Team Canada dominated Switzerland 10-0 in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, hosted at Rogers Place, home of the Edmonton Oilers. The Swiss team started strong, but luck favored the Canadians as they quickly gained a lead. The Swiss took multiple penalties, allowing the Canadians to capitalize with goals from Gavin McKenna and Emile Guite. By the second period, the Canadians had a 7-0 lead, and despite expectations of easing up, they continued to score, with Cole Reschny sealing a 10-0 victory just before the end of the game.
Who picked Team Canada’s goal song? Whitney Houston. I would not be surprised if Justin Trudeau made it play Apparently he is in the Edmonton area. How does that song pump any person up to play hockey? I am assuming that the person who does the music knows nothing about not only hockey but sports and putting on any show at all. Or is related to someone who is involved, or both. That or a diversity hire. The song. Why? People lately have been laughing at Canadians more and more and sometimes with valid reason. Please don’t give the world more reason.
The Guelph Storm’s Quinn Beauchesne opened up the scoring for the Canadians with the assists on the goal to Seattle Thunderbirds Braeden Cootes and Gavin McKenna at 6:30 of the first period.
On the 2 man advantage Gavin McKenna snipes it from the point to make it a 2-0 game. The assists on the goal went to Captain and Erie Otter Matthew Schaefer and Chicoutimi Sagueneens Emile Guite at 11:34 of the first period.
Chicoutimi’s Emile Guite tipped in a point shot from Tri City Americans Jackson Smith and Guelph Storm’s Quinn Beauchesne at 18:17 of the first period. Guite was the second over all selection in the 2023 QMJHL entry draft. The player that went first overall in that draft year was teammate Caleb Desnoyers.
Canada outshot the Swiss 21-4 in the first period of play.
It becomes 4-0 Canada when Swift Current Broncos D Man Peyton Kettles scores from Sault Ste Marie Greyhound Brady Martin and Kingston Frontenacs Tyler Hopkins at 2:50 of the second period. Kettles is 6’5 and a native of Winnipeg. Kettle is a great player just usually not known for his offensive output. He only got 2 goals in the 23-24 season.
Erie Otters Defenceman Matthew Schaefer makes it 5-0 Canada from Chicoutimi Sagueneens Alex Huang and Victoria Royals Forward Cole Reschny at 7:01 of the second period. Schaefer was also on the U18 team that won gold in May. Schaefer was also the first overall selection by the Erie Otters in the 2023 OHL entry draft. Some guy who was born ten years earlier also went first over all to the Erie Otters.
Matthew Schaefer scores his second goal of the game at 15:23 of the second period with the assists on the goal to Halifax Moosehead Liam Kilfoil and Alex Huang. No dman has ever got a hat trick for Canada at this tournament. If a guy is going to do it I could see Schaefer being the one. Kid had an awesome game.
With only 6.2 seconds left in the second period Alex Huang went to do lord knows what with the puck and it magically went in the net. The assists on the goal went to Caleb Desnoyers and Cole Reschny. I felt a little bad for Swiss netminder Matia Birchler after that goal.
Shots on goal in the second period were 18-8 for the Canadians.
Emile Guite scored a beautiful goal (his second of the night) at 8:49 of the third period to make it an 8-0 game for the Canadians. The assists on the goal went to Cole Reschny and Quinn Beauchesne.
Macklin, Saskatchewan native Cole Reschny makes it 9-0 when he buries a pass from Gavin McKenna at 12:03 of the third period. Reschny was the third overall seelction in the 2022 WHL Bantam Draft to the Victoria Royals. McKenna went first that year and teammate Jackson Smith went second.
Cole Reschny then made it a 10-0 game at 19:08 of the third period with the assist on the goal going to Brady Smith.
Shots on goal in the third period were 11-8 for the Canadians with Canada outshooting the Swiss 50-20 in the game.
For the Canadians Jack Ivankovic of the Mississauga Steelheads made all 20 stops that he saved for the win for the Canadians. For the Swiss Matia Birchler was very busy making 40 stops on the 50 shots that he faced.
Player of the game for Canada was Matthew Schaefer for the Swiss it was Arthur Dandois
Canada’s next game is Tuesday August 6th against the Slovaks.
