Canada continued their winning streak at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup with a decisive 5-1 victory over Slovakia, earning them a spot in the semi-finals. Notable performances included Cameron Schmidt from Vancouver and Luca Romano from Kitchener, both scoring twice, and Émile Guité from Chicoutimi, who contributed a goal and an assist. Lucas Beckman from Baie-Comeau played a crucial role in goal, blocking 27 shots.
On a rebound Vancouver Giant and Prince George, BC native Cameron Schmidt made it a 1-0 game for the Canadians The assists on the goal went to Jackson Smith and Gavin McKenna at 3:53 of the first period.
Cameron Schmidt scored his second goal of the game on the Power Play with the assists on the goal to Caleb Desnoyers and Emil Guite at 8:00 of the first frame. Schmidt, listed at 5-foot-7 and 153 lbs., was named the Player of the Game for Canada. This kid is awesome I am assuming he has some growing to do also. I seen an interview of him he looks and sounds like he is not a day older than 14.
Shots on goal in the first period were 19-7 for the Canadians
Kitchener Rangers forward Luca Romano who for some reason I know I will end up calling Jordan Romano eventually (If I haven’t already) makes it 3-0 Canada. The assists on the goal went to Liam Kilfoil and Jackson Smith at 3:29 of the second period.
The Slovaks got on the board at 9:47 of the second period when Michal Svrcek scored. The assist on the goal went to Jan Chovan. Svrcek played last season with Brynas in the J20 League in Sweden.
Shots on goal in the second period were 13-10 for the Canadians.
At 13:45 of the third period Caleb Desnoyers was awarded a penalty shot. And Michal Pradel got his blocker on it.
Emile Guite made it a 4-1 Canada game on the Power Play at 11:48 of the the third period with the assists on the goal going to Gavin McKenna and Matthew Schaefer.
Just 7 seconds later at 11:53 Luca Romano gets his second goal of the game unassisted to make it a 5-1 game for the Canadians.
Canadian forward Braeden Cootes who plays for the Seattle Thunderbirds in the WHL recieved a game misconduct at 15:30 of the third period. He sticked a kid in the junk. A further suspension would not surprise me.
Canada outshot the Slovaks 11-10 in the third period. In the game the Canadians outshot the Slovaks 44-28.
Lucas Beckman of the Baie Comeau Drakkar of the QMJHL made 27 saves on the 28 shots that he faced for the win for the Canadians. For the Slovaks Michal Pradel made 38 saves on the 43 shots that he faced for the Slovaks before being relieved after Romano’s second goal. He was replaced by Roberto Leonardo Henriquez who saw just a sliver of time.
Cameron Schmidt was player of the game for Canada.
Canada’s next game is Wednesday at 7:30 against the Swedes.
