EDMONTON, Alta. – Hockey Canada is bringing one of the premier, international best-on-best hockey tournaments to the country. Working in collaboration with the City of Edmonton, Province of Alberta, and Oilers Entertainment Group, Hockey Canada has confirmed that Edmonton will host the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup in 2018, 2020, and 2022.

Owned and produced by the Czech Ice Hockey Association and the Slovak Ice Hockey Federation, the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup was first introduced in 1991. The tournament honours its namesake and national team and NHL player and coach, Ivan Hlinka – considered one of the most important figures in Czech hockey history. The annual summer tournament brings together eight of the top hockey nations in the world to compete in a best-on-best, men’s under-18 competition.

Hockey Canada, whose National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team has won the annual event 20 times and captured two silver medals and one bronze since 1991, has struck an agreement with the Czech Ice Hockey Association and the Slovak Ice Hockey Federation to host the tournament on Canadian ice on a bi-annual basis, beginning in 2018.

“The Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup is a significant event on our calendar for many reasons, the first of which is that it honours a great player and coach who was taken from us far too soon,” said Tom Renney, president and chief executive officer of Hockey Canada, at a news conference in Edmonton on Monday. “The event itself is uniquely positioned on the calendar to truly allow for all of the participating nations – and for the hundreds of NHL scouts who are attracted to the event – to take part in a best-on-best competition with the top under-18 players from around the world.

“This is a significant event for Hockey Canada in terms of our players’ progression through the Program of Excellence, and the identification of Canada’s National Junior Team prospects. But just as importantly, the opportunity to host this world-class event on Canadian soil speaks to our relationship with our counterparts in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, as well as the reputation our country has built for successfully hosting international hockey events. This is a great responsibility, and not one we take lightly – and we’re grateful for the support of the City of Edmonton, the Province of Alberta, and Oilers Entertainment Group in bringing the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup to Canadian ice.”

The Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup is traditionally held in August, and Hockey Canada expects the regional economic impact of hosting in Edmonton could top $5 million based on the results from hosting similar events of this size and scope.

“Canada is the home of hockey, and I’m thrilled that the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup, as we know it today, will be played in our country for the first time right here in Edmonton,” said Ricardo Miranda, Minister of Culture and Tourism, Responsible for Sport. “The best under-18 players will be hitting the ice showcasing their skills and talent for the world to see. This prestigious event will draw tourists from around the world, and will be a great boost to our economy. This is an exciting day for our city, province, and country.”

Renney added that proceeds from the 2018, 2020, and 2022 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cups will be re-invested into grassroots hockey in Alberta.

“Edmonton has become an internationally-renowned sports city and centre of excellence. We’re proud to build on this reputation as we host the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup,” said Mayor Don Iveson. “With enthusiastic fans, a state-of-the-art arena and a passion for hockey, Edmonton welcomes the opportunity to showcase our city to the world.”

The new home of the Edmonton Oilers will host the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup during its first three years on Canadian ice. The state-of-the-art facility was officially opened on Sept. 8, 2016, and features 1.1 million-square-feet of seating and amenities that blend the history of the NHL franchise within its modern design.

“We are thrilled to partner with Hockey Canada, the Czech Ice Hockey Association, the Slovak Ice Hockey Federation and our local partners to bring the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup to Edmonton and to our spectacular, new venue Rogers Place, in the heart of ICE District,” said OEG CEO & vice-chair, Bob Nicholson. “The competition on the ice will be matched with hospitality and attention to ensuring the players, coaches, scouts, families and fans are treated to an amazing experience.”

Details on event dates and tickets will be announced at a later date.

Additional quotes:

“[The] Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup gained enormous international prestige in the past, and I am convinced that this cooperation will raise the tournament to even higher levels. This tournament is a great experience for every young player and their motivation for further work. I am pleased that the contacts between European and overseas hockey acquire new dimensions.”
- Tomas Kral, president, Czech Ice Hockey Association

“My husband, Ivan Hlinka, lived for ice hockey and devoted his entire life to the game. I am sure he would be extremely proud that the tournament bearing his name will take place in the birthplace of hockey. I wish every player and spectator of the tournament great enjoyment, which I believe will be shared by thousands of fans around the world.”
- Liběna Hlinková

“There is no doubt that it will be one of the most successful tournaments, and that all of us, together with the fans as well as the players, will experience a great number of amazing hockey moments to remember.”
- Miroslav Valíček, General Secretary, Slovak Ice Hockey Federation

“Participating in the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup was an amazing experience for me and my teammates as we developed as young hockey players. Bringing the tournament to Canada and to Rogers Place and ICE District will be a great experience for players, coaches, families, and fans.”
- Darnell Nurse, Edmonton Oilers, NHL

For more information on Hockey Canada, please visit HockeyCanada.ca or follow along via social media on Facebook and Twitter.

