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A busy offseason brings change across the CHL ahead of the 2026-27 season

Christopher Séguin — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 20:14:54 +0000

By: Dylan Baker New faces are settling into new places as the 2026-27 Canadian Hockey League (CHL) season comes into focus, with training camps opening across the Western Hockey League (WHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). From new voices behind the bench to high-profile player moves and rare interleague matchups, the offseason has reshaped rosters and coaching staffs across all three leagues. Here's a look at some of the biggest storylines as clubs prepare for puck drop in September.

Stepping Up Behind the Bench

Fifteen clubs across the CHL will enter the 2026-27 season with a new head coach. https://twitter.com/MJWARRIORS/status/2083236245313032532?s=20 Out west, five WHL clubs hired new head coaches. The Moose Jaw Warriors promoted Scott King to head coach, replacing Mark O'Leary, who left to become an assistant coach with the AHL's Abbotsford Canucks. The Red Deer Rebels named Brent Kisio head coach, taking over for Marc Habscheid; Kisio previously led Lethbridge from 2015 to 2023. The Regina Pats hired David Bell to replace Brad Herauf — Bell was most recently head coach of the AHL's Belleville Senators. In Swift Current, the Broncos named Travis Crickard head coach and general manager, replacing interim boss Regan Darby; Crickard arrives from the QMJHL's Saint John Sea Dogs. Meanwhile, the Vancouver Giants welcomed back Michael Dyck as head coach and general manager, returning him to the organization after five previous seasons behind the Giants' bench. Six OHL clubs also made changes behind the bench. The Brantford Bulldogs hired Michael Babcock as head coach, replacing Jay McKee, who left for the AHL's Hamilton Hammers; it's Babcock's first CHL job after assistant stints at the University of Saskatchewan and with the AHL's San Diego Gulls. The reigning Memorial Cup champion Kitchener Rangers promoted associate coach Jeff Kyrzakos, taking over for Jussi Ahokas, who left for the AHL's Colorado Eagles. The Niagara IceDogs hired longtime OHL coach Jake Grimes to replace Krys Barch; Grimes has three decades of coaching experience, including an OHL title and a Memorial Cup as an assistant. In Owen Sound, the Attack named Keenan Reynolds head coach, replacing Scott Wray. The Saginaw Spirit hired alumnus Brendan Taylor following Chris Lazary's departure. And the Soo Greyhounds brought back 2018 CHL Coach of the Year Drew Bannister, who led the club to a Western Conference title in his first stint and has since coached in the AHL and NHL with the St. Louis Blues. https://twitter.com/OHLprguy/status/2069148564601659730?s=20 In the QMJHL, four teams made changes behind the bench. The Baie-Comeau Drakkar promoted Patrice Bosch from associate to head coach, taking over from GM Jean-François Grégoire; Bosch has 28 years of coaching experience across the QMJHL and Swiss leagues. In Charlottetown, the Islanders named John Mitchell head coach, succeeding longtime coach Jim Hulton. It's Mitchell's first junior job after leading Okanagan Hockey Academy-Colorado. The Drummondville Voltigeurs promoted Mathieu Gravel to replace Sylvain Favreau, who joined the AHL's Syracuse Crunch as an assistant. Hulton, meanwhile, landed in Saint John, where the 2022 Brian Kilrea CHL Coach of the Year took over the Sea Dogs following an 11-year run with Charlottetown.

New Faces, New Places

Teams across the WHL, OHL and QMJHL spent the summer retooling as they chase league championships on the road to the 107th Memorial Cup presented by Kubota in Guelph, Ont. https://twitter.com/Storm_City/status/2068015956538835214?s=20 The host Guelph Storm have been among the OHL's most active clubs. Their additions include four NHL-drafted prospects: Tampa Bay's Ethan Czata and Chicago's Ryan Roobroeck from Niagara, New York Islanders prospect Vladimir Dravecky from Brantford and Columbus prospect Owen Griffin from Oshawa. They later added Barrie netminder Ben Hrebik, who starred in the 2026 playoffs, and top 2027 NHL Draft prospect Timothy Kazda in the CHL Import Draft. Elsewhere in the OHL, the Peterborough Petes and Brantford Bulldogs completed a notable swap of young forwards, with Cooper Dennis heading to Peterborough and 2025 first overall pick Kaden McGregor going to Brantford. Overage goaltender Ryerson Leenders moved from Brantford to Owen Sound, entering the season 32 victories shy of the OHL's career wins record. The Erie Otters added forward Liam Beamish and goaltender David Egorov, while the Flint Firebirds picked up New Jersey Devils goaltending prospect Trenten Bennett from Owen Sound. Atlantic-based clubs were among the QMJHL's busiest this summer. The Saint John Sea Dogs added Buffalo Sabres goaltending prospect Samuel Meloche from Rouyn-Noranda before acquiring defenceman Thomas Charbonneau and forward Ryan Howard from Québec. The Cape Breton Eagles made several significant additions of their own, landing Washington Capitals prospect Maxim Schäfer, Ottawa Senators goaltending prospect Lucas Beckman, Los Angeles Kings prospect Liam Lefebvre and defenceman Alonso Gosselin from Chicoutimi. And the Halifax Mooseheads added Vegas Golden Knights prospect Mateo Nobert from Blainville-Boisbriand and Austrian forward Paul Sintschnig, the second overall selection in the 2026 CHL Import Draft. https://twitter.com/CBEHockey/status/2063049703634133440?s=20 Elsewhere in the QMJHL, Québec signed two top prospects for the 2027 NHL Draft in Carter Meyer and James Scantlebury; Shawinigan added Boston Bruins prospect Cole Chandler and German forward Elias Schneider from Cape Breton; Victoriaville picked up overage forward Thomas Desruisseaux; and Moncton added Liam Kilfoil from Halifax before signing goaltender Yegor Rybkin, a first-round CHL Import Draft selection. In the WHL, the Victoria Royals and Medicine Hat Tigers made some of the summer's biggest splashes. Victoria landed Dallas Stars prospect Cameron Schmidt, coming off a 51-goal, 100-point season, along with forward Savin Virk from Tri-City and the rights to Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Filip Novak from Lethbridge. Medicine Hat, looking to build on its 2025 Ed Chynoweth Cup title, added forward Josh Evaschesen from Kamloops and the rights to Calgary Flames prospect Mace'o Phillips, a defenceman, from Portland. Both clubs were also active in adding international talent through the 2026 CHL Import Draft. Other WHL moves included Los Angeles Kings prospect Giorgos Pantelas, a defenceman, moving from Brandon to Penticton, draft-eligible defenceman Owen Hayden going from Kelowna to Seattle, and Regina signing forward Parker Trottier, a Montreal Canadiens prospect and the grandson of Hockey Hall of Famer Brian Trottier.

