EDMONTON, Alta. – Oilers Entertainment Group (OEG) and Hockey Canada announced today that 7- and 10-game ticket packages for the Hlinka Gretzky Cup games at Rogers Place August 6-11, 2018 are now on sale to the public at HlinkaGretzkyCup.com.

The 10-game package, starting at $185, will feature all six preliminary-round games in the pool that includes Canada, plus two semifinals, the bronze-medal game and gold-medal game. In addition, 10-game package purchasers will be invited to a private reception with Wayne Gretzky during the tournament. The 7-game package, starting at $140, will provide fans the opportunity to select three preliminary-round games of any of the countries in Group A (Canada, Slovakia, Sweden or Switzerland) and also includes both semifinals and both medal games. Group seats will also be available on a first-come, first-served basis starting at just $18 per game with the purchase of 20 seats or more.

“There’s truly nothing like it; this is one of the most heavily scouted tournaments for the NHL draft which means the pressure and expectations on these young athletes is incredibly high,” said Wayne Gretzky, tournament namesake and OEG vice-chair. “For hockey fans, they get to experience best-on-best hockey from some of the world’s greatest hockey nations and are able to follow these young prospects throughout the year as they vie for a coveted spot in the NHL.”

Many tournament alumni have gone on to become stars of the NHL, including Sidney Crosby, Patrik Laine, and Steven Stamkos. Edmonton Oilers Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Darnell Nurse, Oscar Klefbom, Jesse Puljujarvi, Zack Kassian, Kris Russell, and Michael Cammalleri have all represented their country in the tournament. Most recently, highly-touted Swedish defenceman Rasmus Dahlin, a top-rated NHL prospect for the 2018 draft, played in the 2016 tournament.

“For most players it’s the first time you get to play for Team Canada and it gives you a first look at the international competition,” said Oilers centre Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who participated in the tournament in 2010 before being drafted by the team the following year. “You’re playing with the best players in Canada against the best players in the world so of course you’re going to get better from it.”

Partnering with the Government of Alberta, City of Edmonton, City of Red Deer and Red Deer Rebels, OEG and Hockey Canada will host the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in both Edmonton and Red Deer this August. The tournament will feature a total of 18 games, including: 10 at Rogers Place (six preliminary round, two semifinals and the bronze- and gold-medal games); two placement games in the Downtown Community Arena; and six games of the Pool B preliminary round played at the brand-new Servus Arena in Red Deer. Additional pre-competition games have also been announced in Penhold (Sweden vs. Finland), Sylvan Lake (United States vs. Slovakia) and Red Deer (Canada vs. Czech Republic).

Ticket packages for the Hlinka Gretzky Cup games in Red Deer will be made available in the coming weeks.