If Corey McNabb wanted to coach elite level cricket, he wouldn’t know where to begin.

“I don’t even know what the bat is called, or the stick, or whatever you use,” he said with a chuckle. “I would have no idea how … to teach kids."

So what would help Hockey Canada’s senior manager of coaching and playing development instruct athletes in a sport he doesn’t know much about?

An interactive digital resource for coaches that includes printable drill diagrams, accompanying descriptions, and videos demonstrating exactly how those drills are done, would certainly be a good place for him to start.

Replace the cricket pitch with a hockey rink, and that’s exactly what McNabb and his staff have created to help coaches across the country prepare players who are Peewee age or older for elite level hockey – which could include participation in Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence, celebrating three decades of on-ice success this year.

From the pitch to the rink, and everywhere in between, he said there’s nothing else quite like the new Hockey Canada Program of Excellence Drills and Videos DVD available in the sports world. Not unlike the Team Canada Skills of Gold video series that came before it, this special multimedia coaching tool shows, once again, that Hockey Canada is at the forefront of sport development.

“The Program of Excellence DVD is bar none, the best resource in the world for teaching,” McNabb said of the brand new resource for hockey coaches, now available for $39.95 online right HERE on Hockey Canada’s website.

“It’s different than a traditional DVD because … we designed it all in Flash, which makes it much more user-friendly,” he said. “It’s the only one that really combines manual, which is the actual drill and the description, with video.”

In addition to about 140 video drill demonstrations, the DVD features 180 drill diagrams, more than 50 different skill concepts, 15 set practice plans and the ability for coaches to mix-and-match all of that material to create upwards of 60 different practice progressions for their teams.

McNabb’s favourite features are that you can access the matching video by clicking your mouse directly on the drill diagram, and “the fact that you can print off the practice plans and take them to the rink with you.”

Perhaps one of the DVD’s top selling point is that its “designed right after the Hockey Canada Program of Excellence manual,” which means its jam-packed with knowledge from many of the country’s top hockey minds.

“Tom Renney, Mike Johnston, Mike Babcock, Ken Hitchcock, Brent Sutter – all the guys who have coached in that program before, we’ve collected drills and concepts (from),” he said. “They’ve basically said, ‘This is what players should know.’ ”

In fact, it’s what Canadian players NEED to know if they want to fulfil their dreams of representing their country on the ice, McNabb said. That includes players such as Emerance Maschmeyer, who won a gold medal with Canada at the 2012 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women’s World Championship in the Czech Republic, and is featured on the DVD demonstrating Program of Excellence goaltending skills.

Young up-and-comers such as the Western Hockey League’s Troy Bourke of the Prince George Cougars and Colin Smith of the Kamloops Blazers also perform drill demonstrations featured on the DVD’s video clips, which were filmed over the course of three summers at Rexall Place in Edmonton.

Ultimately, the goal is to get the DVD filled with skills and drills into the hands of as many coaches as possible across the country, McNabb said, so that each and every Canadian player can be at their best – including those who will one day wear a maple leaf on their jerseys.

“It’s really trying to provide some standard of play, skill and understanding, as far as what coaches are teaching and players are learning,” McNabb said. “Too many times some of our high performance materials only get into the hands of the coaches and players once they actually get to the high performance level. This is all about preparing them in order to get there.”

Its consistency at the grassroots level across the country that will result in Canadian gold medals on international ice, McNabb said, adding the Hockey Canada Program of Excellence Drills and Videos DVD is the best way for coaches to tap into the incredible potential of their players.

“It’s one-stop shopping,” he said. “This is the only thing you need; it’s got everything you want.”

Order your copy at www.HockeyCanada.ca/Breakaway today.

PIESTANY, SVK – Head coach George Burnett has announced that defenceman Ryan Murray (White City, Sask./Everett, WHL) will serve as captain of Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team at the 2010 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka, which begins Monday in Piestany and Breclav, Czech Republic.

Murray is the only player on Canada’s 22-man roster who has previously been a part of Hockey Canada’s under-18 program – he was the lone underage player to be selected to play for Canada at April’s 2010 IIHF World Under-18 Championship in Belarus, where he was named one of Canada’s top three players by the coaching staff, which included Burnett.

