The 2026 Fortuna Hockey Games kicked off with a bang on April 30, and Vancouver Canucks fans had plenty to cheer about. Sweden delivered a dominant 8–1 win over Switzerland, while Czechia edged Finland 3–2 in a tightly contested matchup.

Three Canucks suited up for Sweden's commanding victory, and it was Liam Öhgren who stole the spotlight. The forward opened the scoring in the first period—his first of the tournament—and added two more assists in the third period, setting up goals by Sascha Boumedienne (Winnipeg Jets) and Ivar Stenberg. That three-point performance is exactly the kind of offensive spark that has Canucks fans excited about his potential.

Linus Karlsson also made his presence felt, starting the game on a high-profile line alongside top 2026 NHL Draft prospects Stenberg and Viggo Björck (younger brother of Canucks prospect Wilson). Karlsson picked up an assist on a goal from defenceman Axel Andersson. In net, Sweden's Magnus Hellberg was solid, stopping 25 of 26 shots.

Across the ice in the other game, two Canucks saw action for their respective teams. Filip Hronek wore an 'A' for Czechia and anchored the blue line alongside Jiří Ticháček. Meanwhile, Aatu Räty centered Finland's second line, playing alongside Waltteri Merelä and Patrik Puistola. Abbotsford Canucks goaltender Jiří Patera served as the backup for Czechia, watching Josef Kořenář turn aside 26 of 28 shots to secure the win.

A familiar face also made headlines in the Czechia-Finland game. Former Canuck Juho Lammikko—who played in Vancouver during the 2021–22 season—scored the game-tying goal for Finland at 2–2. But Czech forward Matyáš Filip answered less than 10 minutes later, sealing the 3–2 victory for Czechia.

With more tournament action ahead, keep an eye on these Canucks as they represent their countries on the international stage. Whether you're tracking Öhgren's hot hand or Hronek's leadership, the Fortuna Hockey Games are proving to be a great showcase for Vancouver's talent.