Five current and incoming WHLers to participate in USA Hockey’s 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup Selection Camp

Three current WHLers and one incoming skater will battle for a roster spot on Team USA for next month’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

Gavin Burcar (Spokane Chiefs), Brooks DeMars (Penticton Vees), Kaeden Tate (Kamloops Blazers), future Brandon Wheat King Colin Grubb and soon-to-be Penticton Vee Whitaker Rewertz are among the 36 players invited to USA Hockey’s Selection Camp in Saint Paul, Minn., starting on July 23.

The 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup runs from August 3-8 in Edmonton, Alta.

Burcar netted 17 points (7G-10A) in his rookie spin with the Spokane Chiefs and even netted his first WHL Playoff goal in the spring.

Demars helped the Penticton Vees set a CHL record for wins by an expansion team in its inaugural season with 37 and tallied 13 points (6G-7A) of his own.

Six-foot-4 goaltender Kaeden Tate got his feet wet in the league with a pair of appearances with the Blazers, going 2-0-0-0 with a 2.51 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage.

Brandon selected Grubb with the 14th overall pick in the 2024 WHL U.S. Priority Draft.

The 17-year-old inked a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement in April of 2026 and will join the Wheat Kings starting in 2026-27.

Whitaker, who signed with Penticton on June 30, has previously skated with his future Vees teammate DeMars at last year’s USA S16 Tournament for Team Grey.

The Hlinka Gretzky Cup will see eight teams (Canada, Czechia, Finland, Germany, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, United States) go head-to-head at Edmonton’s Downtown Community Arena and Rogers Place- the home of the Edmonton Oilers and Edmonton Oil Kings.

The United States will open their title defence against Czechia on Monday, August 3, 2026.

Last year’s tournament saw the United States capture gold for the second time in program history and the first time since 2003, with six WHLers – including NHL prospects Will McLaughlin (Portland Winterhawks / Vegas Golden Knights) and Noa Ta’amu (Edmonton Oil Kings / Winnipeg Jets)- helping to cap off the championship win.

USA Hockey- 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup camp roster