Crossover Episode!

https://twitter.com/victoriaroyals/status/2089761026493575668?s=20 Interleague play will provide some of the most intriguing matchups of the preseason and regular season. The first meeting between WHL and OHL clubs outside the Memorial Cup since 2010 will take place in Victoria, where the London Knights visit the Royals for the two-game “Clash of the Kingdoms” on Sept. 4 and 5. The OHL and QMJHL will also meet when the Saginaw Spirit visit the Newfoundland Regiment from Aug. 28-31, while the Sudbury Wolves travel to Timmins to face the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies on Sept. 2. The crossover continues into the regular season with eight OHL-QMJHL games across four home-and-home series. Val-d'Or visits North Bay on Nov. 1 before the Battalion make the return trip on Jan. 22; Sudbury hosts Rouyn-Noranda on Nov. 1, with the Huskies hosting the rematch on Feb. 21; Gatineau hosts Ottawa on Nov. 20 before the 67's host the Olympiques on Nov. 22; and Blainville-Boisbriand and Kingston meet in Kingston on Nov. 22 and in Blainville-Boisbriand on Jan. 17. https://twitter.com/KingstonFronts/status/2064754490562039999?s=20 Then, the 2026-27 regular season officially gets underway in the third week of September. The OHL opens on Sept. 17 when Kingston visits Peterborough, while the QMJHL and WHL begin their campaigns on Sept. 18 with eight- and five-game opening-night slates, respectively. By Sept. 18, all three leagues will be underway — with a new-look CHL officially beginning its road to the 2027 Memorial Cup in Guelph.

OVO celebrates CHL legends with exclusive OVO x CHL 50 jackets

Christopher Séguin — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 14:45:35 +0000

Members of the CHL’s Top 50 Players of the Last 50 Years are receiving personalized commemorative jackets recognizing their place among five decades of major junior hockey’s greatest players

A special group of players who helped define the first 50 years of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) are receiving a one-of-a-kind keepsake to commemorate their place in CHL history. As part of the CHL’s 50th Anniversary celebrations, members of the Top 50 CHL Players of the Last 50 Years are being recognized with an exclusive, custom OVO x CHL 50 jacket, created to celebrate their remarkable careers and enduring impact on the game. The jackets serve as a fitting final chapter in the CHL’s 50th Anniversary celebrations, which unfolded throughout the 2025-26 season. As one of the anniversary campaign’s marquee initiatives, the Top 50 list celebrated the greatest players from the Western Hockey League (WHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) since 1975-76 — recognizing stars whose foundations were built in major junior hockey before they went on to shape the sport at its highest levels. The Top 50 were selected through a media vote, with the final ranking determined using a weighted combination of media and fan voting. https://twitter.com/CHLHockey/status/2061225004063437211?s=20 Several members of the list received their jackets in person during some of the CHL’s biggest events this past spring. During championship weekend at the 2026 Memorial Cup presented by Kubota in Kelowna, B.C., Eric Lindros (No. 7), Denis Savard (No. 29) and Shea Weber (No. 36) were presented with their exclusive jackets. Weber’s recognition carried an added connection to the host city, where the Sicamous, B.C., native developed into a star with the Kelowna Rockets. Over three seasons, Weber helped the Rockets win two WHL championships and the 2004 Memorial Cup before going on to a Hockey Hall of Fame career. https://twitter.com/TheWHL/status/2062265461350473738?s=20 Connor Bedard (No. 30), the youngest player named to the CHL’s Top 50 list, also received his jacket in Kelowna during the Memorial Cup semifinal. The former Regina Pats captain became the WHL’s first exceptional-status player and finished his junior career with 271 points in just 134 regular-season games. His historic 2022-23 campaign included a CHL-best 143 points before he became the first player to win CHL Top Draft Prospect, CHL Top Scorer and CHL David Branch Player of the Year honours in the same season. A few weeks later, Brendan Shanahan (No. 34) received his OVO x CHL 50 coat during the 2026 CHL Awards. Before a Hockey Hall of Fame career that included three Stanley Cup championships, Shanahan recorded 154 points in 115 games with the London Knights and later had his No. 19 retired by the OHL club. https://twitter.com/CHLHockey/status/2066652849623150668?s=20

