Stéphane Julien's troupe ready for the Hlinka Gretzky Cup

< /p> UPDATE DAY

Team Canada looks set for the start of the Hlinka Gretzky Cup set to kick off on Sunday in Red Deer, Alta.

Friday night, in a preseason game, Canada shut out Finland 6-0 thanks to 15 saves from Carson Bjanarson and 10 others from Scott Ratzlaff.

“I felt a lot of energy of our players, we took too many penalties and we will work on it, commented the head coach of the Canadian team Stéphane Julien, who usually leads the Phoenix of Sherbrooke. Our goalies did an excellent job, they were ready to play and make a difference.”

Among the young Quebecers who represent the maple leaf, forward Mathieu Cataford stood out with a goal and an assist in the win against Finland. This 17-year-old player, who is a native of Saint-Constant, had scored 46 points, including 17 goals, in 62 games with the Halifax Mooseheads last season, in his first campaign in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Forward Ethan Gauthier and defenseman Jordan Tourigny are also in Red Deer for the competition. For its first match of the tournament, Canada will face Switzerland on Sunday.