2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup Jonathan Willcott 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup Jonathan Willcott

Canada Tops Finland 5–3 in Hlinka-Gretzky Cup Opener

BRNO, Czechia – Team Canada’s Under-18 squad began their 2025 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup campaign with a 5–3 victory over Finland in a tightly contested opening game at the Winning Group Arena.

Beckham Edwards (Komoka, ON) opened the scoring just 58 seconds into the first period, assisted by Mathis Preston (Penticton, BC) and Ryan Lin (Richmond, BC). Captain Keaton Verhoeff (Fort Saskatchewan, AB) doubled Canada’s lead midway through the period with help from Ethan Belchetz (Oakville, ON) and Tynan Lawrence (Fredericton, NB).

Finland responded with two late goals from Oscar Hemming and Jiko Laitinen to level the score at 2–2 by the first intermission.

With the second period winding down, Ryan Lin broke the deadlock, scoring with just eight seconds remaining off a feed from Adam Valentini (Toronto, ON) and Belchetz. Early in the third period, Dimian Zhilkin (Windsor, ON) extended Canada’s lead to 4–2, assisted by Verhoeff and Belchetz. Finland’s Vilho Vanhatalo pulled the score back to 4–3, but Belchetz secured the win with an empty-net goal in the final minute.

Goaltender Gavin Betts (Toronto, ON) stopped 23 of 26 shots to earn the win.

Day 1 Tournament Results:

  • Czechia 6–2 Switzerland

  • Sweden 10–0 Germany

  • United States 6–3 Slovakia

Next Game:
Canada will face Switzerland on Tuesday, August 12, at 9:30 a.m. ET / 7:30 a.m. MT in Brno.

The Hlinka-Gretzky Cup has long been a proving ground for future NHL stars, with alumni including Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, and Connor Bedard. This year’s roster features promising talent aiming to make their mark on the international stage.

Provectus Media will provide daily Canada-first coverage throughout the tournament, including game recaps, player features, and analysis from Brno.

Follow along at provectusmedia.ca for complete coverage of Team Canada at the 2025 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup.

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International Junior Hockey Jonathan Willcott International Junior Hockey Jonathan Willcott

Canada Cruises Past Hungary in Hlinka Gretzky Cup Tune-Up

BUDAPEST — Team Canada opened its 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup campaign with a dominant 7–1 win over Hungary in pre-tournament action Thursday at MET Arena.

Canada exploded out of the gate, scoring four times in the opening frame and never looking back. Jean-Christoph Lemieux opened the scoring with a shorthanded marker at 4:01 of the first period, setting the tone early. Adam Valentini added a power play goal, assisted by Calgary’s Landon DuPont and Fredericton’s Tynan Lawrence. Lawrence followed up with a power play goal of his own, finishing off a setup from Mathis Preston and Pierce Mbuyi.

Hungary responded briefly, cutting the deficit to two with a goal from Kolos Feher, but Canada closed out the period with another from Beckham Edwards—his first of two on the night—assisted by Alessandro Di lorio. It was 4-1 after the first.

The second period brought more of the same. Ethan Belchetz capitalized on the man advantage with help from DuPont and Keaton Verhoeff, two Alberta products. Dimian Zhilkin then scored off feeds from Valentini and DuPont, who finished the game with a team-high three assists. Edwards struck again late in the period, finishing a passing play from Di lorio and Gio Pantelas, making it 7-1.

Both teams swapped goaltenders midway through the second. Jason Schaubel took over in net for Canada, replacing Carter Esler at the 12:21 mark. Hungary made a similar move, with Martin Hadju entering in relief of Bence Veres-Fucsku.

The third period saw no scoring but included a string of penalties—four against Canada, two against Hungary.

By the Numbers:

  • Final Score: Canada 7, Hungary 1

  • Shots on Goal: Canada 63, Hungary 20

    • 1st: 22–7

    • 2nd: 26–6

    • 3rd: 15–7

  • Power Play:

    • Canada: 3/5

    • Hungary: 0/6

  • Top Canadian Performers:

    • Beckham Edwards – 2 goals

    • Landon DuPont – 3 assists

    • Adam Valentini – 1 goal, 1 assist

    • Carter Esler – 10 saves (.909 SV%)

Goaltending Summary:

  • Canada:

    • Carter Esler – 30 minutes, 11 shots, 10 saves, 1 goal against

    • Jason Schaubel – 27 minutes, 9 shots, 9 saves

  • Hungary:

    • Bence Veres-Fucsku – 30 minutes, 39 shots, 6 goals against

    • Martin Hadju – 27 minutes, 24 shots, 1 goal against

Hungary’s lone goal came from Kolos Feher, with assists from Nandor Polonyi and Balint Lobenwein.

Canada’s roster features rising stars from across the CHL and USHL, including players from Alberta, Ontario, British Columbia, and New Brunswick.

The Canadians return to the ice Saturday, August 9, when they face Slovakia in Piestany at 12:00 p.m. Eastern (10:00 a.m. Mountain).

The 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup officially begins Monday, August 11, when Canada opens the tournament against Finland at 9:30 a.m. Eastern (7:30 a.m. Mountain) at Winning Group Arena in Brno, Czechia.

Global sports through a Canadian lens
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