The 2026 edition of the Hlinka Gretzky Cup gets underway in Edmonton and Red Deer on Monday. It will feature eight teams divided into two groups playing a round robin, followed by a playoffs. The tournament started in 1991 and has gone by the name Hlinka Gretzky Cup since 2018. From 2007 to 2017, it was known as the Hlinka Cup.
Group A consists of Canada, Sweden, Switzerland, Slovakia, while Group B includes the United States, Czechia, Finland, Germany. Semi-finals will be played on 7 August and medal games a day later at Rogers Place in Edmonton.
Hosts Canada have typically fared much better at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup than the IIHF U18 because all of their best players are available in the summer, something that can’t be said about April, when the WM18 is scheduled. They have won 13 times since 2008 and are looking strong again this year. They have two 2010-born players, but one interesting name is Aleksi Kulemin, whose father, Nikolai, played nearly 700 NHL games, mostly with Toronto. Aleksi was born in Woodbridge, just north of the city. As well, Alexis Joseph is the only player who also played at the 2026 WM18, although he appeared in only two games and didn’t register a point. But the player to watch is defender Landon DuPont, considered by many to go first overall at the 2027 NHL Entry Draft
The Americans won the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last year for the first time since 2003. They finished fifth at the IIHF Men’s U18 in Slovakia this last April and will have a completely different roster for the HGC. All of the players are 2009-born with the exception of 16-year-old Joey Cullen, who plays at Moorehead High School in Minnesota. The son of Matt, Joey is already being touted as perhaps the 1st overall selection at the 2028 draft. Most of the players are either in high school (eight) or play in the USHL (eight) getting ready for an NCAA career, and six others play major junior hockey in Canada. Typically, the U.S. treats this event as a prelude to the IIHF event, where they have had tremendous success over the years.
The U.S. beat Sweden last year, but the Swedes claimed gold at the World Juniors in January and the IIHF U18 three months ago. They, too, will have a new roster of 2009-born players, except Wilson Boumedienne, born 2010. He is the son of Josef Boumedienne and the only player on the roster committed to playing outside of Sweden’s junior leagues for the upcoming season after signing with the Fargo Force of the USHL. Their top star will likely be Milan Sundstrom, son of Niklas, who is a centreman and one of Sweden’s top prospects.
Finland finished fourth last year and 7th at the U18 in April. Head coach Marko Kauppinen will have four players from Bratislava, namely defenders Roni Kuukasjarvi and Lenni Kokkonen and forwards Luca Santala and Paavo Fugleberg. Santala (six points) and Fugleberg (five) were the top two scorers for the team in April. Santala is bound to be a first-round selection at next year’s draft and could well be a dominating presence this week. The entire roster plays in the junior domestic league of Finland, eight alone coming from the Karpat Oulu system.
Slovakia finished a distant sixth last year but are coming off their best WM18 IIHF tournament since 2003. They won silver at home in Bratislava after having lost the three previous bronze-medal games, and they did so behind the MVP play of Timothy Kazda, who had a tournament-best 12 points in seven games for the Slovaks. He won’t be in Edmonton, but five teammates from that team will be, starting with right winger Tomas Selic, who tied for second in team scoring with six points. Oliver Botka is the only defender among that cohort, as the Slovaks try to build off their excellent WM18 tournament.
The Czechs were fifth last year and defeated Latvia for bronze at the IIHF WM18 in April. Three players from that team have made the trip to Edmonton including defender Dominick Byrtus and forwards Matyas Michalek and Michal Hartl. The Czechs last won the HGC in 2016 and finished third in 2023 and 2024. One returnee from the 2025 tournament to watch is Lukas Kachlir, a defender who has plenty of upside if he can develop the necessary size and strength to play with men in the coming years.
This will be a great opportunity for Germany to help develop its young players. They finished last in 2025 and 10th at the U18 and are now demoted to WM18-I-A for 2027. But they will have eight players from that U18 here in Edmonton, including goalie Bastian Bauer, who played only about half a game in April. Top scorer Jonas Schwarz (five points) leads the attack along with Tom Hartmann and Max Calce (four points each). The 17-year-old Calce played at the 2025 and 2026 IIHF U18 Worlds and is rounding into form as one of Germany’s top prospects.
The Swiss are a bit of a wild card this year. The player to watch is Jonah Neuenschwander, who is 17 years old and already has two World Junior Championships under his belt. Another dynamic prospect is Philip Moser, a returnee from last year who is a solid, puck-moving defender.
