HLINKA GRETZKY CUP: Schmidt Scores Pair in Canada's Win Over Slovakia

HLINKA GRETZKY CUP: Schmidt Scores Pair in Canada’s Win Over Slovakia

Category: ArticleAugust 6, 2024

Edmonton, Alta. – Vancouver Giants forward Cameron Schmidt scored two goals in a span of 4:07 to help Canada to a dominant 5-1 win over Slovakia on the second day of the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup on Tuesday night.

Schmidt, listed at 5-foot-7 and 153 lbs., was named the Player of the Game for Canada.

“Last night I had a couple of breakaways and couldn’t finish so it was definitely nice to get on the board,” Schmidt said after the game. “Big boost to my confidence.”

The Prince George, B.C. product opened the scoring under four minutes into the contest when he banged home a rebound off a point shot from Tri-City Americans defenceman Jackson Smith.

Schmidty didn’t need long to get things started tonight, banging home the rebound for his 1st of the tournament!

🎥: @TSN_Sports #HlinkaGretzkyCup | @TheWHL pic.twitter.com/RJuo3GkbuK

— Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) August 7, 2024

With exactly 12 minutes remaining in the first period, Caleb Desnoyers (Moncton Wildcats) fed Schmidt a tremendous pass on the power play from behind the net that Schmidt one-timed home to make it 2-0 for Canada.

How ‘bout TWO goals in 8 minutes for Schmidty??

Doesn’t need much space to bury this one!

🎥: @TSN_Sports #HlinkaGretzkyCup pic.twitter.com/eNvbiQKxF3

— Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) August 7, 2024

Luca Romano (Kitchener Rangers) scored to make it 3-0 for Canada early in the second period, though the Slovaks responded with a goal of their own several minutes later off the stick of Michal Svrcek.

Canada put the game to bed midway through the third period with two goals in a span of seven seconds: first Émile Guité (Chicoutimi Saguenéens) finished off a pretty passing play on a the man advantage to make it 4-1, just moments before Romano got his second of the game to make it 5-1.

Giants prospect Tobis Tomík – who was named the captain of Slovakia – also played in Tuesday’s contest and had a couple of chances. Tomik scored in Slovakia’s tournament opener on Monday in a 4-3 overtime loss to Sweden.

Next up for Schmidt and Canada is a date with Sweden to close out the round robin on Wednesday night (6:30 p.m. PT) at Rogers Place.

Meanwhile, Tomík and Slovakia close out their round robin on Wednesday against Switzerland.