Brno, Czechia- Despite a valiant comeback effort, Canada fell 4-3 to the United States in a shootout in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup semifinals on Friday.
This snaps the Canadians’ quest for a fourth straight gold medal at the tournament, while the Americans have won their first game against Canada in more than two decades.
Six WHLers will play for gold with the United States.
Incoming Medicine Hat Tiger Noah Davidson (Irvine, Calif.) drove the net on a powerplay to send a rebound trickling past Gavin Betts (Kingston Frontenacs / OHL) to open the scoring, marking the first time Canada has trailed or allowed a powerplay goal at the tournament.
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Lin held the Canadians with a goal by breaking up an American two-on-one opportunity late in the opening frame.
Early in the second, Ethan Belchetz (Windsor Spitfires / OHL) levelled the match off a give-and-go play with defender Carson Carels (Prince George Cougars / Cypress River, Man.).
Reigning WHL Rookie of the Year Landon DuPont (Everett Silvertips / Calgary, Alta.) snagged the secondary assist on the goal.
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But the United States would carry a commanding 3-1 lead into the final period.
With 20 minutes left in regulation and plenty of work to do, Canada inched closer with a rare powerplay tally- the team’s second of the tournament.
2025 WHL Champion Markus Ruck (Medicine Hat Tigers / Osoyoos, B.C.) and Lin teed up Tynan Lawrence for an early goal on the man advantage.
Mathis Preston revived the team’s hopes with a wicked wrister from above the right faceoff dot to tie the game.
The 2025 WHL Championship finalist has four goals in as many games to tie Belchetz for the team lead.
Preston’s equalizer set the stage for a three-on-three, 10-minute overtime period in front of a raucous crowd.
Despite trading grade-A opportunities and a key U.S. powerplay to close out OT, neither team was able to find the back of the net.
Preston scored Canada’s lone goal of the shootout, but the United States converted on three straight opportunities to book their ticket to the title match.
Canada will face Finland in the bronze-medal match on Saturday, August 16, at 9:00 a.m. MST, while the United States and Sweden will tangle for gold at the same time.
Notes
Penticton Vees defender Jiri Kamas scored twice, while Kamloops Blazers forward Petr Tomek lit the lamp once to earn a 5-2 win for host Czechia over Slovakia in the consolation round. Lethbridge Hurricanes forward Filip Novak had two assists, Tri-City Americans blueliner Jakub Vanecek had one helper, and Seattle Thunderbirds netminder Marek Sklenička turned aside 24 of 26 shots and earned a rare goalie assist in the victory.
