Attached are the results of the first four games of this year’s U17 Hockey Challenge, coupled with the remaining event schedule. Canada Red and Canada White each had four goal periods on Day 1 to secure their respective victories. As opposed to the cushions built up by the Day 1 victors, Day 2 featured two one-goal games. While Czechia defeated Canada White with a late goal in regulation, Team USA needed overtime and a shootout to defeat Finland.
Canada White’s Maddox Schultz & Sweden’s Loui Karlsson each recorded hat tricks to secure player of the game honors for their teams in Day 1’s evening game. Along with the 15-year-old Schultz, the player standing out to me was Schultz’s teammate Liam Pue, also age 15. Pue tallied 5 points (2G 3A) versus Sweden, and seemed to be involved in every positive offensive play for his squad. Pue assisted on all three Schultz goals, owing to their chemistry in playing together for Regina’s midget AAA team, as well as the Regina Pats of the WHL. As exceptional status players, both Schultz and Pue are eligible to compete for the Pats in 34 contests this season.
Team Czechia’s Adam Nemec (2027 draft-eligible) was excellent in Day 2’s second game versus Canada White. Nemec scored two of his team’s three goals, including the game-winner with under four minutes to play. (As an aside, there also is a Slovak named Adam Nemec, the younger brother of New Jersey D-man Simon Nemec. That Adam Nemec is 2026 draft-eligible, and is a projected second or third round pick). Additionally, Nemec used his raw speed to generate two breakaways, one while his team was short-handed. Nemec has 12 points (8G 4A) in 8 Czechia U20 games this season, and 18 points (6G 12A) in his country’s U17 level.
The tournament continues today to determine Thursdays quarterfinal matchups.