Eight WHL players help Canada claim gold medal at 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup
A total of eight WHL skaters helped Canada capture the gold medal at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup Saturday. The Canadians scored with seven seconds remaining in the first extra frame to defeat Czechia 3-2 in overtime Saturday in Breclav, Czechia.
Spokane Chiefs forward and Canadian captain Berkly Catton scored one of the three Canadian goals Saturday: he led all tournament scorers with eight markers, one shy of the tournament record.
Berkly Catton on the power play! Canada takes a 2-1 lead against Czechia! #HlinkaGretzkyCup pic.twitter.com/O7xXRFJDXz
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 5, 2023
Cayden Lindstrom, who skates with the Medicine Hat Tigers, got the Canadian offence going with a second-period tally.
Cayden Lindstrom gets 🇨🇦 on the board! #HlinkaGretzkyCup
Lindstrom inscrit le premier but du Canada ! #CoupeHlinkaGretzky pic.twitter.com/isGZ33XpIX
— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) August 5, 2023
The WHL was also represented on the Canadian roster by forwards Jordan Gavin (Tri-City Americans), Ollie Josephson (Red Deer Rebels), Roger McQueen (Brandon Wheat Kings), Ryder Ritchie (Prince Albert Raiders), Carson Wetsch (Calgary Hitmen) and defenceman Charlie Elick (Brandon Wheat Kings).
In addition to the eight WHL skaters, the Canadian team featured Kelowna Rockets head coach Kris Mallette, who served as an assistant coach, as well as Portland Winterhawks equipment manager Clayton Johns.
The director of player personnel for Canada’s entry at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup was Alan Millar, who earlier this summer was named the new vice-president of hockey operations and general manager of the Regina Pats.
Former Calgary Hitmen and Prince George Cougars netminder Justin Pogge served as Canada’s goaltending coach.
The silver medalist Czech roster was replete with incoming WHL talent including signed 2023 CHL Import Draft selections Adam Jecho (Edmonton Oil Kings), Samuel Drancak (Red Deer Rebels), Matej Kubiesa (Prince Albert Raiders), Maximilian Curran (Tri-City Americans) and Adam Titlbach (Vancouver Giants).
Titlbach and Kubiesa each scored for Czechia in Saturday’s gold medal game.
Overall, Saturday’s victory marked Canada’s 24th gold medal performance in 31 iterations of the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
The United States captured the bronze medal, defeating Finland 5-2 Saturday in Trencin, Slovakia.
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