After a jarring 6-0 pre-tournament loss to Czechia left more than a few people wondering if this Canadian group was ready for the challenge, the team answered every doubt with a statement performance. They controlled the Hlinka Gretzky Cup from start to finish and closed it out with an emphatic 8-1 victory over the United States in the gold-medal game, reclaiming the title in convincing fashion on home ice in Edmonton.
Brock England opens up the scoring for the Canadians with a top corner snipe just 1:24 into the game. A beautiful drop pass from Liam Pue. The other assist on the goal went to London Knight Cooper McAslan.–Brock England wasted no time putting Canada ahead, burying one just 84 seconds into the game to make it 1-0. The Seattle Thunderbirds and Red Deer, Alberta kid finished it off cleanly
Maddox Schultz makes it a 2-0 game for the Canadians at 8:33 of the first period while on the Power Play. The assists on the goal went to Landon Dupont and Camryn Warren.–Maddox Schultz buried a crisp power-play finish that pushed Canada’s lead to 2-0 in the opening period. The Regina Pats forward finished the sequence with sharp precision, leaving the American netminder no chance as the crowd roared its approval.
Brock England gets his second goal of the game to make it 3-0 Canada at 15:56 of the first period while on the Power Play. The assists on the goal went to Prince Albert Raiders Brock Cripps and Jaakko Wycisk.–Brock England unleashed a thunderous one-timer that rocketed past the American goaltender, extending Canada’s lead to 3-0 and marking his second goal of the opening period. The Seattle Thunderbirds forward’s pure power and precision left the USA defense helpless, igniting the crowd as Canada seized complete control of the game.
Green Bay Gambler and University of Minnesota commit Gunnar Conboy gets the Americans on the board while on the Power Play at 18:23 of the first period. The assists on the goal went to Spokane Chief Gavin Burcar and Halifax Moosehead Cameron Minella. Gunnar Conboy’s dad Tim Conboy played 60 games over 3 seasons in the NHL.
Shots on goal in the first period were 17-5 for the Canadians
Benjamin Veitch makes it a 4-1 game for Canada at 9:21 of the second period with the assist on the goal going to Michigan Wolverine Landon Dupont.–Benjamin Veitch finished off a feed from Landon DuPont to make it 4-1. The 6-foot-2 Newfoundland Regiment forward is still only 16 and has been bringing a heavy, physical game all night.
Maddox Schultz blasts a shot to give Canada a commanding 5-1 lead at 12:00 of the second period while on the Power Play. The assists on the goal went to Landon Dupont and Camryn Warren.=Maddox Schultz scored on the power play to make it 5-1. The 16-year-old Regina Pats centre, taken first overall in last year’s WHL draft, already has two man-advantage goals in the game.
Liam Pue finishes off a nice pass from Malik L’Italien to make it a 6-1 game at 18:27 of the second period.–Liam Pue ripped home a quick shot to make it 6-1 and put the game even further out of reach.
Shots on goal in the second period were 15-4 for Canada.
Liam Pue snipes one on a breakaway to give the Canadians a thumping 7-1 lead 56 seconds into the third period. The assist on the goal went to Maddox Schultz of course.–Liam Pue finished off a breakaway to make it 7-1 after Maddox Schultz set him up all alone. The 16-year-old Regina Pats forward now has six goals in the tournament.
Jaakko Wycisk gives Canada an 8-1 lead at 12:15 of the third period with the assists on the goal going to Kayden Stroeder and Landon Dupont–Jaakko Wycisk tucked one into the empty net to make it 8-1. Born in Munich while his dad Austin was playing pro hockey in Germany, he moved to Canada young and grew up in Tecumseh, Ontario.
Shots on goal in the third period were 13-8 for the Canadians. The Canadians outshot the Americans 45-17 in the game.
For Canada Leif Oaten stopped 16 of the 17 stops that he faced for the win. For the Americans the duties were split Kaeden Tate stopped 26 of the 32 shots that he faced until being replaced by Mason Courville who stopped 11 of the 13 he faced.
Star of the game was Canada’s Maddox Schultz