All in all, this year’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup promises to provide top-quality U18 hockey in the summer when players are getting ready for the upcoming season, their draft season for most NHL-aspiring players. The tournament will also be hosted at Rogers Place, which will also serve as a venue for the IIHF World Junior Championship 2027.
Group A consists of Canada, Sweden, Switzerland, Slovakia, while Group B includes the United States, Czechia, Finland, Germany. Semi-finals will be played on 7 August and medal games a day later at Rogers Place in Edmonton.
Hosts Canada have typically fared much better at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup than the IIHF U18 because all of their best players are available in the summer, something that can’t be said about April, when the WM18 is scheduled. They have won 13 times since 2008 and are looking strong again this year. They have two 2010-born players, but one interesting name is Aleksi Kulemin, whose father, Nikolai, played nearly 700 NHL games, mostly with Toronto. Aleksi was born in Woodbridge, just north of the city. As well, Alexis Joseph is the only player who also played at the 2026 WM18, although he appeared in only two games and didn’t register a point. But the player to watch is defender Landon DuPont, considered by many to go first overall at the 2027 NHL Entry Draft
The Americans won the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last year for the first time since 2003. They finished fifth at the IIHF Men’s U18 in Slovakia this last April and will have a completely different roster for the HGC. All of the players are 2009-born with the exception of 16-year-old Joey Cullen, who plays at Moorehead High School in Minnesota. The son of Matt, Joey is already being touted as perhaps the 1st overall selection at the 2028 draft. Most of the players are either in high school (eight) or play in the USHL (eight) getting ready for an NCAA career, and six others play major junior hockey in Canada. Typically, the U.S. treats this event as a prelude to the IIHF event, where they have had tremendous success over the years.
The U.S. beat Sweden last year, but the Swedes claimed gold at the World Juniors in January and the IIHF U18 three months ago. They, too, will have a new roster of 2009-born players, except Wilson Boumedienne, born 2010. He is the son of Josef Boumedienne and the only player on the roster committed to playing outside of Sweden’s junior leagues for the upcoming season after signing with the Fargo Force of the USHL. Their top star will likely be Milan Sundstrom, son of Niklas, who is a centreman and one of Sweden’s top prospects.
Finland finished fourth last year and 7th at the U18 in April. Head coach Marko Kauppinen will have four players from Bratislava, namely defenders Roni Kuukasjarvi and Lenni Kokkonen and forwards Luca Santala and Paavo Fugleberg. Santala (six points) and Fugleberg (five) were the top two scorers for the team in April. Santala is bound to be a first-round selection at next year’s draft and could well be a dominating presence this week. The entire roster plays in the junior domestic league of Finland, eight alone coming from the Karpat Oulu system.
Slovakia finished a distant sixth last year but are coming off their best WM18 IIHF tournament since 2003. They won silver at home in Bratislava after having lost the three previous bronze-medal games, and they did so behind the MVP play of Timothy Kazda, who had a tournament-best 12 points in seven games for the Slovaks. He won’t be in Edmonton, but five teammates from that team will be, starting with right winger Tomas Selic, who tied for second in team scoring with six points. Oliver Botka is the only defender among that cohort, as the Slovaks try to build off their excellent WM18 tournament.
The Czechs were fifth last year and defeated Latvia for bronze at the IIHF WM18 in April. Three players from that team have made the trip to Edmonton including defender Dominick Byrtus and forwards Matyas Michalek and Michal Hartl. The Czechs last won the HGC in 2016 and finished third in 2023 and 2024. One returnee from the 2025 tournament to watch is Lukas Kachlir, a defender who has plenty of upside if he can develop the necessary size and strength to play with men in the coming years.
This will be a great opportunity for Germany to help develop its young players. They finished last in 2025 and 10th at the U18 and are now demoted to WM18-I-A for 2027. But they will have eight players from that U18 here in Edmonton, including goalie Bastian Bauer, who played only about half a game in April. Top scorer Jonas Schwarz (five points) leads the attack along with Tom Hartmann and Max Calce (four points each). The 17-year-old Calce played at the 2025 and 2026 IIHF U18 Worlds and is rounding into form as one of Germany’s top prospects.
The Swiss are a bit of a wild card this year. The player to watch is Jonah Neuenschwander, who is 17 years old and already has two World Junior Championships under his belt. Another dynamic prospect is Philip Moser, a returnee from last year who is a solid, puck-moving defender.
All in all, this year’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup promises to provide top-quality U18 hockey in the summer when players are getting ready for the upcoming season, their draft season for most NHL-aspiring players. The tournament will also be hosted at Rogers Place, which will also serve as a venue for the IIHF World Junior Championship 2027.