For the second straight year, Canada has defeated Czechia in the gold-medal game at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. It is also the third year in a row they’ve won this tournament and the 25th time they’ve come away with gold at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Half of the arena was not used. Another thing that was a bother when I went to the game was they had no programs. Not even for the whole tournament. No game sheets nothing. You could purchase some clothes from a place that resembled a sweat shop I seen years ago in Calcutta. The hockey was awesome and gets a 10/10. Which is good as the people who organized this event get a negative something out of 10. The Blackfalds 8 and 9 year old girls T-ball tournament was organized better. That is not a lie.
Liam Kilfoil of the Halifax Mooseheads opened up the scoring for the Canadians at 6:29 of the first period with the assists on the goal going to Brady Martin and Cameron Reid.
Caleb Desnoyers made it 2-0 Canada with the assists on the goal going to Cameron Schmidt and Emile Guite at 19:08 of the first period.– Then, in the final minute of the opening frame, Schmidt used his speed to drive wide and enter the offensive zone on the right wing, before setting up Caleb Desnoyers in front of the net to extend Canada’s lead to 2-0.
Shots on goal in the opening frame were 14-7 for the Canadians
In the Second Period the Canadians outshot the Czechs 7-5
With only 8 seconds left the Czechs managed to break Ivankovic’s shut out when Tomas Poletin had one trickle in on the Power Play. The assists went to Dominik Pavlik and Adam Benak. It is sort of hard to even celebrate when you know that in 8 seconds the Canadians will be celebrating right where you just scored. Benak was one of the best players in the tournament. He is heading to Youngstown of the USHL next season. Thats a shame that kid would destroy the CHL.
Shots on goal in the third period were 7-5 for the Czechs. The Canadians outshot the Czechs in the game 26-19
Jack Ivankovic almost got his second shutout of the tournament (spoiled with 8 seconds left) stopping 18 of the 19 shots that he faced. For the Czechs Ondrej Stebetak stopped 24 of the 26 shots that he faced.
Matthew Schaefer and Gavin McKenna I hope are on the World Junior team this Christmas. If McKenna isn’t then at least we are for sure going to see him the next year. If they hold Schaefer off it we won’t see him at a World Juniors. That guy is NHL bound right after draft. I am certain he is a lock for at least #2 in 2025.
Czechs with CHL Ties
(G) Ondřej Štěbeták (Portland Winterhawks / WHL)
(D) Radim Mrtka (Seattle Thunderbirds / WHL)
(D) Štěpán Černý (Gatineau Olympiques / QMJHL)
(D) David Holub (Soo Greyhounds / OHL)
(F) Vít Záhejský (Kamloops Blazers / WHL)
(F) Vojtěch Čihař (Lethbridge Hurricanes / WHL)
(F) Robin Svancara (Calgary Hitmen / WHL)
(F) Matěj Pekař (Seattle Thunderbirds / WHL)
(F) Adam Novotný (Peterborough Petes / OHL)
(F) Dominik Pavlík (Moose Jaw Warriors / WHL)
Sweden claimed bronze for the ninth time in program history after a 6-3 win over the USA. Ottawa prospect Filip Ekberg missed his second straight game due to illness but leaves Edmonton with a medal after he had three points (two goals) in three games.
