Emile Guite and what we learned on Day 5 of the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup

Emile Guite‘s backhand in ping pong is lethal.

So much so that he had to teach Canada teammate and fellow 2025 NHL Draft eligible forward Caleb Desnoyers the secret to uncorking the shot.

There’s no teaching that forehand he has on the ice, though.

“Just his poise with the puck… he’s such a threat,” Desnoyers said. “To be honest, I don’t even have the answer. He’s just so special at finding a low spot and being good at shooting the puck. That’s what makes him so special and a threat all over the ice.”

Guite’s calling card is a howitzer of a one-timer, one that’s victimized goalies throughout the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

“Just practice,” said Guite, who had three goals and seven points in five games to help Canada to a golden finish at the showcase. “In practice, I just shoot pucks. I shoot pucks in my basement. I just shoot pucks. I have a sports screen. When I was younger I had a net and the walls were destroyed.

“Then we bought a sport screen and it was good.”

It’s saved some drywall in the Guite household. It hasn’t done opposing goalies any favors, though.

Guite was the recipient of the Michel Bergeron Trophy as the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League offensive rookie of the year, in addition to the QMJHL Rookie of the Year last season after netting 57 points (25 goals, 32 assists) in 61 games for Chicoutimi.

It’s set the stage for an interesting draft season, not that there’s any additional pressure to follow-up that freshman campaign.

“I think it’s the same,” said Guite, who had 10 points (seven goals, three assists) in eight games for Canada White at the 2023 World Under-17 Challenge. “I just have to do what I have to do, play my game. If I do that, good things will happen. Just do what I’m doing every game.”

Do what he’s doing on the ice, and he’ll be fine. Doing what he’s done on the green top?

He’ll be alright, too.

“I’m pretty sure he’s going to lie to you,” Desnoyers said. “We know who is the best.”

Guite, fittingly, will fire back.

“It’s close. He’s good,” Guite said.

“Smash backhand… he learned from me so now he’s good at it. He learned everything from me. That’s why he’s good now. He’s good.

“But not enough to beat me.”

Lansing opts for patient route via the college ranks

Matthew Lansing feels like he needs a little bit more time.

That’s why the 2025 NHL Draft eligible forward has opted to pledge his commitment to Quinnipiac University instead of heading up to Erie of the Ontario Hockey League.

“I definitely consider but I felt like college was a longer, better route for me,” Lansing said. “I feel like it just creates more opportunities for me down the line.”

Talk to those around him, or watch what he’s been able to do at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and there’s certainly an impression left by the 17-year-old that’ll have the scouting community intrigued by the center off to play for Waterloo in the United States Hockey League in 2024-25.

Just ask the guy that’s faced him daily in practice over the course of the tournament, and has seen him from the other side on occasion, too.

“Lanser works really hard,” Team USA goaltender Ryan Cameron said. “I played against him a lot last year. When he’s on the ice you have to be aware of him. He’s a threat. He’s super fast and has a really good shot and he’s always grinding.

“He’s a really good player to have on my team this time instead of playing against him.”

Lansing made his mark in all three zones at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup with four goals in five games —  including sniping twice for Team USA in an eventual 6-3 loss to Sweden in the bronze-medal match.

“It’s just another game,” Lansing said of his showcase in front of scouts from all 32 NHL clubs. “Every night you go out and play your game. Don’t worry or mind about the people there to watch you.

“Just do your thing.”

What is that thing?

“I’m a really hard playing center, 200 feet,” he described. “A big part of my game is the d-zone and taking care of that first and then going into the o-zone and trying to make some plays, create some opportunities for my teammates and get a shot or two.”

Still, there’s room for improvement.

And the next step, next season, will begin at the college ranks.

Top performances of Day 5

Jack Ivankovic found a way to frustrate the opponent. Again. Ivankovic backstopped Canada to gold with another stellar performance at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, turning aside 18 shots to lead his team to a 2-1 victory. The save total doesn’t fully reflect the calm demeanor the goaltender radiated en route to the first-place finish with a tightly contested win versus Czechia.

Eric Nilson saved his best for last. Nilson, goalless and pointless through the tournament’s first four skates, netted a hat-trick as part of a four-point performance that nabbed Sweden gold. The son of former NHLer Marcus Nilson was named his side’s player of the game as a result.

Lansing’s efforts weren’t enough to land Team USA a parting gift at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, but the draft-eligible center certainly left a lasting impression. With everything on the line, Lansing scored twice — including a goal-of-the-tournament candidate — in a losing effort for the Americans. Like Nilson, Lansing was named Team USA’s top player in the match.

Notable quotable

“You can always get better. Connor McDavid is still doing skating lessons and stuff. My skating’s good, but I can definitely get a lot better. I like to watch Jack Hughes skate. He’s a smooth skater and has good hands. I would like to skate like him. I model my skating after him, I would say.” — Canada forward Luca Romano

Scouting report

Nilson is a right-shot center with a strong two-way game. Right off the bat, you can see that he is a very smart player who reads the game like few others on the ice. He constantly scans his surroundings and utilizes this awareness to position himself in open areas on a regular basis. He isn’t a particularly small player, but he appears even bigger due to the way he plays. This doesn’t necessarily mean that he hits everything that moves, but he competes every time he is on the ice and contributes by battling in the dirty areas to attract attention and make room for his teammates. He has a good wrist shot that he can release very quickly, which comes in handy when he receives the puck in front of the net. In general, he looks comfortable and strong in tight areas. He protects the puck well with his body and reach, and off the puck, he often manages to get in front of his defender to make himself a passing option for his teammates. He is responsible defensively, positioning himself strategically to cut off angles and get on the right side of any rushes, and also has an active stick to reduce the time and space of his opponents. Despite a convincing victory, Nilson was outside of the scoresheet, but it was obvious that he was a catalyst in the offensive game and on the power play with his strong presence in the slot. This was my second time watching Nilson play, and I really like what I see. His hockey IQ, combined with his two-way game from the center of the ice, is very intriguing for the future. There is still a lot of hockey to be played this season, but if he continues to play like he did in this game and manages to add some offensive output, I can see him being selected in the second round of the 2025 draft. — FCHockey scout Erik Sjolund

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