The Prairie Storm Minor Hockey Association product joins an exclusive list of players who have worn the ‘C’ for Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team, a list the includes a pair of 2010 Olympic gold medallists – Brent Seabrook (2002) and Jonathan Toews (2005) – and 2008 NHL first-overall selection Steven Stamkos (2007).

In addition, Burnett also announced that four players will be Canada’s alternate captains during the tournament: Philip Danault (Victoriaville, Que./Victoriaville, QMJHL), Scott Harrington (Kingston, Ont./London, OHL), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Burnaby, B.C./Red Deer, WHL) and Duncan Siemens (Sherwood Park, Alta./Saskatoon, WHL). The four will wear the ‘A’ on a rotating basis, with two serving in each game.

CALGARY, Alberta –Hockey Canada has named the coaching staff that will guide Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team at the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship, April 25-May 5, in Espoo and Vantaa, Finland .

The winningest coach in Canadian university regular season men’s hockey history, Gardiner MacDougall (Bedeque, PE/University of New Brunswick, AUS) will serve as head coach. He will be joined by assistant coaches Travis Crickard (St. John’s, NL/Saint John, QMJHL), Bruce Richardson (Montreal, QC) and Ryan Smith (Headingley, MB/Spokane, WHL), along with goaltending coach Dan De Palma (Kamloops, BC/Kamloops, WHL).

The coaching staff was selected by Scott Salmond (Creston, BC) , senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations and Benoit Roy (Sudbury, ON),senior manager of hockey operations.

“Gardiner has not only solidified himself as one of the greatest coaches in university hockey history, his record and reputation speaks for itself,” said Salmond. “His nine U SPORTS championships and 2022 Memorial Cup win with Saint John are proof of his ability to win in short-term competition, which will serve us well at the world championship.”

MacDougall led the University of New Brunswick men’s hockey team to a perfect season in 2023-24, going 43-0 in exhibition, regular season and postseason play as the Reds defended their University Cup title. The perfect season included win No. 600 for MacDougall, who was also named U SPORTS coach of the year for the third time (2009-10, 2014-15, 2023-24). He has spent 24 seasons behind the Reds’ bench, leading the team to nine national championships (2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2023, 2024). Under his leadership, the Reds have also won 11 Atlantic University Sport (AUS) titles and made 16 national championship appearances. In 2023, he was named head coach for the FISU University Games, leading Team Canada to a gold medal, one season after briefly taking the reins as head coach of the Saint John Sea Dogs of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) and leading the host team to a Memorial Cup championship.

Crickard recently completed his first season as head coach of the Sea Dogs following one season as an assistant. He was named an assistant coach for Canada’s men’s hockey team at the 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games, finishing fourth, won a gold medal as video coach with Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team at the 2021 IIHF U18 World Championship and was a video coach (2016) and assistant coach (2017) with Canada Black at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, winning a silver medal in 2016.

Richardson was appointed the head coach of the LHJAAAQ’s Valleyfield Braves in January of 2024, following a five-year stint as the head coach of the QMJHL’s Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (2018-23). He was also head coach of the Châteauguay Grenadiers (2011-14, 2016-18) of the Ligue de développement du hockey M18 AAA du Québec, reaching the gold medal game at the 2014 TELUS Cup, and had a two-year stint as head coach of the QMJHL’s Victoriaville Tigres (2014-16). Internationally, Richardson was an assistant coach with Canada’s men’s hockey team for the 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games, finishing fourth. He also won a bronze medal with Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team at the 2023 IIHF U18 World Championship, was the head coach of Canada White at the 2022 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and served as an assistant with Canada Black at the November 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

Smith recently finished his second season (2022-24) as head coach of the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League (WHL) after two seasons (2020-22) as an associate coach. He previously won a silver medal as an assistant coach with Canada Red at the 2022 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and won silver and bronze as an assistant with Canada West at the 2012 and 2013 World Junior A Hockey Challenges.

De Palma has served as goaltending coach of the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers for 14 seasons (2010-2024). Before joining the Blazers, he spent three seasons as goaltending coach with the WHL’s Prince George Cougars. On the international stage, De Palma was the goaltending consultant for Canada Black at the 2016 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, winning a silver medal.