Another of the list’s most celebrated names received his jacket this summer, when Wayne Gretzky (No. 3) was presented with his while attending the Gretzky Hockey School in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

The highest-ranked OHL alumnus on the Top 50, Gretzky recorded 182 points (70G-112A) in 64 games with the Soo Greyhounds in 1977-78 — totals that remain the franchise record for points and OHL rookie records for points and assists — before going on to rewrite the NHL record book as “The Great One.”

https://twitter.com/CHLHockey/status/2079984627222007867?s=20 More recently, the celebration has continued with three QMJHL legends — Marc-André Fleury, Pat LaFontaine and Patrick Roy — each receiving their personalized jackets, representing three of the most accomplished alumni in league history. Ranked No. 25, Fleury established himself as one of the QMJHL’s premier goaltenders during four seasons with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. He led the league with a .915 save percentage in 2001-02 and, the following season, earned QMJHL Defensive Player of the Year and Top Prospect honours. Fleury finished his junior career with 151 appearances before becoming the only CHL goaltender ever selected first overall in the NHL Draft. He went on to win three Stanley Cups and a Vezina Trophy while finishing his NHL career second all-time among goaltenders in both wins (575) and games played (1,051). Fleury is also set to join LaFontaine and Roy in the QMJHL Hall of Fame on September 16 as a member of its 2026 induction class. For LaFontaine, ranked No. 20, his lone QMJHL season with the Verdun Juniors remains one of the most extraordinary rookie campaigns in CHL history. In 1982-83, the 17-year-old amassed 234 points, including a CHL rookie-record 104 goals, while earning the league’s scoring title and MVP honours along with CHL Player of the Year. He then helped Verdun capture the 1983 QMJHL championship before beginning a Hockey Hall of Fame NHL career in which he recorded 1,013 points. https://twitter.com/CHLHockey/status/2092585554890080745?s=20 Roy, ranked No. 16 and the highest-ranked goaltender on the CHL’s Top 50 list, developed his trademark durability during three seasons with the Granby Bisons, appearing in 77 per cent of the club’s games and facing an average of 39 shots per contest. He went on to build one of the most decorated careers ever assembled by an NHL goaltender, winning four Stanley Cups, three Vezina Trophies and a record three Conn Smythe Trophies. Roy was inducted into the QMJHL Hall of Fame in 2004, while the league’s Goaltender of the Year award now bears his name.

Together, the recipients to date showcase the remarkable breadth of the CHL’s Top 50 — from generational stars and record-setting scorers to championship leaders and Hockey Hall of Famers whose journeys began in communities across the WHL, OHL and QMJHL.

The celebration is not quite finished. More members of the CHL’s Top 50 are set to receive their personalized OVO x CHL 50 jackets in the coming weeks as the league brings this final chapter of its 50th Anniversary celebrations to a close.

Each jacket serves as a lasting, commemorative reminder of a player’s place in CHL history — recognizing not only what they accomplished in major junior hockey, but the impact they went on to make across generations of players, teams, communities and fans.

The complete rankings and player biographies for the Top 50 CHL Players of the Last 50 Years are available at chl.ca/chl50.

CHL talent leads the way in Wheeler’s pre-season Top 32 rankings for 2027 NHL Draft

Christopher Séguin — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 20:47:56 +0000

Everett's Landon DuPont tops Scott Wheeler's preseason rankings for the 2027 NHL Draft. The Silvertips d-man - who is coming off of captaining Canada to gold at the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup last week - ranks no. 1 on Wheeler's Top 32. "His game just has a firmness to it," Wheeler wrote. "DuPont looks like a future star defenceman in the NHL and I think there's separation between him and the pack at the top at the moment." DuPont helped lead Everett to its first WHL title earlier this year and all in all, amassed 102 points across 85 games in the regular season, playoffs and Memorial Cup. The first d-man granted exceptional status player in WHL history, the 17-year-old is a former CHL and WHL Rookie of the Year winner and has totalled 133 points across his two seasons with Everett. A quartet of CHL players help round at the Top 10 as Saint John's Alexis Joseph (no. 6), Saginaw's Dima Zhilkin (no. 7), Seattle's Brock England (no. 8) and Prince Albert's Brock Cripps (no. 10) all earned high-praise. In all, 10 CHL players are listed inside the Top 16 while 18 players make up the Top 32. Additionally, 15 more CHL players earned honourable mentions.

