Oil Kings’ Stroeder scores twice on home ice, Canada flattens Slovakia 6-1 at Hlinka Gretzky Cup

Edmonton, Alta.- Five Western Hockey League skaters, including Edmonton Oil Kings forward Kayden Stroeder, enjoyed a multi-point night as Canada rolled Slovakia 6-1 to improve to 2-0-0-0 at the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

2026 WHL Champion and Defenceman of the Year finalist Landon DuPont (Everett Silvertips / Calgary, Alta.) was named Canada’s Player of the Game with a one-goal, one-assist effort.

The opening frame proved to be a much closer affair than Canada’s tournament-opener, which saw the Canucks and Switzerland combine for six goals in the first nine minutes.

Still, Canada struck first blood as projected top 2027 NHL Draft pick DuPont received a clean pass from Saint John Sea Dogs star Alexis Joseph and beat the Slovakian netminder on a powerplay wraparound.

2025 WHL first-overall pick Maddox Schultz (Regina Pats / Regina, Sask.) picked up a secondary assist on the play.

Slovakia briefly tied the game with a point-blank goal from Patrik Rychlik, but Canada restored its lead 19 seconds later as the other Pats sniper, Liam Pue (Langley, B.C.), burst up the wing and lasered a pass to Camryn Warren (North Bay Battalion / OHL) for a quick deke on Nicko Zakk Havel. Boston Tait (Wenatchee Wild / Estevan, Sask.) earned the second helper.

Havel stood on his head with a 16-save second period, but Oil Kings forward Stroeder (Saskatoon, Sask.) extended Canada’s lead to 3-1 with a quick snapper on a powerplay rush.

In the final period, the floodgates opened as Canada potted two goals within four minutes.

The Brocks linked up as Rookie of the Year finalist Brock Cripps (Prince Albert Raiders / Victoria, B.C.) and Brock England (Seattle Thunderbirds / Red Deer, Alta.) combined for a strong chance before Ryerson Edgar (Niagara Wolves / OHL) cleaned up a rebound in the slot.

Less than two minutes later, DuPont curled behind the Slovakia net to tee up Stroeder for a sharp one-timer in the slot and a 5-1 lead.

Canada’s youngest players, Pue and Schultz, linked up again as Pue polished off an around-the-net passing play for his second point of the night and third goal of the tournament to close out the scoring.

Lethbridge Hurricanes puckstopper Leif Oaten (Calgary, Alta.) made 12 stops for a .923 save percentage in his tournament debut.

Canada (2-0-0-0) will battle Sweden (0-1-1-0) in a high-stakes match at Rogers Place on Wednesday, August 4, at 5:00 p.m. MT.

A Canadian victory would eliminate the Swedes from medal contention.

NOTES

2026 CHL Import Draft pick Petr Hornig (Kelowna Rockets) dazzled with two goals and an assist for Czechia in an 8-3 win over Germany… Incoming Lethbridge Hurricanes blueliner Dominick Radim Byrtus assisted both of Hornig’s tallies, while Edmonton Oil Kings’ first-round import pick Lukas Kachlir racked up three assists… Another Oil King, Jonas Vanicek, scored his first goal of the tournament- and first in his new home rink…Canes pick Oliver Vanha scored to chase the German netminder, and Everett Silvertips signee Dario Blengino nabbed an assist…Spokane Chiefs signee Jacob Schwarz scored for Germany in the loss… Portland Winterhawks forward Alessandro Domenichelli logged a goal and an assist as Switzerland stunned Sweden 7-6.