U18 Recap: Lin Named Top-3 Player; Canada Knocked Out in QF by Sweden
Trenčín, SVK – Canada was eliminated in the quarter-final of the 2026 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship on Wednesday morning following a 4-2 loss to Sweden.
Vancouver Giants defenceman Ryan Lin was named a top-3 player for Canada (selected by the federation), while fellow Giant Mathis Preston generated buzz with a standout tournament too.
Dima Zhilkin was a ton of fun – a dog on a bone with tremendous skill. Mathis Preston was also very good.
Ryan Lin was undoubtedly the team's best defenceman. I thought Keaton Verhoeff was *fine*. In a U18 tournament, was hoping for him to dominate. https://t.co/KzRzPfszio
— Dave Hall (@davehall1289) April 29, 2026
Both Giants sat in the top-10 in tournament scoring as of Wednesday, with Lin leading all defencemen in points with six (1G-5A). Lin also ranked first in plus-minus (+7).
Preston finished with two goals and four assists for six points – including a primary assist in the quarter-final against Sweden – and was top-5 in shots on goal with 21.
The top-3 players for Canada were Dima Zhilkin (left), Adam Valentini (centre) and Ryan Lin (right) (Chris Tanouye/IIHF)
QF GAME SUMMARY
Sweden scored once early and once late in the opening period – both at even-strength – to take a 2-0 lead into the first intermission.
Canada responded with a pair of second period goals.
First, at the 4:04 mark of the middle frame, Preston received a pass from Adam Valentini to create a 2-on-1 with Maddox Dagenais. Preston gave him the perfect pass, allowing Dagenais to break in alone and deke out goaltender Kevin Tornblom to make it a 2-1 game.
WHAT A GOAL! 🇨🇦
Maddox Dagenais gets Canada on the board!#U18MensWorlds pic.twitter.com/deo3X03wZX
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) April 29, 2026
Then, with one second left in the second period, Canada defenceman Callum Croskery beat the buzzer with a tap-in at the side of the net off a pass from Tynan Lawrence.
Sweden broke the 2-2 tie midway through the third period thanks to a power play goal from Nils Bartholdsson. Bartholdsson added an empty-net goal with 1:31 left in regulation to put the game to bed.
Canada out-shot Sweden in the contest 35-25.
Lin skated 24:44 in the game, the second-most on Canada, while Preston paced all Canadian forwards with 20:49 of ice-time.