The 2027 NHL Draft will take place next June in a yet to be determined location.

Ranking	Name	CHL club
No. 1	Landon DuPont	Everett Silvertips (WHL)
No. 6	Alexis Joseph	Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)
No. 7	Dima Zhilkin	Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
No. 8	Brock England	Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
No. 10	Brock Cripps	Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
No. 11	Carter Meyer	Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
No. 13	Jaxon Jacobson	Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
No. 14	Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll	Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
No. 15	Noah Davidson	Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
No. 16	Timothy Kazda	Guelph Storm (OHL)
No. 19	Jaakko Wycisk	Guelph Storm (OHL)
No. 20	Malik L'Italien	Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
No. 22	Jamie Glance	Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)
No. 23	Ryerson Edgar	Niagara IceDogs (OHL)
No. 26	Luca Santala	London Knights (OHL)
No. 27	Roberts Naudins	Penticton Vees (WHL)
No. 31	Boston Tait	Wenatchee Wild (WHL)
No. 32	Kohyn Eshkawkogan	Ottawa 67's (OHL)

Petes’ Novotny signs entry-level deal with Vancouver

Christopher Séguin — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 20:04:58 +0000

The Peterborough Petes' Adam Novotny has signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Vancouver Canucks. Novotny impressed in his maiden campaign in 2025-26 where in 53 games, he recorded 34 goals and 65 points. The ninth overall pick in the 2024 CHL Import Draft, Novotny also suited up for Czechia at the 2026 World Juniors where he won a silver medal. The year prior, he won bronze at the 2025 tournament in Ottawa. Vancouver selected Novotny 24th overall in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Canada dominate to win 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup on home ice

Christopher Séguin — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 16:19:50 +0000

Photo credit: Andy Devlin / Hockey Canada Images Landon DuPont wanted to return to the Hlinka Gretzky Cup for one reason; to win gold. Mission accomplished. The Everett Silvertips defenceman captained Canada to victory at the 2026 tournament a year after a bronze medal motivated him to return. "Ever since Day One, this has been our goal," DuPont said. "This year, every line was going. Every line had chemistry, every 'D' pairing. Every one was stepping up. Last year was a great team as well but we came up short. This year, we just clicked and we were such a close group." https://twitter.com/CHLHockey/status/2086272201570107488 Canada ran rampant in the tournament going a perfect 5-0 that was highlighted by a dominant 8-1 win over the USA in Saturday's final. In all, Canada scored 34 goals where Regina's Maddox Schultz and Guelph's Jaakko Wycisk ended the tournament with 10 points each. "We dreamt of this moment from the start of the tournament," Schultz said. "Coming here on July 26, wanting gold and knowing that was our mission, it's crazy to be wearing the medal around our necks now. Every one is super excited." Regina's Liam Pue led all players with six goals while Newfoundland's Benjamin Veitch found the back of the net five times. In four games, Lethbridge's Leif Oaten registered a 2.25 GAA while Cape Breton's Sam Berthiaume won Canada's first game of the tournament. Schultz and Pue - who both played the tournament as underagers - each wrote their names into the record books as Schultz's 10 points are the most ever by a Canadian U17 skater at the tournament with Pue right on his heels. Alongside North Bay's Camryn Warren, Canada's top line combined for 26 points. "Two very talented and special players," Warren said. "It was a privilege to be able to play with them this tournament. Once you play a couple of games together, you find out where guys move and where to be, spots on the ice, we were able to find each other and we were just clicking." https://twitter.com/HockeyCanada/status/2086299186325229954 The victory marked Canada's 26th gold medal at the tournament. Saturday was also the first meeting between Canada and the USA in the gold medal game since 2013. Canada was led by North Bay head coach Ryan Oulahen who in the process captured his third Hlinka Gretzky Cup gold medal. However, 2026 was a touch sweeter as it was the first time as head coach after winning in 2018 and 2024 as an assistant. "Everybody, literally, bought into how we wanted to do things and how we wanted to go about things," Oulahen said. "It's an impressive group led by an impressive staff around me. I'm going to remember this forever." 22 CHL players win gold with Canada at 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup (G) Sam Berthiaume (Cape Breton Eagles / QMJHL) (G) Leif Oaten (Lethbridge Hurricanes / WHL) (D) Brock Cripps (Prince Albert Raiders / WHL) (D) Landon DuPont (Everett Silvertips / WHL) (D) Matt Henderson (Kingston Frontenacs / OHL) (D) Malik L’Italien (Halifax Mooseheads / QMJHL) (D) Cooper McAslan (London Knights / OHL) (D) Quinn Norman (Newfoundland Regiment / QMJHL) (D) Boston Tait (Wenatchee Wild / WHL) (F) Brock Chitaroni (Ottawa 67’s / OHL) (F) Ryerson Edgar (Niagara IceDogs / OHL) (F) Brock England (Seattle Thunderbirds / WHL) (F) Ben Harvey (Prince Albert Raiders / WHL) (F) Alexis Joseph (Saint John Sea Dogs / QMJHL) (F) Aleks Kulemin (Kingston Frontenacs / OHL) (F) Charlie Murata (Flint Firebirds / OHL) (F) Liam Pue (Regina Pats / WHL) (F) Maddox Schultz (Regina Pats / WHL) (F) Kayden Stroeder (Edmonton Oil Kings / WHL) (F) Benjamin Veitch (Newfoundland Regiment / QMJHL) (F) Camryn Warren (North Bay Battalion / OHL) (F) Jaakko Wycisk (Guelph Storm / OHL)

