t for lack of effort; the Slovaks scored twice in the final 8:45 to force an extra period. The Europeans spread around the offence; seven different players recorded points, while Michal Pradel was terrific in a losing effort, making 42 saves.

Last Meeting

The teams met five days ago in pre-tournament action in Edmonton, with Canada cruising to a 10-1 victory last Thursday. Braeden Cootes scored twice and added an assist, and Guité added a pair of goals for the Canadians, who scored early – two goals in the first 5:31 – and often.

The last tournament meeting came a year ago in Trencin, where Canada set its single-tournament summer U18 scoring record in a 14-4 victory. Michael Misa was the catalyst up front, recording two goals and four assists, while Ryder Ritchie scored a hat trick. In all, 16 Canadians recorded at least one point.

What to Watch

Canada has plenty of offensive weapons up front, and it was Reschny’s turn to step up Monday. The native of small-town Macklin, Saskatchewan (pop. 1,247) was terrific for the Victoria Royals this season, recording 59 points (21-38—59) in 61 games, good for fifth in WHL rookie scoring and third among 2007-born players (behind Team Canada teammates Gavin McKenna and Benjamin Kindel). Reschny wants Hlinka Gretzky Cup gold to complete his medal collection – he won silver with Saskatchewan at the 2023 Canada Winter Games and bronze with the Saskatoon Blazers at the 2023 Men’s U18 National Club Championship, where he also earned Top Forward honours.

Andreas Straka is bound for North America this season after being selected fourth overall in the CHL Import Draft by the Quebec Remparts. Straka had quite a 2023-24 season with HK Poprad, making his debut in the Slovak Extraliga as a 16-year-old and representing Slovakia as an underager at the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship, recording three points (1-2—3) in seven games. The Slovak roster also include a familiar name in Adam Nemec; his brother, Simon, was the No. 2 pick by the New Jersey Devils in the 2022 NHL Draft. Nemec is a forward, unlike his brother, who posted 57 points (28-29—57) in 43 games HK Nitra in the Slovak U20 league, and, like Straka, made his Extraliga debut, getting into three games with Nitra.

A Look Back

Canada has been absolutely perfect against Slovakia, winning all 18 meetings dating back to 1997.

The 2016 matchup was the lone game to go past 60 minutes; in that one, Maxime Comtois scored his second goal of the game 4:31 into overtime to help Canada stymie a Slovak comeback and earn a tournament-opening 3-2 victory.

All-time record: Canada leads 18-0 (1-0 in OT/SO)
Canada goals: 109
Slovakia goals: 33