Team Canada Wins Gold

Photo - hlinkagretzky.com

The Halifax Mooseheads will have a couple of more players on their team that have won gold medals while representing their country. The Hlinka Gretzky Cup, previously the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, had been happening in Edmonton & Red Deer this past week between 8 of the best U18 teams in the world. As is normal in this tournament, Team Canada dominated and in the end won the championship game on Saturday evening.

Herd players Xavier Parent and Justin Barron were named to the national team and both had really good showings. At one point during the week, Barron led all players in assists but ended the tournament 19th among the scoring leaders with 5 points (all helpers). The 16-year-old Halifax native played in all 5 games for the red and white and while most of the other players in the competition this week will get drafted in the upcoming NHL draft, Justin will have to wait for the 2020 entry draft because of a late birthday.

Photo - Hockey Canada

Parent, meanwhile, scored a nice goal in Canada's semi-final game against USA on Friday, tying the game at 3 in the second period and helping his team to win 6-5 in overtime to head to the championship game. Xavier, 17, spent most of the tournament on the 4th line but had an opportunity to showcase his skills on the power play. The Blainville, QC native finished the week with two goals and an assist in 5 games played.

Despite finding themselves down 2-0 early on to Sweden in the championship game, Canada rallied later in the first period and cruised to a 6-2 victory to claim it's 22nd gold medal at this tournament. Former head coach Andre Tourigny was the bench boss for Team Canada.

Halifax Mooseheads prospect Marcel Barinka had a huge game for the Czech Republic on Friday. Barinka scored a hat trick and assisted on another to help the Czechs pick up a 8-3 victory over Slovakia in the 5th place game. The Prague, CZE native finished the tournament with 6 points (3G & 3A) in 4 games played which was good enough for 13th among the scoring leaders.

Congratulations to Xavier, Justin, Andre and the rest of Team Canada on winning the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. We'll see Parent and Barron in Moose Country when the players report for training camp on Thursday.