Wenatchee Wild Defenseman Boston Tait Selected to Canadian Hlinka Gretzky Cup Roster
EDMONTON, Alberta – The Wenatchee Wild, proud members of the Western Hockey League (WHL), are excited to announce that 2009-born defenseman Boston Tait has been selected to compete for Team Canada at next week’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Edmonton, Alberta. Tait was chosen to the roster for next week’s tournament from Hockey Canada’s national Under-18 Men’s Summer Training Camp, held as part of Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence. Tait was one of nine defensemen chosen to compete in the camp and one of seven to be chosen to play for Canada in the tournament. 22 players in all were selected to Canada’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup roster.
A native of Estevan, Saskatchewan, Tait excelled last season with the Wild, playing his first full WHL season as a 16-year-old and picking up 23 points in 62 appearances. He was once named the circuit’s Rookie of the Week, scoring his first WHL goal on December 7 and adding three assists over a four-game week. He is also one of 21 players on Canada’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup roster who competed in last year’s World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Nova Scotia, ranking second in the tournament with six assists and serving as an alternate captain for eventual gold medalist Canada Red.
The Hlinka Gretzky Cup is considered one of the top preseason showcases for National Hockey League prospects in the summer prior to their draft seasons, and has been contested since 1991. The tournament is named for longtime Czech national team head coach Ivan Hlinka and Hockey Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky, who won four Stanley Cups during his time with the Edmonton Oilers. This year marks the sixth time that Canada will compete in the tournament on home ice, and the fourth time that Edmonton will host the tournament.
The Hlinka Gretzky Cup will take place in downtown Edmonton, starting with a 4 p.m. puck drop on Monday against Switzerland. Games Tuesday and Wednesday will follow against Slovakia and Sweden, respectively. Semifinals and medal games will follow next Friday and Saturday. Canada has medaled in the tournament each of the last four years, earning three straight gold medals from 2022 to 2024.
The Wenatchee Wild congratulate Boston Tait on his selection to Canada’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup roster, and wish him all success as he again represents Team Canada on the international stage.
