Hlinka Gretzky Cup Tournament
The Hlinka Gretzky Cup is an annual U18 best‑on‑best showcase for next‑draft‑class prospects. The 2025 edition, held in Czechia and Slovakia, provided NHL scouts a critical first look at 2008‑born players in a high‑pressure international setting. Finland advanced from Group A, fell in an overtime semifinal to Sweden, and ultimately placed 4th after a bronze‑medal loss to Canada on Aug. 16.
Finland Game-by-Game Breakdown
Finland opened the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup with a 5–3 loss to Canada on August 11, despite early goals from Oscar Hemming and Jiko Laitinen that briefly gave them the lead. The Finns rebounded the next day, controlling play in a 4–1 victory over Czechia, before dropping a 4–3 overtime decision to Switzerland on August 13.
Those results were enough to propel Finland into the semifinals, where they nearly upset their rival, Sweden. In one of the tournament’s most entertaining games, Finland rallied late but fell 6–5 in overtime on August 15.
The loss set up a bronze-medal rematch with Canada, but the Finnish offense ran dry. Canadian goaltender Gavin Betts turned away all 22 shots in a 3–0 shutout, securing bronze for Canada and leaving Finland in 4th place.
The other semifinal saw the United States defeat Canada in a shootout, followed by a 5–3 win over Sweden in the gold medal game. It marked the Americans’ first Hlinka title since 2003.
Finland vs Canada — L 3–5 (Aug. 11)
Finland vs Czechia — W 4–1 (Aug. 12)
Finland vs Switzerland — OTL 3–4 (Aug. 13)
Semifinal: Finland vs Sweden — OT L 5–6 (Aug. 15)
Bronze: Finland vs Canada — L 0–3 (Aug. 16)
Standout Players
Oscar Hemming — Left Wing (Kiekko-Espoo U20, 2026 Draft Eligible)
Pre-tournament expectations: Featured prominently in McKeen’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup Preview as Finland’s top offensive weapon. Hemming, with his rare blend of 6-foot-4 size, high shot volume, and a scoring touch, was considered their “offensive catalyst” and linchpin on the power play. Scouts emphasized that while his skating needed refinement, his spatial awareness and quick release stood out. He led the U18 SM-Sarja with 63 points in 31 games last season.
On-ice performance: Hemming scored a key goal in Finland’s…
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