Tanner Howe goes down the flyby after netting an assist in a 14-0 win versus Switzerland on July 31, 2022. (Erica Perreaux/Hockey Canada Images)
Feeling golden

Howe, Guard, and Anholt claim gold with Team Canada at Hlinka Gretzky Cup

Aug 7, 2022 | 11:41 AM

RED DEER, AB – Tanner Howe, Peter Anholt, Kelly Guard, and Team Canada have reached the top of the mountain at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

Through a perfect tournament, Canada went undefeated on their way to a 4-1 victory over Sweden to capture their 23rd U18 summer championship and their first since 2019.

Canada went 5-0 in the tournament, outscoring their opponents 34-3 in the process.

Howe contributed just four points (2g, 2a) on the way to Canada’s gold medal, but regardless of the total amount of points he scored, he made things happen when they counted.

He scored all his points in different games, including an assist against Switzerland, a goal versus Slovakia, and another assist versus Finland.

But in the gold medal game, Howe came through and broke the ice for Canada. He opened the scoring just six minutes into the contest by banking the puck off Swedish netminder Noah Erliden’s head, off the post, and in.

Along with Howe, Raiders goaltending coach Kelly Guard was also among those who won gold.

The Prince Albert born coach previously played in the WHL for the Kelowna Rockets before playing in the States and in Europe. He was named to the Raiders coaching staff in 2013 as a goalie coach before being promoted to assistant coach in 2014. He left the team in 2016 before coming back in 2019 as a goaltending coach once again.

Former Raiders Head Coach and Member of Canada’s Management group Peter Anholt was also a part of Canada’s championship team.

The Naicam, SK product was named to Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence management group for U18 hockey back in 2019 and was a part of the Raiders coaching staff from 1986-1989 and again from 2002-2007.

The Hlinka Gretzky Cup will shift to Europe in 2023, returning to Breclav and Piestany, Czechia for the first time since 2021.

logan.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @lloganlehmann

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