<p>EDMONTON – And let the fun begin.</p>



<p>The 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup kicked off with four games in Edmonton on Monday, with all eight teams getting their first taste of tournament play. We saw our first upset, too, with Germany beating Finland 2-1 just an hour after Sweden avoided a comeback effort by Slovakia to win 4-3.</p>



<p>In the other two games in the main rink, Rogers Place, the United States scored one goal from a long distance, but couldn’t solve goaltender Ondrej Stebetak again. Instead, the Czechs got a pair of goals in the second half to win 2-1, starting things off on the right track after losing the gold medal game in overtime to Canada last year.</p>



<p>Speaking of Canada, the hosts kicked things off with a massive 10-0 win over Switzerland. They’re the favorites to win gold again, but anything can happen with the small margin of error at a tournament like this.</p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="156"></div>



<p>Here’s a look at the top performers from the three games at Rogers Place, home of the Edmonton Oilers. The Germany/Finland game was not broadcasted, so we’ll focus on what I saw in person today:</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity">



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Canada</h2>



<p><strong>#9 Gavin McKenna, LW (2026 NHL Draft): </strong>Like, duh. With a goal and an assist in the first period, and another assist late in the third, the top 2026 NHL Draft prospect was on it today – and he’s only getting started. McKenna is going to dominate the tournament when he gets his footing under him because he’s so dominant with the puck. His play early on clearly tired out the Swiss, allowing the Canadians to cruise comfortably to the victory.</p>



<p><strong>#17 Emile Guite, LW</strong>: Guite had a pair of goals, building upon his showing at the U-17 World Challenge when he led the tournament in that department. He has such a lethal shot that he unloads quite regularly, and he can make highlight-reel moves on an instant. Look for him to challenge for the tournament goal-scoring lead.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="173"></div>



<p><strong>#5 Matthew Schaefer, D: </strong>One of the top defensive prospects for the 2025 NHL Draft, Schaefer is a treat to watch. he commands attention with the puck, moving fluently and eloquently all over the ice. He scored a goal midway through the second period to make it 5-0 and then added another later in the period, making the most of a tired Swiss group. Schaefer is the best all-around blueliner in this draft and after serving as one of Canada’s best players at the U-18s in May, I expect huge things from him here.</p>



<p><strong>#12 Alex Huang, D:</strong> With three points in the second period alone, Huang, quietly, had a huge night for Canada. He was paired with Schafer to help pulverize opponents with their high-scoring play on the blueline, so it was nice to see Huang rewarded with the seventh Canadian goal. Things just seemed to happen when he got the puck stopped at the blueline.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="2" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="157"></div>



<p><strong>#6 Reese Hamilton, D:</strong> Man, Hamilton can skate. He’s not big, but he makes up for that with pure mobility and two-way play. I thought he was one of Canada’s best players from the get-go, playing with pace and smarts. An extra on Canada’s U-18 World Championship team last year, Hamilton will play a significantly bigger role at this tournament because he does so much at both ends. I can’t wait to see him do even more.</p>



<p><strong>#10 Quinn Beauchesne, D:</strong> Beauchesne scored the opening goal on somewhat of a fluke, but I really liked his play in the second, in particular. I felt like he was playing with confidence as the game started to become more one-sided, and he moved the puck as well as anyone. Beauchesne was on Canada’s third pairing but he earned more opportunities to control the puck in the offensive zone as the game wore on.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="3" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="151"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Switzerland</h2>



<p><strong>#30 Matia Birchler, G:</strong> Birchler allowed three goals early and then everything fell apart, but I think Birchler had an excellent game, regardless. He made some excellent saves early on the power play and I thought he tracked shots through traffic effectively. Birchler has the size that teams crave and he’s quite athletic, too. It probably would have been more lopsided had he not stood on his head early.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity">



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Czechia</h2>



<p><strong>#1 Ondrej Stebetak, G:</strong> After allowing a goal from around center ice early in the game, Stebetak was lights out the rest of the way. He made some huge stops as the Americans tried to leverage their speed and skill in tight spaces, but Stebetak was on top of his game. He’s a battler with good size, and he’ll need more performances like that if the Czechs are to medal in Edmonton.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="4" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="141"></div>



<p><strong>#16 Adam Novotny, RW (2026 NHL Draft): </strong>Despite being one of the younger players at the tournament, Novotny is expected to play a big part for the Czechs. He scored the 1-1 goal after using his quick footwork to break past an American defender and into the slot, beating goaltender Ryan Cameron on the breakaway with a deceptive move. I think Novotny will be taken early in 2026, and while there’s still so much time to go, he’s been good most times I’ve watched him.</p>



