Brno, Czechia- At the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup opener, 2026 NHL Draft-eligible defensemen Keaton Verhoeff and Ryan Lin showcased their two-way skills in Canada’s 5-3 victory over Finland.Verhoeff, serving as Canada’s captain for the tournament, earned player of the game honors with a goal and an assist. Lin matched Verhoeff’s output, contributing a goal and an assist of his own. Canada’s penalty kill unit was stellar, shutting down all five of Finland’s powerplay chances.
Sarnia Sting’s Beckham Edwards scores just into the game sniping one just 58 seconds into the game. The assists on the goal went to a pair of WHLers in Spokane’s Mathis Preston and Vancouver’s Ryan Lin.–The Canucks lit the lamp early as WHL Rookie of the Year finalist Ryan Lin worked the puck low for Mathis Preston (Spokane Chiefs / Penticton, B.C.), where the 2025 WHL Championship finalist chipped the puck to Beckham Edwards for Canada’s tournament-opening goal just 58 seconds into the first period.
Keaton Verhoeff makes it 2-0 at 8:52 of the first period with the assist going to Tynan Lawrence and Ethan Belchetz. Lawrence is committed to Boston University and played last season with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL.–Verhoeff extended the advantage, capitalizing on a rebound to fire the puck past a scrambling Finnish goaltender, with red jerseys flooding the crease.
Right as Finland’s Power Play was winding down they got on the board when Oscar Alexander Hemming potted a pass from Oliver Savanto with the other assist going to Vilho Vanhatalo at 14:01 of the first period. Hemming is the younger brother of 2024 Dallas Star’s first round pick Emil Hemming.
Finland tied the game up after applying hard pressure on Canada and it was Jiko Laitinen making it a 2-2 game from Olli Wahlroos and Wilmer Kallio. Wilmer is the son of former NHLers Tomi Kallio.
Shots on goal in the first period were 16-13 for Canada
Canada thought they regained the lead with another early goal in a period when they scored just seconds into the second period. It went upstairs for review. They disallowed it and I am still wondering why. International rules are soft they called it goalie interference. The TSN announcers are also stunned. Soft.🙄–2025 WHL Champion Liam Ruck (Medicine Hat Tigers / Osoyoos, B.C.) appeared to put Canada back on top with an early strike in the second period, but officials called the goal back for goaltender interference.
As the second period was winding down Ryan Lin buried a pass from Adam Valentini to make it a 3-2 game for Canada at 19:52 of the second period. The second assist on the goal went to Windsor Spitfires Ethan Belchetz.
Shots on goal in the second period were 13-6 for Canada.
Saginaw Spirit’s Dimian Zhilkin the brother of Winnipeg Jet prospect Danny Zhilkin makes it 4-2 Canada at 8:19 of the third period with the assist going to University of North Dakota’s Keaton Verhoeff.
Vilho Vanhatalo got Finland within one at 16:15 of the third period with the assists on the goal going to Max Laatikainen.
Ethan Belchetz puts it into the empty net with 4 seconds left in the game to make it a 5-2 Canada game.
Shots on goal in the third period were 8-6 for Canada. Canada outshot the Finns 37-25 in the game.
For Canada Kingston Frontenacs Gavin Betts made 22 saves on the 25 shots that he faced for the win for Canada. For the Finns William Gammals made 32 saves on the 36 shots that he faced
Player of the game for Finland was Oliver Savanto and for Canada it was captain Keaton Verhoeff.
Canada’s next game is Tuesday August 12th against Switzerland
Canada defeated Slovakia 7-0 in exhibition play. The game was on Saturday August 8th. LINK