2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup daily – Aug. 9

Christopher Séguin — Sun, 09 Aug 2026 17:40:43 +0000

Canada were crowned 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup champions after they beat the USA in Saturday's final in Edmonton. Day 5 results (Aug. 8 2026) Finland 3-2 Slovakia Sweden 4-2 Germany Canada 8-1 USA About yesterday: Canada were crowned champions for a 26th time after they defeated the USA 8-1. Regina's Maddox Schultz and Liam Pue each had two goals and an assist while Seattle's Brock England also had a pair of goals. Guelph's Jaakko Wycisk had two points (1G/1A) and Newfoundland's Benjamin Veitch also found the back of the net. Everett's Landon DuPont had four assists as Lethbridge's Leif Oaten stopped 16 saves. https://twitter.com/CHLHockey/status/2086267201322152122 In the bronze medal game, Finland erased a 2-0 deficit to beat Slovakia 3-2 to win their first Hlinka Gretzky Cup medal since 2022. London's Luca Santala and Moncton prospect Paavo Fugleberg each had a goal and an assist in the win. In the day's other game, Sweden beat Germany 4-2 to finish seventh. CHL leading scorers:

Name	Country	CHL club
10 -Maddox Schultz	Canada	Regina Pats (WHL)
10 - Jaakko Wycisk	Canada	Guelph Storm (OHL)
9 - Liam Pue	Canada	Regina Pats (WHL)
9 - Kayden Stroeder	Canada	Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
9 - Gavin Burcar	USA	Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
8 - Tomas Selic*	Slovakia	Flint Firebirds (OHL)
8 - Landon DuPont	Canada	Everett Silvertips (WHL)
8 - Benjamin Veitch	Canada	Newfoundland Regiment (QMJHL)
8 - Camryn Warren	Canada	North Bay Battalion (OHL)

* Selected in CHL Import Draft but unsigned

35 CHL players and prospects capture medals as Canada wins gold at the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup

Christopher Séguin — Sun, 09 Aug 2026 02:13:41 +0000

Canada’s all-CHL roster completed a perfect 5-0 tournament with an 8-1 victory over the United States; the CHL’s 35-player medal group was the largest of any development league at the event

