Canada on the hunt for four-peat at Hlinka Gretzky Cup
Photo credit: Josh Kim
As per usual, the only thing on Canada’s mind as they open the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup is gold.
Canada has a chance to make it fourth straight titles at the tournament next week when this year’s event gets underway from Brno, Czechia and Trencin, Slovakia.
“It’s always an honour to wear the Maple Leaf on your chest,” said Sarnia’s Alessandro Di Iorio. “It’s a tough team to make. It’s one of the only best-on-best tournaments … and I’m really eager to get the tournament started.”
Champions in 2022, 2023 and 2024, Canada has routinely showcased its dominance in the summer. Their 25 gold medals – in just 32 events – are the most in tournament history while they have medalled (three silver, one bronze) a total of 29 times.
Their all-time record at the tournament is also astonishing; they have won 107 of 129 games played.
“It’s such an honour to be part of this team and be able to wear the Team Canada leaf on your chest” said Windsor’s Ethan Belchetz. “Every single time you put that jersey on it means so much and I’m so grateful to be in this position.”
Canada’s roster, as per usual, has a wealth of international experience. Of the 24 CHL players selected, 20 have previously represented their country.
Six players helped Canada to gold earlier this year at the U18 World Championships while 13 players led Canada White to a gold medal at the 2024 World U17 Hockey Challenge.
“The guys who are here, basically everyone knows everyone,” Vancouver’s Ryan Lin said. “We’ve all played with or against each other but it’s nice for everyone to be on the same team, bond as a team and try to win a gold medal.”
A major strength of Canada’s roster this year will be their blue line. Carson Carels (Prince George Cougars / WHL), Ryan Lin (Vancouver Giants / WHL), Daxon Rudolph (Prince Albert Raiders / WHL) and Keaton Verhoeff (Victoria Royals / WHL) were all part of Canada’s U18 triumph while Landon DuPont – the 2024-25 CHL Rookie of the Year and one of just nine players to be granted exceptional status in league history – will be another major anchor.
“Our defence is really strong and we have a lot of guys who played for Team Canada before and won,” Lin said.
“It’s going to be a huge strength,” DuPont added. “It’s a pretty short tournament but when you have d-men like that it’s going to help a lot. Those guys are unreal offensively and defensively so being able to play with them and watch them is going to be pretty cool.”
Up front, five players surpassed 20 goals last year as rookies in Beckham Edwards (Sarnia Sting / OHL), Pierce Mbuyi (Owen Sound Attack / OHL), Mathis Preston (Spokane Chiefs / WHL), Liam Ruck (Medicine Hat Tigers / WHL) and Cooper Williams (Saskatoon Blades / WHL).
“Top-to-bottom, it’s a really good team,” Di Iorio said.
In a pair of pre-tournament games, Canada beat Hungary 7-1 and blanked Slovakia 7-0. Edwards led the way with a pair of goals against Hungary while seven different players found the back of the net against the co-hosts as Gavin Betts (Kingston Frontenacs / OHL) and Carter Esler (Spokane Chiefs / WHL) combined for a shutout between the pipes.
Additionally, on Saturday Verhoeff was named captain while Di Iorio, DuPont, Rudolph and Adam Valentini (Kitchener Rangers / OHL) will each wear an ‘A’.
Meet the captains! / Voici nos capitaines! 🇨🇦
C: Keaton Verhoeff (@HockeyAlberta)
A: Alessandro Di Iorio (@OHFHockey)
A: Landon DuPont (@HockeyAlberta)
A: Daxon Rudolph (@HockeyAlberta)
A: Adam Valentini (@OHFHockey)#HlinkaGretzkyCup | #CoupeHlinkaGretzky pic.twitter.com/yytTMXBxHL— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) August 8, 2025
The defending champions have been drawn into Group A and will face Finland (Aug. 11), Switzerland (Aug. 12) and Czechia (Aug. 13) in the round-robin. The final is set for Aug. 16 at 11am ET / 8am PT.
TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will broadcast select tournament games, including all Canada games.
For a full tournament schedule, click here.
24 CHL players to represent Canada at 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup
Goaltenders:
Gavin Betts (Kingston Frontenacs / OHL) ^
Carter Esler (Spokane Chiefs / WHL)
Jason Schaubel (Kitchener Rangers / OHL)
Defencemen:
Carson Carels (Prince George Cougars / WHL) *
Cameron Chartrand (Saint John Sea Dogs / QMJHL)
Callum Croskery (Soo Greyhounds / OHL) ^
Landon DuPont (Everett Silvertips / WHL)
Ryan Lin (Vancouver Giants / WHL) *^
Giorgos Pantelas (Brandon Wheat Kings / WHL) ^
Daxon Rudolph (Prince Albert Raiders / WHL) *^
Keaton Verhoeff (Victoria Royals / WHL) *^
Forwards:
Ethan Belchetz (Windsor Spitfires / OHL) ^
Alessandro Di Iorio (Sarnia Sting / OHL) *
Beckham Edwards (Sarnia Sting / OHL) *^
Colin Fitzgerald (Peterborough Petes / OHL)
Jean-Christoph Lemieux (Windsor Spitfires / OHL) ^
Pierce Mbuyi (Owen Sound Attack / OHL)
Mathis Preston (Spokane Chiefs / WHL) ^
Thomas Rousseau (Sherbrooke Phoenix/ QMJHL)
Liam Ruck (Medicine Hat Tigers / WHL) ^
Markus Ruck (Medicine Hat Tigers / WHL) ^
Cooper Williams (Saskatoon Blades / WHL)
Adam Valentini (Kitchener Rangers / OHL) ^
Dimian Zhilkin (Saginaw Spirit / OHL)
* won gold at 2025 IIHF U18 World Championships
^ won gold at 2024 World U17 Hockey Challenge
