Kindel & McKenna vault Canada to victory over Sweden, first-place finish in Group A at Hlinka Gretzky Cup
Edmonton, Alta. – Contributions from Ben Kindel and Gavin McKenna helped Canada defeat Sweden by a 2-1 margin, claiming first place in Group A at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
Kindel (Calgary Hitmen / Coquitlam, B.C.), opened the scoring 7:20 into Wednesday’s affair, finishing off a nice sequence for his first goal of the tournament.
Canada’s most challenging test of the tournament not only proved to be a nailbiter on the scoreboard, but a battle in the corners and around the net, as the two teams engaged physically.
For a good stretch, it appeared as though Kindel’s goal might hold up as the only strike of the night, particularly after a couple of dazzling stops from Canadian netminder Jack Ivankovic (Brampton Steelheads, OHL) kept Sweden from hitting pay dirt in the second period.
Midway through the third period, it was Medicine Hat Tigers star Gavin McKenna (Whitehorse, Yukon) hitting the scoresheet for the third consecutive game. Following a clean faceoff win from Victoria Royals standout Cole Reschny (Macklin, Sask.), McKenna ripped a hot wrist shot from the top of the left faceoff circle to give Canada a much-needed insurance marker with 7:23 to go in regulation. For McKenna, the defending WHL Rookie of the Year, it was his second goal and fifth point of the tournament.
McKenna’s tally went on to stand as the game-winning goal for Canada.
Sweden clawed back within one goal thanks to a quick response from Milton Gastrin, but it wasn’t enough as Canada held on to claim Group A supremacy.
The win secured a perfect preliminary round for Canada, while Sweden finishes second in Group A with a record of 1-1-1-0.
Over in Group B, it was Czechia sitting atop the standings with a perfect 3-0-0-0 record, while the United States finished in second with a record of 2-0-1-0.
That sets up a semifinal featuring Canada and the United States on Friday, August 9 (7:30 p.m. MT) at Rogers Place. The other semifinal will pit Sweden against Czechia on Friday (3:30 p.m. MT). Germany and Slovakia will faceoff in the fifth-place game, while Switzerland and Finland will play in the seventh-place game.
Kindel, a 5-foot-10, 165-pound pivot, enjoyed an outstanding rookie campaign in the WHL, registering 60 points (15G-45A) in 68 games for the Hitmen this past season. Originally selected in the second round (43rd overall) of the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft, Kindel has been a revelation for the Hitmen over the past calendar year. His performance has vaulted him onto the radar for Canada’s Program of Excellence, with his appearance at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup representing his first time donning the Maple Leaf following his first ever invitation to a Hockey Canada Program of Excellence camp.
After preliminary round action, Reschny leads the Canadian scoring parade, having collected six points (2G-4A) in three games. McKenna isn’t far behind, with five points (2G-3A).
2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup Notes:
Edmonton Oil Kings defenceman Blake Fiddler, who is captaining the United States at the tournament, scored a highlight-reel goal to open the scoring as the U.S. cruised to a 12-3 triumph over Germany. Through three games, the product of Frisco, Texas, has registered three points (1G-2A) … Czechia received contributions from key WHL prospects including Portland Winterhawks netminder Ondrej Stebetak (17 saves), Kamloops Blazers forward Vit Zahejsky (2A), and Calgary Hitmen forward Robin Svancara (1G) en route to a 4-1 win over Finland …
