Red Deer Rebels forward Kalan Lind with his 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup gold medal post-game at the Peavey Mart Centrium on Aug. 6, 2022. (rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

golden

“Surreal,” says Rebels’ Kalan Lind as Canada wins gold at Hlinka Gretzky Cup

Aug 6, 2022 | 8:26 PM

It was a golden afternoon for Canada at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

Canada defeated Sweden 4-1 in the final from the Peavey Mart Centrium, securing the nation’s 23rd gold medal in the tournament’s 31-year history.

The game was perhaps the closest of the tournament for Canada in an otherwise smooth path to the final.

Canada handled the Swiss 14-0 on day one, then beat Slovakia 9-1, and closed out the preliminary round with a 3-0 win over the Swedes. In the semi-final on Friday, it was a 4-1 victory against Finland.

“This is the greatest experience of my life. I’m out of words. I can’t describe it,” said Red Deer Rebel Kalan Lind post-game. “I think it’s every kid’s childhood dream when they play hockey to represent their country. You watch all those World Juniors, the U18 championships, and then to get to this age and make the team, it’s surreal.”

Ending hunger

Canadian Foodgrains Bank highlights work at event in Red Deer

6h ago

input from all is welcome

Central Alberta business owners sought for growth initiative

6h ago

Picketing begins

Canada Post workers in Red Deer join national job action

8h ago

Lind, who had one goal in the five games Canada played — in the rout over Switzerland — added this:

“I’m going to remember this for the rest of my life. It’s one of the greatest groups of guys I’ve ever played with. Even though it was a short time, these guys will be my brothers forever.”

As for the game…

Canada drew first blood at 5:49 of the first, Tanner Howe roofing one from the goal line over the shoulder of Swedish netminder Noah Erliden.

Sweden drew even at 11:57, Hugo Pettersson firing the puck by Irma, Alberta’s Scott Ratzlaff, a member of the Seattle Thunderbirds.

Minutes later, Canada would have a goal disallowed, but regained the lead with a power play goal by Ethan Gauthier at 14:15.

At 5:54 of the second, Oshawa’s Calum Ritchie banged in a puck that caromed off the end boards right to the front of the net, and it was 3-1 Canada.

In the final frame, Sweden couldn’t find much opportunity, and Canada’s Brayden Yager would ice it with the 4-1 goal at 15:56.

After the game, Ratzlaff, who’s from tiny Irma — about 2.5 hours northeast of Red Deer — spoke about the win.

“This is great. It was team first from the start. Our GM Peter Anholt put quite the team together that knew to put everyone first, and no individual efforts,” said Ratzlaff, who led the tournament with a glimmering .976 SV% over the course of four games in which he allowed just two goals on 85 shots faced.

“This was a team that sacrificed everything for everyone around the room. It feels amazing. I looked in the crowd and saw a couple fans from Irma. It felt like home.”

Riley Heidt of the Prince George Cougars had two assists as the final’s top scorer.

Canada was led in the tournament by Calum Ritchie who had four goals and six assists in five games. Brayden Yager had five goals and four assists, while Sweden’s Otto Stenberg had the same to round out the top three point-getters.

Ethan Gauthier led all scorers with six goals.

Tournament officials are yet to release official attendance numbers.