Thirty-five players and prospects from the Western Hockey League (WHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) reached the podium tonight at the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Edmonton, Alberta, as Canada captured gold, the United States earned silver and Finland claimed bronze. The CHL contingent includes all 22 members of Canada’s roster, along with 11 CHL players who represented the United States during the tournament and two who helped Finland capture bronze. Representing 26 CHL clubs, the 35-player group is the largest medal-winning contingent affiliated with any development league at the event. Canada secured its record-extending 26th summer under-18 gold medal with a commanding 8-1 victory over the United States at Rogers Place. Maddox Schultz and Liam Pue (both Regina Pats / WHL) each recorded two goals and an assist, Brock England (Seattle Thunderbirds / WHL) scored twice, Jaakko Wycisk (Guelph Storm / OHL) added a goal and an assist, and captain Landon DuPont (Everett Silvertips / WHL) collected four assists. Wycisk capped the scoring at 12:15 of the third period, with Kayden Stroeder (Edmonton Oil Kings / WHL) and DuPont drawing the assists. Schultz’s first-period power-play goal stood as the game-winner, while Leif Oaten (Lethbridge Hurricanes / WHL) backstopped the victory and allowed only one goal. The victory gave Canada its first Hlinka Gretzky Cup gold medal since 2024. Canada finished the tournament with a perfect 5-0 record, outscoring its opponents 34-12 with at least six goals in every game. Canada’s CHL talent also dominated the final scoring leaderboard. Schultz (3G-7A) and Wycisk (2G-8A) shared the tournament lead with 10 points apiece, with Wycisk leading all players with eight assists. Pue, Gavin Burcar (Spokane Chiefs / WHL), and Stroeder finished one point back with nine points, while Pue’s six goals led all players. The tournament’s final top 10 consisted entirely of CHL players and prospects, including seven members of Canada’s gold-medal-winning team. Tomáš Selič (Flint Firebirds / OHL) and DuPont each finished with eight points, while Benjamin Veitch (Newfoundland Regiment / QMJHL), Camryn Warren (North Bay Battalion / OHL) and Alessandro Domenichelli (Portland Winterhawks / WHL) recorded seven apiece. Earlier Saturday, Finland erased a 2-0 deficit to earn bronze with a 3-2 victory over Slovakia. Paavo Fugleberg (Moncton Wildcats / QMJHL) scored Finland’s first goal, while London Knights forward Luca Santala tied the game 34 seconds into the third period. Fugleberg and Santala then assisted on the power-play winner, meaning they factored into all three Finnish goals and each finished the bronze medal game with a goal and an assist. Both recorded six points during the tournament. The 35-player medal group includes 15 from the OHL, 13 from the WHL and seven from the QMJHL. Canada’s 22-player roster spans 18 clubs, while the United States’ 11 CHL players come from 11 clubs. Finland’s two medallists are London Knights forward Santala and Moncton Wildcats prospect Fugleberg. Across all eight participating countries, 57 CHL players and prospects competed at the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, representing 34 of the CHL’s 61 member clubs. The total increased from the 56 originally announced after Saginaw Spirit (OHL) forward Sawyer Schmidt joined the United States as an injury replacement for Penticton Vees (WHL) forward Brooks DeMars. DeMars appeared in all three preliminary-round games before Schmidt made his tournament debut in Friday’s semifinal victory over Slovakia. Among the 57 CHL players and prospects who participated, the WHL accounted for 23, the OHL for 22 and the QMJHL for 12. Thirty-one played at least one CHL regular-season game in 2025–26, while at least 42 are expected to compete in the CHL in 2026–27—17 in the WHL, 18 in the OHL and seven in the QMJHL—the largest contingent of any development league represented at the tournament. The CHL was also the only development league represented on all eight national teams. Canada led all countries with 22 CHL players, followed by Czechia with 12 and the United States with 11. Slovakia featured four, Germany had three, Finland and Sweden each had two, and Switzerland had one. Canada’s gold-medal roster was composed entirely of CHL players—nine from the WHL, eight from the OHL and five from the QMJHL—representing 18 clubs across the CHL’s Member Leagues. Nineteen of the 22 were first-round selections in their respective CHL Member League drafts, including 16 top-10 picks. Captain DuPont and alternate captains Alexis Joseph (Saint John Sea Dogs / QMJHL) and Schultz were each selected first overall in a CHL Member League draft. Canada’s gold-medal run was also supported by a staff drawn from across the CHL. Twelve members of the team’s management, coaching and support staff represented 12 CHL clubs across all three Member Leagues, including assistant general manager Yanick Lemay (Drummondville Voltigeurs / QMJHL) and the entire six-member coaching staff led by Ryan Oulahen (North Bay Battalion / OHL). CHL personnel also filled key equipment, athletic therapy and medical roles, extending the league’s contribution to Canada’s victory well beyond its all-CHL playing roster. Eleven CHL players represented the United States over the course of the tournament—six from the OHL, four from the WHL and one from the QMJHL. The tournament offered an early best-on-best showcase for the 2027 NHL Draft class, with 44 of the 57 CHL players and prospects eligible to be selected next June. At the 2026 NHL Draft, 22 of the 51 players selected after competing at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup—or 43 per cent—were CHL-developed. Overall, 106 CHL-developed players were chosen in 2026, more than any development league worldwide, including 16 of the 32 first-round selections. For final schedules, scores, rosters and statistics, visit HlinkaGretzkyCup.ca. QUICK FACTS

CHL players and prospects accounted for 23 of the 24 individual scoring points recorded in the gold medal game, including all eight Canadian goals and both assists on the United States’ lone tally.
The 35-player medal group included 23 forwards, eight defencemen and four goaltenders.
Seven CHL clubs had a tournament-high three participants: the Brantford Bulldogs, Edmonton Oil Kings, Flint Firebirds, Kingston Frontenacs, Lethbridge Hurricanes, Newfoundland Regiment and Saint John Sea Dogs.
Kingston was the only club whose three participants all reached the podium, with Matt Henderson and Aleks Kulemin winning gold for Canada and Nolan Snyder earning silver with the United States.
Twenty-three of the 35 CHL players and prospects representing countries other than Canada were selected in the 2026 CHL Import Draft, including 14 first-round picks; nine had signed Scholarship and Development Agreements as of Aug. 8.
Canada’s 12 CHL-affiliated staff members represented 12 different clubs: five from the QMJHL, four from the WHL and three from the OHL.