Dave Brown (Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON/Erie, OHL) has also been added to the team staff as Program of Excellence management group representative. Brown has spent nine seasons as general manager of the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) after four (2011-15) as director of hockey operations with the team. He helped lead Erie to an OHL championship in 2017 and contributed to a Canadian Hockey League (CHL) record of four-consecutive 50-win season (2011-15). Brown was named to the POE management group in March 2023, overseeing Canada White’s gold medal at the 2023 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

Hockey Canada also announced the support staff that will work with Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team:

• Head Scout Byron Bonora (Brooks, AB)
• Video coach Andrew Boucher (Timmins, ON)
• Equipment manager A.J. Murley (St. John’s, NL)
• Athletic therapists Kevin Elliott (Charlottetown, PE) and Jimmy McKnight (Bradford, ON/Edmonton, WHL)
• Team physician Dr. Michael Conrad (Vancouver, BC/Victoria, WHL)
• Education consultant Nic Renyard (Victoria, BC)
• Senior coordinator of hockey operations Jacob Grison (Lion’s Head, ON)

Canada’s quest for a gold medal at the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship begins April 25 at 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT against Sweden. Canada will play Czechia on April 26, Switzerland on April 28 and Kazakhstan on April 30 to close out preliminary-round action. The semifinals are set for May 4 before the tournament concludes with the medal games on May 5.

TSN and RDS, Hockey Canada’s official broadcast partners will broadcast select tournament games, including all Team Canada games and all playoff-round games. Check your local listings for details.

Since 2002, Canada has won four gold medals at the IIHF U18 World Championship (2003, 2008, 2013, 2021), in addition to one silver (2005) and four bronze (2012, 2014, 2015, 2023).

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca or follow through social media on Facebook , X and Instagram .

The world’s top under-18 players are set to hit the ice and represent their country at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, Aug. 5-10 at Rogers Place in Edmonton.

An annual invitation-only tournament that is the only best-on-best competition at the U18 level, the Hlinka Gretzky Cup serves as the first opportunity for fans and scouts to see that year’s NHL Draft prospects, almost a full year before the draft takes place. This year, it’s the Class of 2025 that has its chance to showcase its skill on the international stage.

At the 2023 NHL Draft, 30% of the players who heard their names called (67 of 224) played at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, including 19 who helped Canada defend its gold medal at the 2022 tournament in Red Deer, Alberta.

The alumni list in Nashville – led by No. 2 pick Leo Carlsson (Anaheim), who helped Sweden to bronze in 2021 – included 20 first-round selections and representation from nine countries in all.

In the past, the tournament has included a who’s-who of Canadian hockey – names like Kariya (1991), Iginla (1994), Thornton (1996), Crosby (2003), Price (2004), Stamkos (2007), MacKinnon (2012), Ekblad (2013) and Lafrenière (2018), to name only a few.

Internationally, alumni include the likes of Alexander Ovechkin (RUS, 2002), Gabriel Landeskog (SWE, 2009), Tomas Plekanec (CZE, 1999), Andre Burakovsky (SWE, 2011-12), Teuvo Teravainen (FIN, 2011), Kirill Kaprizov (RUS, 2014), Mikko Rantanen (FIN, 2013), Johnny Gaudreau (USA, 2010) and a host of others.

The event has been held under a number of different names since the first summer under-18 tournament in 1991 – the Phoenix Cup – in Yokohama and Sapporo, Japan.

It was played for three years in Japan, went to Mexico City in 1994, back to Japan in 1995 and to Nelson and Castlegar, B.C., in 1996 before settling into the Czech Republic and Slovakia beginning in 1997. It alternated between the countries from 1997-2001 before the neighbours co-hosted from 2002-17.

The tournament was known as the Junior World Cup before it was renamed in honour of Ivan Hlinka following the tragic passing of the Czech hockey legend in a car accident in 2004. Hlinka won three IIHF World Championship gold medals as a player before leading the country to Olympic gold as head coach in 1998, among his many accomplishments and accolades.

When the tournament returned to Canada in 2018 (in Edmonton and Red Deer), it was rechristened the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, honouring Hlinka and The Great One himself, Wayne Gretzky.

Entering this year’s tournament as the reigning champions, Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team has long been the dominant force in summer U18 hockey, laying claim to 24 of the 32 gold medals awarded since 1991, including runs of seven (1996-2002) and eight (2008-15) consecutive golds.

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has announced the 18-game schedule for the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, Aug. 5-10 at Rogers Place in Edmonton.

