What to know
- Team Canada dominated the U.S. to win the Hlinka Gretzky World Cup on Saturday night, scoring seven unanswered goals after the Americans’ lone first-period tally.
- Regina forward Maddox Schultz was named Player of the Game after scoring twice in the championship match, while Ontario’s Jaakko Wycisk also found the net in the third period.
- The gold medal marks Canada’s 31st medal at the annual summer under-18 tournament, including 26 gold, three silver and two bronze medals.
- Fans across Canada celebrated online, praising the team’s dominant performance and calling the group a promising collection of future stars.
Fans across Canada are celebrating online after Team Canada won the Hlinka Gretzky World Cup against the U.S. on Saturday night.
Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team won after a dominant game over the American team.
Though the Stars and Stripes were able to find the back of the net during a late power play in the first period, they were blanked for the rest of the game, with Team Canada getting seven more goals on them.
Forward Maddox Schultz from Regina received the Player of the Game title for the final match, with two goals under his belt for the game.
“This is a crazy moment because we have dreamt of this since the start of the tournament, and it was our mission to win gold. It feels great to be wearing the gold medal around our necks tonight, and everyone is excited to get this win,” Schultz told reporters following the game.
Jaakko Wycisk from Tecumseth, Ont. also scored a goal during the third period, rounding out the score.
“This group will be remembered for playing the Canadian way. We got better every single day, and tonight was 60 minutes of exactly how you would want to draw things up. This is an impressive team that is led by an impressive staff, and I am going to remember this experience forever,” Coach Ryan Oulahen said after the game.
The medal makes it Canada’s 31st at the annual summer under-18 tournament, bringing the total to 26 gold medals, 3 silver, and 2 bronze.
Fan reaction
Following the dominant gold-medal win, fans across Canada took to social media to celebrate the team’s performance — and some were already looking ahead to what could be next for its young stars.
“Good building block for the kids. Some future stars on that team. Next up is the World Juniors. 🇨🇦🇨🇦,” one X user wrote.
“Canada boys treated it like a practice that was nothing for the boys,” another X user wrote.
Many simply celebrated the big win.
“Yes! That’s what we wanna see. The way it should be. Congratulations to the boys!” one X user cheered.
“Congratulations Canada!” another X user wrote.
“One of the most complete teams I’ve seen in a while,” another fan said on X.