57 CHL players and prospects participated at the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup An asterisk (*) denotes a player selected in the 2026 CHL Import Draft who had not signed a Scholarship and Development Agreement as of Aug. 8. GOLD – Canada (22) (G) Sam Berthiaume (Cape Breton Eagles / QMJHL) (G) Leif Oaten (Lethbridge Hurricanes / WHL) (D) Brock Cripps (Prince Albert Raiders / WHL) (D) Landon DuPont (Everett Silvertips / WHL) (D) Matt Henderson (Kingston Frontenacs / OHL) (D) Malik L’Italien (Halifax Mooseheads / QMJHL) (D) Cooper McAslan (London Knights / OHL) (D) Quinn Norman (Newfoundland Regiment / QMJHL) (D) Boston Tait (Wenatchee Wild / WHL) (F) Brock Chitaroni (Ottawa 67’s / OHL) (F) Ryerson Edgar (Niagara IceDogs / OHL) (F) Brock England (Seattle Thunderbirds / WHL) (F) Ben Harvey (Prince Albert Raiders / WHL) (F) Alexis Joseph (Saint John Sea Dogs / QMJHL) (F) Aleks Kulemin (Kingston Frontenacs / OHL) (F) Charlie Murata (Flint Firebirds / OHL) (F) Liam Pue (Regina Pats / WHL) (F) Maddox Schultz (Regina Pats / WHL) (F) Kayden Stroeder (Edmonton Oil Kings / WHL) (F) Benjamin Veitch (Newfoundland Regiment / QMJHL) (F) Camryn Warren (North Bay Battalion / OHL) (F) Jaakko Wycisk (Guelph Storm / OHL) STAFF WITH GOLD-MEDAL-WINNING CANADA (12) Assistant general manager Yanick Lemay (Drummondville Voltigeurs / QMJHL) Head coach Ryan Oulahen (North Bay Battalion / OHL) Assistant coach Ryan McDonald (Prince Albert Raiders / WHL) Assistant coach Brad MacKenzie (Halifax Mooseheads / QMJHL) Assistant coach Kyle Chipchura (Edmonton Oil Kings / WHL) Goaltending coach Jeff Harvey (Saskatoon Blades / WHL) Video coach Matthew Smith (Newfoundland Regiment / QMJHL) Head equipment manager Andrew MacNeill (Charlottetown Islanders / QMJHL) Equipment manager J.R. Grant (Windsor Spitfires / OHL) Head athletic therapist Colton Reiley (Cape Breton Eagles / QMJHL) Athletic therapist Taylor Cochrane (Kamloops Blazers / WHL) Team physician Dr. Danielle Kelton (London Knights / OHL) SILVER – United States (11) (G) Mason Courville (Flint Firebirds / OHL) (G) Kaeden Tate (Kamloops Blazers / WHL) (D) Cameron Minella (Halifax Mooseheads / QMJHL) (F) Ty Bergeron (Windsor Spitfires / OHL) (F) Gavin Burcar (Spokane Chiefs / WHL) (F) Brooks DeMars (Penticton Vees / WHL) (F) Gerry DiCunzolo (Peterborough Petes / OHL) (F) Colin Grubb (Brandon Wheat Kings / WHL) (F) Sawyer Schmidt (Saginaw Spirit / OHL) (F) Nolan Snyder (Kingston Frontenacs / OHL) (F) Michael Tang (Niagara IceDogs / OHL) BRONZE – Finland (2) (F) Paavo Fugleberg (Moncton Wildcats / QMJHL)* (F) Luca Santala (London Knights / OHL) Czechia (12) (D) Dominick Radim Byrtus (Lethbridge Hurricanes / WHL) (D) Jiří Gombár (Kitchener Rangers / OHL) (D) Lukáš Kachlíř (Edmonton Oil Kings / WHL)* (F) Dario Blengino (Everett Silvertips / WHL) (F) Matyáš Čančík (Saint John Sea Dogs / QMJHL) (F) Michal Hartl (Chicoutimi Saguenéens / QMJHL)* (F) Petr Hörnig (Kelowna Rockets / WHL)* (F) Melichar Kovář (Soo Greyhounds / OHL)* (F) Maxmilián Mareš (Rimouski Océanic / QMJHL)* (F) Adam Němec (Brantford Bulldogs / OHL) (F) Jonáš Vaníček (Edmonton Oil Kings / WHL) (F) Oliver Vaňha (Lethbridge Hurricanes / WHL) Germany (3) (F) Nikita Bloch (Newfoundland Regiment / QMJHL)* (F) Max Calce (Brantford Bulldogs / OHL)* (F) Jonas Schwarz (Spokane Chiefs / WHL)* Slovakia (4) (D) Oliver Botka (Vancouver Giants / WHL)* (F) Max Melicherik (Portland Winterhawks / WHL)* (F) Oliver Ozogány (Saint John Sea Dogs / QMJHL)* (F) Tomáš Selič (Flint Firebirds / OHL)* Sweden (2) (G) Vilmer Salén Forsberg (Brantford Bulldogs / OHL) (F) Benjamin Nyström (Kitchener Rangers / OHL)* Switzerland (1) (F) Alessandro Domenichelli (Portland Winterhawks / WHL)

2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup daily – Aug. 8

Christopher Séguin — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 16:20:48 +0000

Canada and USA will meet in the final of the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup on Saturday. Day 4 results (Aug. 7 2026) USA 5-2 Slovakia Canada 6-3 Finland Switzerland 5-1 Czechia About yesterday: Spokane's Gavin Burcar continued his impressive tournament as he had four points (1G/3A) as the USA beat Slovakia 5-2 to reach the gold medal game. Brandon's Colin Grubb also added an assist in the win as the Americans will now have a chance to defend their title from a year ago. Canada returned to the final of the tourament for the first time since 2024 after they doubled up Finland 6-3. Newfoundland's Benjamin Veitch (2G/2A), Guelph's Jaakko Wycisk (1G/3A) and Edmonton's Kayden Stroeder (1G/1A) combined for 10 points while Everett's Landon DuPont and Halifax's Malik L'Italien also scored. Lethbridge's Leif Oaten made 24 saves in the win. https://twitter.com/CHLHockey/status/2085899221727945166 Portland's Alessandro Domenichelli had three more points (1G/2A) to power Switzerland to a 5-1 victory over Czechia and in the process, secured fifth place for the Swiss. Edmonton prospect Lukas Kachlir scored in defeat for the Czechs. Day 5 schedule (Aug. 8 2026) Finland vs. Slovakia - 2pm ET / 12pm MT Germany vs. Sweden – 4pm ET / 2pm MT Canada vs. USA – 7pm ET / 5pm MT Where to watch The bronze medal game between Finland and Slovakia is live on TSN4 as is the gold medal contest between Canada and the USA.

