Team Canada is in the final of the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Red Deer, Alberta. On Friday, Canada defeated Finland 4-1 in the first semifinal of this elite summer U-18 hockey tournament.
The Canadian goal scorers were Oshawa Generals centre Calum Ritchie of Brampton, Ontario, Sherbrooke Phoenix right winger Ethan Gauthier of Drummondville, Quebec, Victoria Grizzlies forward Matthew Wood of Lethbridge, Alberta, and London Knights center Denver Barkey of Newmarket, Ontario. It is interesting that Wood does not play in the Canadian Hockey League, but the British Columbia Hockey League.
Ten Canadian players registered a point in the game, but nobody registered more than one point. Ritchie got the game winning goal at 8:54 of the second period from Kitchener Rangers forward Carson Rehkopf of Barrie, Ontario and Spokane Chiefs defenseman Sage Weinstein of Edmonton, Alberta.
In the final, Canada will play Sweden on Saturday. Sweden defeated the Czech Republic 6-2 in the other semifinal on Friday. In the bronze medal game, Finland beat the Czech Republic 3-1.
This is the fourth time that Canada has played Sweden in the final of the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Canada previously beat Sweden 4-1 in the final in 2011, 7-3 in the final in 2015, and 6-2 in the final in 2018. The 2018 final was in Edmonton.
