The 2025 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup revealed not just individual talent, but also how national teams differed in style, structure and efficiency. Neutral Zone evaluated every team’s strengths and weaknesses across scoring, possession, discipline and puck management. The numbers clearly show why certain teams thrived while others fell behind.
USA U18 – Gold Medal
- Goals: 5.5/game
- Efficiency: Converted zone time into shots at 85% (best in tournament)
- Shots: 68.0 attempted per game, with 57% on net
- Possession: OZ time 16:34 and 33.5 retrievals equals relentless pressure
- Special Teams: PP 38%, PK 74%
- Discipline: 5.8 penalties/game, 11:00 avg
Why Gold: Elite in retrievals, zone efficiency and sustainable pressure.
Sweden U18 – Silver Medal
- Goals: Tournament-best 6.2/game
- Passing: Most accurate (88%)
- OZ Efficiency: 75% with shots (less than USA/Finland)
- Special Teams: PP 38%, PK 81%
- Retrievals: 30.4 per game
- Discipline: Most penalized team (6.6/game, 13:12 avg)
Why Silver: Scoring depth + passing game.
Weakness: Penalties and fewer retrievals.
Canada U18 – Bronze Medal
- Goals: 5.5/game
- Faceoffs: Best at 56% win rate
- OZ Time: 15:29 (less than USA/Sweden)
- Special Teams: PP 13% (weakest), PK 94% (best)
- Retrievals: Tournament-high 34.8 but high losses (80/game)
- Discipline: 5.3 penalties/game, 16:15 avg
Why Contender: PK and faceoffs.
Weakness: Poor PP + puck management.
Czechia U18
- Goals: 4.5/game
- Shots: 53.2 attempts, but lowest accuracy (50% on net)
- OZ Time: 14:12 with 68% OZ efficiency
- Special Teams: PP 18%, PK 78%
- Discipline: 6.2 penalties/game, 15:23 avg
- Puck Management: 27 retrievals, 81.6 losses/game
Why Middle: Scoring depth but undone by inefficient shots and turnovers.
Slovakia U18
- Goals: 3.5/game
- Shots: 49.8 attempts, 52% on net
- OZ Time: 13:22, 70% with shots
- Special Teams: PP 15%, PK 80%
- Discipline: 5.8 penalties/game
- Battles: 55% win rate
- Puck Management: 26.2 retrievals, 82 losses/game
Why Lower: Competitive physically, but lacked scoring punch and puck security.
Finland U18
- Goals: 3.0/game
- Shots: 55.4 attempts, 53% on net
- OZ Efficiency: Matched USA at 85%, but only 13:44 OZ time
- Special Teams: PP 15%, PK 89%
- Possession: Passing accuracy 85%, but 79.4 losses/game
- Retrievals: 27.8
Why Lower: Structurally solid, but lacked finish and second chance scoring opportunities.
Switzerland U18
- Goals: 3.0/game
- Shots: Fewest attempts (37.8) but best accuracy (60% on net)
- OZ Time: Lowest in field (09:47)
- Passing: Lowest completion (79%)
- Retrievals: 26.3 (weak number, leader was 34.8)
Why Lower: Accurate but lacked volume, possession and rebound recoveries.
Germany U18
- Goals: 2.2/game (lowest)
- Shots: Fewest attempts (35.4), 51% on net
- OZ Time: Weakest (08:55) with 62% efficiency
- Special Teams: PP 10% (lowest), PK 72% (lowest)
- Passing: 77% accuracy (worst)
- Puck Management: 22.5 retrievals (lowest) vs 85 losses/game
Why Last: Struggled across all valuable metrics (least offense, poorest possession, weakest special teams).
Comparative Leaders
| Category | Leader | Stat |
|---|---|---|
| Goals/Game | Sweden | 6.2 |
| OZ Possession | USA | 16:34 |
| OZ w/ Shots % | USA / Finland | 85% |
| Faceoffs | Canada | 56% |
| Passing Accuracy | Sweden | 88% |
| Retrievals | Canada | 34.8 |
| Fewest Penalties | Finland | 4.8/game |
| PK % | Canada | 94% |
| PP % | USA / Sweden | 38% |
Conclusion
- USA won with efficiency, retrievals and turning offensive zone time into sustained chances.
- Sweden had the firepower but struggled with discipline.
- Canada dominated PKs and faceoffs, but turnovers and PP failures cost them.
- Czechia & Slovakia showed competitiveness but lacked polish and puck management to capitalize when they had opportunities.
- Finland & Switzerland were efficient in moments but lacked volume and quality offensive zone time.
- Germany struggled across the board, ranking last in nearly every category.
The 2025 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup was decided in the details of loose puck retrievals, puck possession efficiency and team discipline, both in penalties and team structure. Team USA had high quality numbers in all categories, while other nations faltered in one or more.
Players to Research
Adam Goljer Keaton Verhoeff Daxon Rudolph Malte Gustafsson Will McLaughlin Axel Elofsson Marcus Nordmark Blake Zielinski Ethan Belchetz Lucian Bernat Fabrice Bouvard Carson Carels Nick Bogas Tynan Lawrence Lukas Kachlir Ryan Lin Levi Harper Juho Piiparinen Landon DuPont Ola Palme Vilgot Liden Lou Bachler Alofa Tunao Taamu Zaide Penner Samu Alalauri Jiri Kamas Elton Hermansson Jack Hextall Nikita Klepov Noah Davidson Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll Nolan Duskocy Joseph Salandra Kade Meyer Brooks Rogowski
Photo credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images