U18 Round Robin: Schmidt, Lin Help Canada Blow Out Slovakia
Allen, TX – More than one Vancouver Giant found the scoresheet for Canada in a dominant 9-2 win over Slovakia in their first game of the 2025 IIHF U18 World Championship on Thursday.
Forward Cameron Schmidt had a pair of goals and an assist, while defenceman Ryan Lin finished with one goal.
CLICK FOR CANADA’S U18 SCHEDULE | CLICK FOR TOURNAMENT STANDINGS
Put your hand up 🙋♂️ if you had Schmidty to score the first goal for @HockeyCanada at the #U18MensWorlds!
Didn't even need a period!
Canada leads Slovakia 1-0 late in the 1st. pic.twitter.com/qtJ0Eg8Z6G
— X – Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) April 24, 2025
Schmidt, who had 40 goals for the Giants this past season, opened the scoring for Canada on a power play.
The Prince George, B.C. product then added a highlight reel goal to make it 6-0 late in the second period.
Feel like we've seen this before somewhere 🤔
Another incredible tally from Schmidt!#U18MensWorlds pic.twitter.com/OvrAgzovFM
— X – Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) April 24, 2025
Lin made it 5-0 before the first period was done.
Linner makes it 5-0 🇨🇦‼️
He's not gonna miss from there, potting his 1st at the #U18MensWorlds! pic.twitter.com/uFyhBfNODO
— X – Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) April 24, 2025
The Western Hockey League was extremely well-represented in Canada’s tournament opener, providing seven of the nine goals. In addition to Schmidt’s and Lin’s goals, Braeden Cootes (Seattle) had tw tallies, while Jackson Smith (Tri-City) and Matthew Gard (Red Deer) also scored.
Giants prospect Tobis Tomík represented Slovakia on Thursday as well, but did not register a point. Slovakia beat Finland 1-0 in a shootout in their tournament opener and still has to play Norway in the round robin.
CANADA ROUND ROBIN SCHEDULE:
- Friday, April 25 – 5 p.m. PT – Canada vs. Latvia
- Sunday, April 27 – 2 p.m. PT – Canada vs. Finland
- Monday, April 28 – 2 p.m. PT – Canada vs. Norway
