Two 16-year-olds helped carry Canada to the top of the podium in Edmonton.
Schultz and Pue each scored twice and added an assist in Saturday’s 8-1 gold medal win over Team USA at the under-18 international hockey tournament. The pair were the youngest players on a Canadian roster built mostly around 17-year-olds, and both delivered when it mattered most.
Schultz, from Regina, was named Canada’s player of the game in the final. He finished the tournament as the scoring leader with 10 points, putting up three goals and seven assists in five games.
Pue, a Langley, B.C. product, ended with six goals and three assists for nine points, tied for second on the team with Jaako Wycisk. Pue also led the tournament in goals.
Canada’s roster also included Estevan defenceman Boston Tait, who plays for the Wenatchee Wild, and Saskatoon’s Kayden Stroeder, a member of the Edmonton Oil Kings.
The Canadians rolled through the round robin at 3-0 with wins over Switzerland, Slovakia and Sweden. They followed that with a 6-3 semifinal victory over Finland on Friday before knocking off defending champion Team USA, which entered the gold medal game unbeaten.
It was another strong finish for Canada at the event. After taking bronze last year, the team has now earned a medal in four of the last five tournaments and has claimed 14 medals in the last 18 events.
Schultz and Pue are both eligible for full seasons with the Regina Pats this year after going first and third overall, respectively, in last year’s WHL draft. Last season, they split time between the Pats and the under-18 AAA Regina Pat Canadians, who won bronze at last year’s Telus Cup national championship after taking gold the year before.
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