Friday was semifinal day at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, with Team Sweden and USA punching their tickets to the Gold Medal game. In addition to the semifinals, Team Switzerland and Czechia also picked up wins in the fifth and seventh place games. Overall, there were many WHL standouts, with Jiří Kamas, Marek Sklenička, and Mahis Preston stepping up for their teams. 

Jiří Kamas, Team Czechia

Kamas wrapped up his tournament with a strong performance. The Penticton Vees defenceman scored twice in Czechia's 5-2 victory over Slovakia. Finishing the Hlinka Gretzky Cup with three goals in four games, Kamas will be a name to watch as a rookie next season. 

Marek Sklenička, Team Czechia

Sklenička made his only appearance of the tournament count as he stood tall for Czechia against Slovakia. Not only did the Seattle Thunderbirds goaltender stop 26 of 28 shots, but he also recorded an assist on Czechia's third goal of the game. Already signed by Seattle, Sklenička has the potential to have a long and successful career in the WHL. 

Mathis Preston, Team Canada

Preston had another impressive showing in Canada's 4-3 shootout loss to the USA. The Spokane Chiefs forward scored the game-tying goal and was the only Canadian to beat Brady Knowling in the shootout. One of Canada's top players so far in the tournament, Preston will be looking to leave this year's Hlinka Gretzky Cup with a Bronze Medal around his neck. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's WHL site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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