21 CHL Players Capture Hlinka Gretzky Cup Gold with Canada
Edmonton, Alta. – 21 CHL players are Hlinka Gretzky Cup gold medal champions as members of Team Canada following a 6-2 victory over Sweden at Rogers Place.
Alexis Lafrenière (Rimouski Océanic) and Sasha Mutala (Tri-City Americans) both scored twice while goaltender Taylor Gauthier (Prince George Cougars) stopped all 16 shots he faced in a relief appearance as Canada captured its 22nd gold finish at the event.
Sweden scored just 37 seconds into the opening period on a power play goal from Lucas Raymond before Alexander Holtz struck at 11:33, ending Nolan Maier’s (Saskatoon Blades) night in the crease after surrendering two goals on three shots.
2018 #HLINKAGRETZKYCUP CHAMPIONS! ???????????? pic.twitter.com/aPdN9vALd8
— Team Canada Men (@HC_Men) August 12, 2018
Canada responded to climb into the lead before the first period expired. Just 41 seconds after falling behind 20, Mutala picked up his first of the night when he got his stick on a release from defenceman Bowen Byram (Vancouver Giants). Kirby Dach (Saskatoon Blades) followed suit with a tip-in of his own that came on an assist from Lafrenière with 5:25 left in the first. Lafrenière proceeded to provide a highlight reel marker on a solo rush with 2:06 left in the opening frame to put Canada up 3-2.
Canada outshot Sweden in the first period by a tally of 15-5.
Mutala went back to work with 7:48 left in the second frame, taking a Dylan Holloway shot off the helmet before the puck went over the goal line. Mutala’s second was the only goal in the second period as Canada headed to the third up 4-2.
Josh Williams (Medicine Hat Tigers) and Ryan Suzuki (Barrie Colts) continued their fine work together five minutes into the third, connecting to give Canada a three-goal cushion on a nifty give-and-go. Williams picked up his fifth goal of the tournament while Suzuki pulled into a tie for the tournament lead with seven assists.
Lafrenière’s second of the night came on the power play with 6:06 left in the third stanza. A puck caromed off the end boards, off the pad of Swedish netminder Hugo Alnefelt and into the net as Canada led 6-2 on Lafrenière’s fifth goal of the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
GAME OVER! It is a 6-2 final and a summer U18 gold #⃣2⃣2⃣ for ????????! Stats: https://t.co/Acx8z3k7sa #HlinkaGretzkyCup pic.twitter.com/dR8jBjsYuT
— Team Canada Men (@HC_Men) August 12, 2018
The final horn would sound as Canada celebrated before an energetic crowd at Rogers Place, outshooting Sweden 40-19 in a 6-2 win to repeat as Hlinka Gretzky Cup gold medalists.
Lafrenière and Russia’s Vasili Podkolzin finished tied for the tournament lead in scoring with 11 points each while Gauthier led all goaltenders with a 1.11 goals-against average and a .943 save percentage.
Canada played to a perfect 5-0 record, outscoring opponents 30-12 in the process.
Team Canada includes 21 players from the Canadian Hockey League including eleven from the Western Hockey League, six from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and four from the Ontario Hockey League.
Goaltenders:
Taylor Gauthier (Prince George Cougars)
Nolan Maier (Saskatoon Blades)
Defencemen:
Justin Barron (Halifax Mooseheads)
Bowen Byram (Vancouver Giants)
Maxence Guénette (Val-d’Or Foreurs)
Kaedan Korczak (Kelowna Rockets)
Matthew Robertson (Edmonton Oil Kings)
Braden Schneider (Brandon Wheat Kings)
Michael Vukojevic (Kitchener Rangers)
Forwards:
Graeme Clarke (Ottawa 67’s)
Dylan Cozens (Lethbridge Hurricanes)
Kirby Dach (Saskatoon Blades)
Peyton Krebs (Kootenay ICE)
Alexis Lafrenière (Rimouski Oceanic)
Sasha Mutala (Tri-City Americans)
Xavier Parent (Halifax Mooseheads)
Jakob Pelletier (Moncton Wildcats)
Samuel Poulin (Sherbrooke Phoenix)
Jamieson Rees (Sarnia Sting)
Ryan Suzuki (Barrie Colts)
Josh Williams (Medicine Hat Tigers)
Coaching Staff:
Head Coach: André Tourigny (Ottawa 67’s)
Assistant Coach: Mitch Love (Saskatoon Blades)
Assistant Coach: Ryan Oulahen (Flint Firebirds)
Athletic Therapist: Andy Brown (Owen Sound Attack)
Athletic Therapist: Kyle Sutton (Shawinigan Cataractes)
Equipment Manager: Chris Cook (Kingston Frontenacs)
OTHER SCORES FROM SATURDAY:
Bronze Medal Game: Russia 5, United States 4
For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team, please visit www.hockeycanada.ca, or follow along through social media at www.facebook.com/hockeycanada, www.twitter.com/hockeycanada and www.twitter.com/hc_men.
