Mathis Preston’s third-period hat trick powered Team Canada to a commanding 9-1 victory over Switzerland at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup on Tuesday. After a tightly contested first two periods where Swiss goaltender Yannis Zambelli stopped 31 of 32 shots, Canada erupted for five goals in the final frame, including four in a rapid 2:22 span, with contributions from Preston, Dimian Zhilkin, Adam Valentini, Ethan Belchetz, and Ryan Lin. Yanis Lutz scored Switzerland’s lone goal, while Carter Esler earned the win with 14 saves. Now 2-0, Canada faces co-host Czechia next to close out group play.
Shots on goal after the first period were 16-4 for Canada
Dima Zhilkin opens up the scoring for Canada on the Power Play just 8 seconds into the second period. The assists on the goal went to Everett Silvertips Landon Dupont and Windsor Spitfires Ethan Belchetz.
Shots on goal in the second period were 16-4 for Canada
Mathis Preston the third overall pick in the 2023 WHL draft doubles Canada’s lead making it 2-0 at 6:18 of the third period. The assist on the goal went to Osoyoos, B.C native Markus Ruck.
Dima Zhilkin gets his second goal of the game to make it 3-0 Canada at 6:38 of the third period. The assists on the goal going to Pierce Mbuyi and Tynan Lawrence. Lawrence outworked the Swiss behind the net and found Zhilkin camping out front waiting for the finish. Zhilkin is not eligible until the 2027 entry draft.
Adam Valentini makes it 4-0 Canada at 7:02 of the third period roofing it past the Swiss goalie as the floodgates continue to pour out. The assist on the goal went to Sherbrooke Phoenix’s Thomas Rousseau.
A WHL connection when Spokane Chiefs Mathis Preston gets his second goal of the game making it 5-0 at 8:40 of the third period. The assists on the goal went to Medicine Hat Tigers Liam Ruck and Vancouver Giants Ryan Lin
Switzerland scores at 13:14 of the third period when Yanis Lutz scores. The assist on the goal went to Thierry Berger.
Mathis Preston gets the hat trick goal to make it a 6-1 game at 13:59 of the third period. The assists on the goal went to Markus Ruck.
Adam Valentini gets his second of the game to make it 7-1 Canada at 15:04 of the third period with the assists going to Daxon Rudolph and Thomas Rousseau.
Ethan Belchetz makes it 8-1 as the scoring storm continues. Belchetz tucked it in after Colin Fitzgerald’s initial attempt was stopped. The other assist went to Alessandro Di Iorio.
Ryan Lin makes it 9-1 with a wrist shot from the high slot at 19:26 of the third period. The helper on that goal went to Thomas Rousseau.
Shots on goal in the third period were 13-7 for Canada. Canada outshot the Swiss 45-15
For Canada Spokane Chief’s Carter Esler made 14 saves on the 15 shots that he faced. For the Swiss Yannis Zambelli made 36 saves on teh 45 shots that he faced.
Player of the game for Switzerland was Yannis Zambelli who really played awesome minus the third period but the kid is only human. For Canada it was Mathis Preston. Does Mathis Preston ever look like Gavin McKenna when he was receiving that award🤔
Canada’s next game is Wednesday August 13th against the host Czech Republic.
