U18 Round Robin: Preston & Lin Shine for Canada In 7-0 Win Over Finland
Trenčín, SVK – Vancouver Giants forward Mathis Preston and defenceman Ryan Lin combined for five points in Canada’s convincing 7-0 win over Finland on Monday morning at the IIHF U18 World Championship.
Preston notched a pair of goals on four shots on net and was +3, while Lin tallied a goal and two assists, was +2 and skated 20:39. Lin was named the Player of the Game for Canada.
Ryan Lin was named Players of the Game for Canada after his country’s 7-0 Preliminary Round win at the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship at Pavol Demitra Ice Hockey Stadium on April 27, 2026 (Photo by Chris Tanouye/IIHF)
Both Giants are now top-10 in tournament scoring. Lin leads all defencemen in points with six (1G-5A) through four games and is also first in plus-minus (+7). Preston has three goals and two assists for five points, currently tied for seventh in tournament scoring.
CLICK FOR CANADA’S U18 SCHEDULE | CLICK FOR TOURNAMENT STANDINGS
Canada finished the round robin in second place in Group A with nine points (three regulation wins, one regulation loss) and will now face Sweden in the quarter-final, who finished in third place in Group B with two regulation wins and two regulation losses.
The quarter-final will be played on Wednesday, April 29 at 5 a.m. PT.
GAME SUMMARY
Canada struck four times in the opening period and three times in the third to finish off their round robin on a high. All seven goals were scored at even strength.
Adam Valentini got things started just over two minutes in, followed by Red Deer Rebels forward Beckett Hamilton just passed the 11 minute mark of the period. Preston made it a 3-0 game when he entered the Finland zone down the left wing and snapped a shot from the top of the circle that beat the Finnish goaltender over his left shoulder.
Pinpoint shot🎯
The @WHLGiants' Mathis Preston has his second of the #U18MensWorlds and 🇨🇦's third of the first period! pic.twitter.com/gPU7e4dUu4
— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) April 27, 2026
Hamilton scored again off a great pass from Lin with under two minutes remaining in the opening frame.
Beckett Hamilton at the double!
A @TheWHL connection as the @WHLGiants' Ryan Lin finds the @Rebelshockey forward for 🇨🇦's fourth of the first period! #U18MensWorlds pic.twitter.com/f5o5vq0onJ
— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) April 27, 2026
While no goals were scored in the second period, Preston made it a 5-0 game early in the third period when he one-timed a shot from the right circle off a pass from Keaton Verhoeff.
Five for 🇨🇦!
A second of the day for the @WHLGiants' 2026 #NHLDraft prospect Mathis Preston! #U18MensWorlds pic.twitter.com/r9NTJ3c1pz
— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) April 27, 2026
Dima Zhilkin extended Canada’s lead to 6-0 before Lin added one more tally off a wrap-around to make the final score 7-0.
This is why Ryan Lin will be one of the first defencemen selected at the 2026 #NHDraft! 🤩
The @WHLGiants star wraps home his first of the #U18MensWorlds! 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/eq9XS8WEub
— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) April 27, 2026
CANADA UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
- Quarter-Final, Wednesday, April 29 – 5 a.m. PT – Canada vs. Sweden