<p><strong>#17 Adam Benak, C:</strong> With two assists, Benak seemed to get better as the game wore on. He tied for the tournament scoring lead last year so all eyes were on the small, but skilled center to get it done here on home ice. I like how he progressively got better as the game got on, showing his speed and quick hands. Benak still struggles with the physical element of the game but he’s one of the most pure skilled players in this tournament.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="5" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="169"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">USA</h2>



<p><strong>#22 Matthew Lansing, C:</strong> Lansing almost doubled up USA’s lead late in the first, using his speed to cut to the middle to generate a breakaway. He was stopped, but his footwork made him so dangerous early on in the game. He’s not the strongest player but he plays with enough pace to be intriguing. I think Lansing will be a big part of the team this week.</p>



<p><strong>#3 Blake Fiddler, D:</strong> The son of former NHLer Vern Fiddler, Blake seemed to be right at home on the same ice he plays on in the WHL. Fiddler is a big bodied defender who cleared forwards away from his net and pushed opponents to the perimeter. Fiddler was one that many scouts were circling heading into this tournament because he’s an aggressive, two-way threat, and today was a good first impression for me.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="6" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="142"></div>



<p><strong>#6 Matt Grimes, D:</strong> Grimes scored to make it 1-0 early in the first, with his wrister from center ice somehow going in. Beyond that, though, there was a ton to like. He hustled hard, landed some nice hits and was active on the rush, something you like to see from a mobile defenseman. I think Grimes was the best overall defender for the Americans today, winning most of his battles around the net.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity">



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Slovakia</h2>



<p><strong>#2 Michal Pradel, G:</strong> Pradel was the only reason this was close. The Swedes were the much better team and Pradel was forced to make many high-quality stops, including late on a slew of power plays. The big goaltender was calm and did a great job of staying square the shooter, while Sweden’s Love Harenstam was seen slipping around and getting a bit more antsy. The Slovaks need good goaltending to surprise at this tournament and Pradel gave them a fighting chance every single chance the Swedes got close.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="7" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="163"></div>



<p><strong>#15 Andreas Straka, RW:</strong> The one thing that got me interested in Straka back in Finland in May was just how aggressive he was willing to get out there. It gets him in trouble at times, like it did today earlier in the game, but he wasn’t afraid of anyone on the Swedish attack. His ability to move players away from him allowed the Slovaks to create some havoc in front of Harenstam, which paid off with their late-game comeback.</p>



<p><strong>#20 Patryk Zubek, D:</strong> With Luka Radivoijevic not with Slovakia this week, someone’s going to need to stand up on their blueline. I was especially impressed with Zubek, who didn’t play all too much at the U-18 World Championship last year. He was leaned on late to play more of a shutdown role and on the penalty kill and did a good job of keeping Sweden’s high-output shooters to the outside. I’m going to keep a close eye on the Polish-born defender this week because the size and skating is intriguing. </p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="8" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="172"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Sweden</h2>



<p><strong>#15 Ivar Stenberg, RW:</strong> Stenberg and Viktor Klingsell showed some serious chemistry today, with Stenberg being one of the driving forces of the Swedish attack. He scored, but he also had a couple of good looks on the power play that were ultimately turned away. The brother of St. Louis Blues prospect Otto Stenberg, I expect Ivar to be among the top scoring wingers in this tournament because of how aggressive he is on the attack.</p>



<p><strong>#25 Viktor Klingsell, LW: </strong>With a three-point effort, Klingsell had one of the most impressive opening days of anyone. He seem to find whoever he wanted on the ice and did an excellent job creating his own space. Klingsell is a potential first-round prospect who can dangle and create high-danger chances around the net. He’s especially good on the power play, where he did most of his damage today.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="9" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="145"></div>



<p><strong><strong>#14 Filip Ekberg, RW:</strong></strong> Ekberg had a pair of goals as Sweden came out on top, with the fourth-liner buzzing around all game long. Ekberg is one of Sweden’s most dynamic forwards, having shown some serious skill at the U-17 level last year. Now playing with the U-18s, Ekberg appeared to be one of the fastest-moving players on the ice in Day 1. I’d like to see him with more skilled linemates, though.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity">



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Tuesday Schedule:</h2>



<p><strong>Germany vs. Czechia</strong> – 2:00 PM ET<br><strong>Finland vs. USA</strong> – 5:30 PM ET<br><strong>Sweden vs. Switzerland</strong> – 7:30 PM ET<br><strong>Canada vs. Slovakia</strong> – 9:30 PM ET</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity">



<p></p><div class="bam-inline-promotion" data-property-id="309" data-promotion-id="19111" data-context="web-content-promocard"></div><p></p>
