Day 4 of the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup delivered high drama with semifinal action, featuring fierce rivalries, late-game comebacks, and extra-frame heroics as teams battled for spots in Saturday’s medal matchups. Here’s a look at how everything unfolded:
Gold Medal Game:
Saturday, August 16th at 11:00 AM (EST)
- Sweden vs. United States
Bronze Medal Game:
Saturday, August 16th at 11:00 AM (EST)
- Canada vs. Finland
Canada vs. United States (Semi-Final)
Final: 4 (USA) – 3 (CAN) (SO)
In one of hockey’s greatest rivalries, Canada and the United States went head-to-head with a spot in the gold medal game on the line. This time, it was the Americans who came out on top, edging the defending champions 4-3 in a dramatic five-round shootout.
Noah Davidson (Nikita Klepov – Saginaw Spirit) opened the scoring on a U.S. power play in the first period. Canada had a 5-on-3 opportunity shortly after but couldn’t capitalize, heading into the intermission down 1-0.
Just 34 seconds into the second, Ethan Belchetz (Windsor Spitfires) pulled Canada even, but the Americans answered quickly. Luke Puchner (Brooks Rogowski – Oshawa Generals) and Blake Zielinski (Ottawa 67’s) struck to restore a two-goal cushion for the U.S. heading into the third.
Canada mounted its comeback in the final frame, continuing their trend of late-game pushes as Tynan Lawrence and Mathis Preston netted the equalizers to force overtime. However, ten minutes of back-and-forth 3-on-3 solved nothing, setting up a nail-biting shootout.
The Americans needed only three shooters to clinch the win, as Joseph Salandra (Barrie Colts), Nikita Klepov (Saginaw Spirit), and Zielinski all converted to end Canada’s hopes of a repeat.
With the win, the U.S. advances to face Sweden in Saturday’s gold medal game, chasing their first tournament title in over 20 years. Canada will meet Finland in a battle for bronze.
OHL Player Game Stats:
Canada
- Ethan Belchetz (Windsor Spitfires) – 1G, 0A
- Dimian Zhilkin (Saginaw Spirit) – 0G, 1A
- Gavin Betts (Kingston Frontenacs) – 29 SV
United States
- Blake Zielinski (Ottawa 67’s) – 1G, 0A*
- Nikita Klepov (Saginaw Spirit) – 0G, 1A
- Brooks Rogowski (Oshawa Generals) – 0G, 1A
*- denotes prospect chosen in OHL Priority Selection or CHL Import Draft
Sweden vs. Finland (Semi-Final)
Final: 6 (SWE) – 5 (FIN) (OT)
In an electrifying semifinal, Sweden completed a dramatic third-period comeback to edge rival Finland 6-5 in overtime.
Sweden carried a 2-1 lead into the final frame, but Finland erupted for four goals in less than 10 minutes to seize a three-goal advantage. The Swedes responded just as quickly, clawing back within one before Marcus Nordmark (London Knights) buried the equalizer in the dying minutes to force the second overtime of the day.
Fittingly, it was Nordmark – the tournament’s leading scorer – who delivered the winner just three minutes into the extra frame to send Sweden to their first gold medal match since 2022.
Sweden will now meet the United States in Saturday’s championship final, while Finland faces Canada in a battle for bronze.
OHL Player Game Stats:
Sweden
- Marcus Nordmark (London Knights) – 3G, 0A*
Finland
- Oscar Hemming (Kitchener Rangers) – 0G, 1A*
*- denotes prospect chosen in OHL Priority Selection or CHL Import Draft
Czechia vs. Slovakia (5th Place)
Final: 5 (CZE) – 2 (SVK)
The two host nations closed out their tournaments against each other, with Czechia claiming fifth place after a 5-2 win over Slovakia. The Czechs struck less than two minutes in and doubled their lead before the first intermission. Slovakia pulled within one in the second period, but three Czech power-play goals put the game out of reach, capping off the victory in front of a home crowd.
OHL Player Game Stats:
Slovakia
- Juraj Rausa (Saginaw Spirit) – 0G, 1A*
*- denotes prospect chosen in OHL Priority Selection or CHL Import Draft
Switzerland vs. Germany (7th Place)
Final: 5 (SUI) – 2 (GER)
Switzerland secured seventh place with a 5-2 victory over Germany. After jumping out to a 2-0 lead by the end of the first period, the Swiss weathered a second-period push from Germany before sealing the win with two empty-net goals in the final minute of the game.
For the full tournament schedule, including stats and standings, click here.
