2026 WHL Champion DuPont to captain Canada at Hlinka Gretzky Cup, Pats’ Schultz to serve as alternate
Edmonton, Alta.- Everett Silvertips defenceman and 2026 WHL Champion Landon DuPont will captain Canada as the country eyes a return to the top of the podium at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
The projected top 2027 NHL Draft pick had been invited to participate in the World Junior Summer Showcase, but opted to return to the prestigious U18 tournament in hopes of improving on the bronze medal he won in 2025.
“It’s exciting,” DuPont said during Canada’s training camp. “We want to be the team that kind of starts the year off on a good note and try to bring gold back to Canada.
I think just coming in here, as you know, the only guy that played last year, (I’m) trying to lead the guys as much as I can, but everyone in that room is a leader themselves, so it’s been pretty fun.
Regina Pats forward Maddox Schultz and Saint John Sea Dogs star Alexis Joseph will serve as alternate captains.
DuPont, 17, is the first-ever defenceman granted exceptional status to play in the WHL full-time in his 15-year-old season.
The Calgarian’s sophomore campaign saw him pick up 73 points (18G-55A) and a +59 rating in 63 games to help the Silvertips capture a second consecutive Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as regular season champions and earn a nod as a finalist for WHL Defenceman of the Year.
He added another 23 (5G-18A) postseason points as the Silvertips hoisted the Ed Chynoweth Cup for the first time in franchise history.
Schultz, 16, utilized the Western Canadian Development Model to suit up for 34 games with the Regina Pats as an underager in 2025-26.
The Regina, Sask. native impressed in the small sample size with 29 points (15G-14A) with the WHL club, in addition to a tremendous 60-point (30G-30A) run in 21 games with the U18AAA Regina Pat Canadians.
“He’s a super special player,” Schultz said of playing alongside DuPont. “Seeing what he did last year in the dub, it’s really special… The way he carries himself, the way he treats his teammates is unbelievable. He’s someone, you know, I really look up to.
I think if we have everyone bought in and everyone really connected, I think we can do something special here. Right now, we’re just building family and building, you know, really close relationships with everybody. The end goal is winning gold.”
Nine Western Hockey League skaters will represent Canada at the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
Beyond DuPont and Schultz, the Western contingent features goaltender Leif Oaten (Lethbridge Hurricanes), defenders Boston Tait (Wenatchee Wild) and Brock Cripps (Prince Albert Raiders), as well as forwards Brock England (Seattle Thunderbirds), Ben Harvey (Prince Albert Raiders), Kayden Stroeder (Edmonton Oil Kings) and Liam Pue (Regina Pats).
Canada kicks off the tournament against Switzerland on Monday, August 3, at 5:00 p.m. MT at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alta.
The 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup runs from August 3 to August 8.
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