Saginaw’s Schmidt jumps into USA line-up in Hlinka Gretzky Cup semi-final win

Christopher Séguin — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 22:49:02 +0000

Just yesterday, Sawyer Schmidt was at home in Buffalo and continuing preparation for the upcoming OHL season with Saginaw. Twenty-four hours later, he was helping the USA reach the final of the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Edmonton. "It's a tremendous honour," Schmidt said. "I had no idea, I wasn't expecting it but I'm ready for it and to represent Saginaw and everyone [like] my family and the USA." After he got the call, the 16-year-old hopped across the border and drove to Toronto where he caught a flight to Edmonton to link up with his teammates. Schmidt was part of the USA's training camp for the tournament but didn't initially make the roster. He said he had no inclination he was on a stand-by list in case a call-up was needed. "Putting the jersey on, it's more than yourself; it's the whole country," Schmidt said. "It's like no other." Having spent time with the roster in camp, there was a level of familiarity but nevertheless, Schmidt was parachuted into the USA's biggest game of the tournament where they beat Slovakia 5-2 to reach the gold medal game for the second straight year. "The guys, the coaches ... they made it easy on me. It's a great group of guys, they really picked me up and helped me out on the ice." Schmidt's rookie season in Sagianw saw him make 25 appearances where he had two points (1G/1A). He also played four playoff games but is excited to help the Spirit go on a deeper run next season and play in a number of scenarios. "It's a great organization and I am glad to be a part of it," he said. "We'll be a real good team next year so I am excited." The USA will play either Canada or Finland for gold Saturday at 7pm ET / 5pm MT.

Canada completes perfect round-robin at Hlinka Gretzky Cup

Christopher Séguin — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 19:27:55 +0000

Photo credit: Andy Devlin / Hockey Canada Images Goal one has been achieved by Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. A perfect 3-0 round-robin saw Canada top Group A in Edmonton and in the process, set up a semi-final clash with Finland Friday. "The job's not finished but we've been playing really well," said Regina's Maddox Schultz. "It feels good to beat some teams that had some high hopes coming into this tournament." Canada beat Switzerland 7-3, Slovakia 6-1 and Sweden 7-4 across three straight days to top the pool. Their 20 goals were the most among the eight participating teams. "Every game you want to get a little bit better and I think we have done that," said head coach Ryan Oulahen, who holds the same position in North Bay. "The first checkmark is done and now we have a big challenge [Friday]." Finland finished second in Group B - behind the 3-0 USA - after they collected a pair of wins over Germany (5-2) and Czechia (5-4), the latter of which confirmed their spot in the final four. https://twitter.com/CHLHockey/status/2085431677690777642 "We saw a bit of them in the U17's," said Flint's Charlie Murata. "They are a skilled European team. They like to move the puck and like possession in the offensive zone with the puck. "It's going to ramp up," Oulahen added. "It's a semi-final but the one thing that does impress us with them is the way they can possess the puck. they have some really good offensive players." But one thing is certain, Canada are primarily focused on themselves. At the end of the day, they control their own destiny and if they are going to play for a 26th Hlinka Gretzky Cup gold medal on Saturday, they will once again have to get a little bit better. "Ultimately we want to focus on ourselves," Oulahen said. "I think in this quick tournament, we check our boxes first [but] it's going to be a good challenge."

For more information on the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, click here. Canada’s roster for the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup Goaltenders (2) Sam Berthiaume (Cape Breton Eagles / QMJHL) Leif Oaten (Lethbridge Hurricanes / WHL) Defencemen (7) Brock Cripps (Prince Albert Raiders / WHL) Landon DuPont (Everett Silvertips / WHL) Matt Henderson (Kingston Frontenacs / OHL) Malik L’Italien (Halifax Mooseheads / QMJHL) Cooper McAslan (London Knights / OHL) Quinn Norman (Newfoundland Regiment / QMJHL) Boston Tait (Wenatchee Wild / WHL) Forwards (13) Brock Chitaroni (Ottawa 67’s / OHL) Ryerson Edgar (Niagara IceDogs / OHL) Brock England (Seattle Thunderbirds / WHL) Ben Harvey (Prince Albert Raiders / WHL) Alexis Joseph (Saint John Sea Dogs / QMJHL) Aleks Kulemin (Kingston Frontenacs / OHL) Charlie Murata (Flint Firebirds / OHL) Liam Pue (Regina Pats / WHL) Maddox Schultz (Regina Pats / WHL) Kayden Stroeder (Edmonton Oil Kings / WHL) Benjamin Veitch (Newfoundland Regiment / QMJHL) Camryn Warren (North Bay Battalion / OHL) Jaakko Wycisk (Guelph Storm / OHL)