The prestigious international tournament is a partnership with Hockey Alberta, the Oilers Entertainment Group (OEG), the City of Edmonton, Explore Edmonton and the Government of Alberta, showcasing some of the best under-18 players in the world.

“We are extremely excited to bring the Hlinka Gretzky Cup back to Edmonton for the first time in six years, giving fans the opportunity to cheer on the future stars of the NHL,” said Dean McIntosh, senior vice-president of revenue, fan experience and community impact. “This international showcase would not be possible without the support and investment of our event partners and we anticipate an incredible week of hockey in August.”

Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team will be looking for a third-consecutive gold medal, and a record-extending 25th summer U18 gold since 1992. Canada will be joined by Slovakia, Sweden and Switzerland in Group A, while Group B is made up of Czechia, Finland, Germany and the United States.

The tournament begins Aug. 5 at 12 p.m. MT with a matchup between Slovakia and Sweden. Canada will close out opening-day action against Switzerland at 7:30 p.m. MT, before facing Slovakia on Aug. 6 and Sweden on Aug. 7 to close out preliminary-round play.

The semifinals are set for Aug. 9, with the bronze medal and gold medal games to follow on Aug. 10 at 1:30 p.m. MT and 6 p.m. MT, respectively.

TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will provide full tournament coverage. 

Ticket packages are now on sale starting at $175. Fans can secure their seats for the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup by visiting HockeyCanada.ca/Tickets.

Hockey Canada is also inviting hockey fans to join the volunteer team. With 125 positions available for the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, individuals can apply online by clicking HERE.

For more information on the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, please visit HlinkaGretzkyCup.ca or follow through social media on Facebook, X and Instagram.

BRECLAV, Czechia – Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team has successfully defended its gold medal at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, downing co-host Czechia 3-2 in an overtime thriller at Fosfa Arena on Saturday.

Malcolm Spence (Mississauga, ON/Erie, OHL), was the overtime hero, stealing the puck off a Czech defender and scoring the golden goal in the dying seconds of overtime to earn Player of the Game honours. The win gives Canada its 24th gold medal and 28th overall medal in men’s summer under-18 play since 1991.

“I knew it was late in overtime and I knew [the Czechs] were tired because they were keeping a fast pace in overtime. I knew the [Czech defender] was on for quite a bit of time and that I could pick his pocket if I moved my feet, so that is what I did,” Spence said. “This is the best moment of my life and nothing will ever beat this. I cannot thank everyone who was involved with this team enough. I am just so happy.”

Cayden Lindstrom (Chetwynd, BC/Medicine Hat, WHL) kick-started the offence for Canada in the second period after falling behind just over eight minutes into the game, scoring off a lead pass from Porter Martone (Peterborough, ON/Mississauga, OHL) to even the score 57 seconds into the middle frame.

Captain Berkly Catton (Saskatoon, SK/Spokane, WHL), who scored in every game of the tournament, gave Canada the lead midway through the second period, jamming the puck past Czech goaltender Jakub Milota on the power play for his tournament-leading eighth goal and 10th point. Matej Kubiesa evened the score for Czechia with less than five minutes remaining in the third to send the game to overtime.

“[The gold medal game] was an unbelievable experience, and the crowd was unbelievable. Every period was a challenge for us, but we came out and we got the victory. I am so proud of each and every one of our guys,” Catton said. “It is awesome that we ended up with the gold, but none of this would have been possible without my teammates. The whole tournament was such a great experience.”

Carter George (Thunder Bay, ON/Owen Sound, OHL) turned in an exceptional performance, making 31 saves to record his fourth win in as many starts.

A full game summary can be found at HlinkaGretzkyCup.ca.

“I think our guys handled adversity very well. We spoke for a few minutes before the game about expectations, and we knew what kind of crowd it was going to be. It was great for our kids to go out and experience that, and they stepped up when they needed to,” said head coach Alan Letang (Renfrew, ON/Sarnia, OHL). “I am proud of everyone. Our kids got better every day and that was our goal as the tournament went on. It has been a fun ride, but I am looking forward to a little bit of rest now.”

Canada finished the preliminary round in first place in Group B after a loss to Finland (9-6) and wins over Slovakia (14-4) and Switzerland (5-0). It earned its spot in the gold medal game with a 7-2 win over the United States in the semifinals.

Since 1991, Canada has collected 24 gold medals at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, to go along with three silver and one bronze.

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow through social media on Facebook, X and Instagram.

