HLINKA GRETZKY CUP 2025 DAY THREE.

FINAL DAY OF GROUP STAGES.

ON THE FINAL DAY OF THE GROUP STAGES SOME UPSETS COULD HAVE BEEN MADE. UNFORTUNATELY THAT DID NOT MATERIALISE, THAT IS OF COURSE FOR THE TIME BEING…

FINLAND V SWITZERLAND

The headline fixture of the afternoon saw Finland U18 and Switzerland U18 lock horns in a dramatic showdown that had everything a fan could ask for—a tight scoreline, lead changes, and a thrilling overtime finish.

The opening period was marked by a sense of caution and tight defensive play, with both teams probing for weaknesses but finding none; the frame ended scoreless, setting the stage for the fireworks to come.

The second period sparked to life just 28 seconds in, with Switzerland’s Lutz capitalising on an early opportunity, assisted by Rentsch and Bachler, to put the Swiss ahead 1-0. Finland, undeterred, responded quickly during a power-play at 2:38, as Laitinen, with help from Alalauri and Piiparinen, levelled the contest at 1-1.

Momentum continued to swing in the third period. At 10:34, Hemming finished off a fine move, assisted by Wahlroos and Alalauri, to give Finland their first lead at 2-1. But Switzerland would not be denied. Bachler, assisted by Lutz, brought the game back to 2-2 at 16:45. Barely a minute later, Berger, set up by Neuenschwander and Lutz, snatched the lead for Switzerland at 17:53. Desperate to stay alive, Finland found the equaliser with just 51 seconds left—Rinne, set up yet again by Piiparinen, sent the match to overtime at 3-3.

Overtime was a tense affair, but at 3:05, Fueter—assisted by Hirt and Bouvard—netted the golden goal, sealing a hard-fought 4-3 victory for Switzerland U18.

In the end, Switzerland’s resilience prevailed in a back-and-forth contest that will surely be remembered as one of the highlights of the group stage. The Swiss side not only showcased their scoring depth but also their nerve under pressure, making a statement as the tournament heads into its decisive phase.

USA V GERMANY

If Switzerland’s electrifying win set the tone for drama, the afternoon clash between USA U18 and Germany U18 delivered an altogether different spectacle—one of dominance and relentless pressure.

From the drop of the puck, the USA side wasted no time in asserting their authority. The first period was a showcase of surgical efficiency: at 2:14, Penner struck shorthanded, with Williams and Puchner combining to unlock the German defence for the opening goal. Barely a minute and a half later, Harvey doubled the lead, set up by Duskocy, and just sixty seconds after that, Hextall, with assists from Zielinski and Davidson, made it 3-0 at 4:45.

The second period continued the American onslaught. Harper lit the lamp at 1:26, with Puchner and Rogowski providing the setup for a 4-0 advantage. Midway through the frame, Duskocy added a shorthanded tally with Salandra assisting, pushing the lead to five and leaving Germany searching for answers.

The third period opened with a flash of hope for Germany, as Hesse, assisted by Knowling, notched their lone goal just one second in. Yet, the Americans responded with a flurry: Varga made it 6-0 at 2:37, Zielinski powered home the seventh on a power-play at 5:03—helped by Davidson and Klepov—and Harvey returned in style at 5:26, assisted by Duskocy, for the eighth. Germany managed to pull one back through Peterka, who was set up by Schlossnikel at 12:15, but the contest was long since decided.

The final whistle sounded with USA U18 triumphant, 8-1, in a performance marked by clinical finishing, depth across their roster, and impressive special teams play. With such a commanding victory, the Americans sent a clear message to their rivals: when momentum and precision align, they are a formidable force as the tournament moves beyond the group stages.

SLOVAKIA V SWEDEN

Momentum was never in Slovakia’s favour as Sweden U18 put on an exhibition of elite junior hockey, cruising to a dominant 7-0 victory in their group stage clash.

From the opening puck drop, Sweden seized control and didn’t look back. Gustafsson opened the scoring at 5:31, assisted by Andersson and Andersson, setting the tone for a relentless first period. The pressure mounted and, with just under four minutes left in the frame, Bartholdsson N stretched the lead to 2-0 on a sharp finish, thanks to setups from Nordmark and Liden.

If the first period showcased Sweden’s even-strength prowess, the second period was all about special teams. Early on, Nordmark buried a power-play goal at 4:04, with help from Zirath and Elofsson. Slovakia struggled to respond, and midway through the period, Hermansson struck again on the power play, assisted by Elofsson and Isaksson, making it 4-0.

The third period saw Sweden’s depth and discipline fully unleashed. Holtet found the net just three minutes in, set up by Andersson and Nicolaysen. Slovakia’s frustrations grew as Hermansson tallied yet another power-play goal at 17:40, orchestrated by Elofsson and Holmertz. Sweden capped their dominant performance in the dying moments as Nordmark powered home his second power-play goal at 18:48, with Gustafsson and Bartholdsson adding the final touches.

Sweden’s special teams were simply unstoppable, converting four power-play opportunities, while their defensive structure stifled every Slovak counterattack. Key players like Gustafsson, Nordmark, Hermansson, and Andersson drove Sweden’s relentless pace, making the result a foregone conclusion long before the final buzzer.

For Slovakia, this contest became a lesson in the gap between contenders and pretenders. Their offence found no gaps, their defence was overwhelmed, and their penalty kill was picked apart.

In the end, Sweden not only secured the points but sent a message to the rest of the field: clinical, composed, and ruthless, they are the team to beat as the tournament moves into its crucial stages.

CZECHIA V CANADA

Canada U18 produced a masterclass in both structure and finishing, blanking Czech Republic U18 with a dominant 5-0 performance that further cemented their status as serious title contenders. The contest, though tightly contested in stretches, ultimately showcased the Canadians’ depth, discipline, and unyielding offensive pressure.

The opening period hinted at Czechia’s resilience, with tight checking and determined goaltending holding the Canadians at bay for much of the frame. However, at 11:59, the deadlock finally broke—Ruck L. found the back of the net, capitalizing on pinpoint passes from Ruck M. and Preston. The Canadians carried a 1-0 advantage into the intermission, but the stage was set for what was to come.

If the second period saw both goaltenders trading saves and defenses holding firm, the third belonged wholly to Canada. The offensive outburst began at 11:39 when Edwards doubled the lead, converting a slick passing play from Valentini and Rudolph. Less than three minutes later, Rudolph finished off a clinical attack, with Edwards and Lemieux providing the setup to push the margin to 3-0.

Canada’s relentless forecheck paid further dividends as Ruck L. completed a brace at 16:55, this time benefitting from DuPont’s unselfish play. Czechia’s hopes of a late response faded, and with just 31 seconds left, Di Iorio added the exclamation point, sealing the 5-0 triumph.

Canada’s defensive structure was equally impressive, snuffing out every Czech foray and protecting their netminder en route to a well-earned shutout. With contributions from up and down the roster—Ruck L. notching two goals, Edwards and Rudolph both factoring heavily into the attack—the Canadians left no doubt about their intentions for the remainder of the tournament.

For Czechia, it was a night of frustration, unable to solve the Canadian netminder or dent the disciplined defensive wall. As the tournament moves into its crucial stages, Canada’s statement performance will resonate with every rival still in contention: they are organized, opportunistic, and fiercely determined to chase gold.

Be sure to stay tuned for all the need to know facts as we move onto the knockout stages!