USA Defeats Sweden 5–3 to Win Gold at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup
TRENČÍN, Slovakia — The United States has ended a 22-year wait for gold at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. With a 5–3 victory over Sweden in Saturday’s final at Pavol Demitra Ice Stadium, the Americans secured their second title in tournament history and first since 2003, signaling a breakthrough moment for their U18 program on one of hockey’s most prestigious stages.
Special teams proved decisive. The U.S. struck three times on the power play, while Sweden managed just one. Sweden jumped out to a dream start when Elton Hermansson scored just 10 seconds into the game, but Levi Harper responded less than three minutes later to steady the Americans.
The opening period turned into a shootout. Noah Davidson and Jack Hextall found the back of the net for the U.S., while Theodore Knights answered for Sweden, leaving the Americans up 3–2 after twenty minutes. In the second, Nikita Klepov extended the lead with a power-play marker before Hermansson struck again to bring Sweden back within one.
Trailing 4–3, Sweden pressed hard in the final frame, generating sustained pressure, but U.S. goaltending and defensive structure held firm. With time winding down, Nick Bogas buried a power-play goal to seal a 5–3 victory and sent the American bench into celebration.
For the United States, it is their 15th medal all-time at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, but only their second gold — placing them alongside Canada as the only other active participant with multiple titles. For Sweden, the silver marks their fifth in tournament history and they now have medals in six of their last seven HGC appearances.
With Canada taking bronze earlier in Brno, the 2025 edition closed with three traditional powers on the podium. The tournament now looks ahead to 2026, when Rogers Place in Edmonton will host the next Hlinka Gretzky Cup on Canadian ice.
Canada Defeats Finland 3–0 to Claim Bronze at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup
BRNO, Czechia — Team Canada is bringing home another medal. Powered by scoring from three different skaters and a shutout performance in goal, Canada blanked Finland 3–0 in Game 17 of the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup bronze medal match at Winning Group Arena. The result secures medals for Canada in seven straight HGC appearances.
Canada struck first just over five minutes into the opening period when Cooper Williams (Calgary, WHL/Saskatoon Blades) buried the opener at 5:27. Colin Fitzgerald (Peterborough, OHL/Peterborough Petes) and Daxon Rudolph (Lacombe, WHL/Prince Albert Raiders) collected the assists. Finland’s early penalties blunted their response and kept Canada ahead after 20 minutes.
The Canadians extended their advantage in the second period. Ethan Belchetz (Oakville, OHL/Windsor Spitfires) scored at 14:44, with helpers from Landon DuPont (Calgary, WHL/Everett Silvertips) and Keaton Verhoeff (Fort Saskatchewan, WHL/Victoria Royals). The goal came less than half a minute after Finland’s Wilmer Kallio was penalized for tripping, swinging momentum firmly toward Canada.
Down 2–0 late, Finland pulled the goalie with 2:30 remaining, but Canada iced the game. Daxon Rudolph (Lacombe, WHL/Prince Albert Raiders) scored into the empty net just 15 seconds later, assisted by Mathis Preston (Penticton, WHL/Spokane Chiefs), putting Canada up 3–0 and securing the bronze.
Canada’s Gavin Betts (Toronto, OHL/Kingston Frontenacs) was flawless, stopping all 22 shots he faced for the shutout. Finland’s William Gammals (Helsinki, FIN/HIFK U20) battled to keep his team alive, making 27 saves on 30 shots for a .900 save percentage.
With the win, Canada extends its medal streak to seven consecutive Hlinka Gretzky Cups. And while attention now turns to the 2026 World Juniors — set for December 26, 2025 through January 5, 2026 — TSN’s Gord Miller noted during the broadcast that many of these U18 skaters are projected to feature in the 2027 and 2028 World Juniors. This bronze-medal clash was not just about the present, but a glimpse into the future of international hockey.
The 2026 edition of the tournament will return to Canadian ice, with Rogers Place in Edmonton set to host.
Heartbreak in Brno: Canada Falls 4–3 to USA in Shootout at Hlinka Gretzky Cup Semifinal
BRNO, Czechia — Canada’s bid for gold at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup came to a heartbreaking end Friday, falling 4–3 to the United States in a shootout in the tournament’s first semifinal at Winning Group Arena.
The Americans struck first just seconds into a power play in the opening period, with Noah Davidson converting at 5:14 after Adam Valentini was sent off for slashing. The U.S. battled penalty trouble early, taking three more minors before the intermission but killing them off to stay up 1-0.
Ethan Belchetz brought Canada level 34 seconds into the second period, finishing a play from Carson Carels and Landon DuPont. But the U.S. responded at 8:32 when Luke Puchner restored the lead. Canada found itself shorthanded late in the frame, and the Americans capitalized, with Blake Zielinski scoring on the power play at 18:58 to make it 3–1.
Needing a spark in the third, Canada found one on the man advantage. Tynan Lawrence scored just three minutes in, assisted by Ryan Lin and Markus Ruck, to pull within one. With 5:05 remaining in regulation, Mathis Preston tied the game 3–3 to force overtime.
Canada outshot the U.S. 37–32, including a dominant 20–3 edge in the third period, but neither side could score in the extra frame. In the shootout, Joseph Salandra and Nikita Klepov scored for the Americans, while Preston was the lone Canadian to beat goaltender Brady Knowling. Zielinski’s clincher sealed the win for the U.S., sending them to the gold medal game.
Knowling finished with 34 saves for the Americans. Canada’s Gavin Betts stopped 29 shots in the loss.
The result means Canada will play Finland for bronze on Saturday, while the United States advances to face Sweden for gold with both games getting underway at 11:00 AM Eastern.
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.
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