In a rematch of the 2017 final, Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team travels to Breclav to take on co-host Czechia in the gold medal game Saturday at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

Last Game

Canada took care of business against the United States in its semifinal, defeating its North American neighbours 7-2. Berkly Catton tallied two more goals (he has a tournament-leading seven) and added an assist, Maxim Massé scored twice and Carter George turned aside 22 shots as the Canadians scored six unanswered goals over the final 40 minutes.

Czechia is coming off an 8-2 semifinal win over Finland. Adam Benák finished with a goal and two assists, Adam Titlbach scored twice and the Czechs scored four times in less than seven minutes in the back half of the second period to pull away and book a place in the final in front of their home crowd.

Last Meeting

Canada blanked the Czechs 5-0 in pre-tournament action in Breclav last Saturday. Carson Wetsch, Porter Martone, Ryder Ritchie, Michael Misa and Justin Poirier found the back of the net, while Gabriel D’Aigle (22 saves) and Carter George (eight saves) combined for the shutout.

What to Watch

A good place for the Czechs to start with their game plan? Stay out of the penalty box. Canada has been deadly on the power play through four games, scoring seven times on 17 opportunities for a tournament-leading 41.2% success rate. Not surprisingly, the top two Canadian goal scorers are leading the way with the man advantage – Catton (seven goals) and Maxim Massé (five) have two power-plays goals apiece.

A pair of Adams are leading the way for the Czechs – Adam Benak has two goals and six assists, followed by Adam Titlbach with four and three. And let’s not forget about home-ice advantage. Crowds at Fosfa Arena have grown for every Czech game, highlighted by more than 3,800 fans at the semifinal against the Finns. A Saturday night with gold on the line against the defending champs? It should be a terrific atmosphere.

A Look Back

Canada holds a big advantage in the head-to-head matchup, winning 19 out of 23 meetings (with two ties).

Canada has won the last 13 against Czechia, dating back to 2003, outscoring the Czechs 69-16 during that stretch. In the 2017 gold medal game, Jack McBain finished with a goal and two assists, and Noah Dobson and Akil Thomas added two helpers apiece as Canada downed the Czechs 4-1 to claim its 21st gold medal.

All-time record: Canada leads 19-2-2

Canada goals: 106

Czechia goals: 43

Riding the momentum of back-to-back wins to claim top spot in Group B, Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team takes on the United States on Friday for a spot in the gold medal game at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

Last Game

Canada is coming off a crucial 5-0 victory over Switzerland on Wednesday to catapult itself into the semifinals. Berkly Catton scored twice and Cole Beaudoin added a goal and an assist, while Ryder Ritchie and Michael Misa tallied a pair of helpers apiece to lead Canada to the victory. Carter George won his second-straight start in the Canadian crease, recording the 12-save shutout.

The U.S. closed its preliminary round Wednesday with an 8-1 win over Germany . Trevor Connelly scored a hat trick and Will Zellers added a pair of goals as the Americans rode a four-goal first period – and 43 shots on goal – to the victory.

Last Meeting

The North American rivals last met in the semifinals of the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, a thrilling 6-5 overtime victory for Canada . Dylan Cozens tied the game with a buzzer-beater before Josh Williams scored his second of the game 1:44 into the extra frame. Alexis Lafrenière and Xavier Parent finished with a goal and an assist each.

What to Watch

Ever since the Canadian coaching staff shuffled the lines following a tournament-opening loss to Finland, Ryder Ritchie and Michael Misa have been on a tear. With eight points apiece to share the scoring lead with Finland’s Tuomas Suoniemi, the duo have been all over the scoresheet. In the last two games, both Canadian wins, Ritchie has three goals four assists, while Misa has contributed two goals and six helpers.

For the Americans, the offence has come through Connelly, who has three goals and four assists to leave him even with Catton for fourth in tournament scoring. The Tustin, CA native has committed to Providence College for the 2025-26 season, following a season where he scored 47 points (24-23—47) in 57 games with the Tri-City Storm of the USHL.

A Look Back

The neighbours have met 19 times at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, with Canada holding a 12-4-3 (W-L-T) advantage.

Canada is riding a six-game win streak dating back to 2003, and has outscored the U.S. 29-10, including four shutouts in a row between 2004 and 2013. In the 2014 semifinals, three-point performances from Dylan Strome (3-0—3), Jansen Harkins (1-2—3) and Mitchell Stephens (1-2—3) led Canada to an 11-5 victory en route to a gold medal in Breclav.

All-time record: Canada leads 12-4-3

Canada goals: 78

United States goals: 44