Finland’s roster for this summer’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup does not feature any returnees from last year’s team but two defensemen played at the IIHF U-18 World Championships: Juho Piiparinen and Samu Alalauri. As well, Max Laatikainen played some games with the U-18 national team last season.

The team’s top offensive threat might be Oscar Hemming, the younger brother of Dallas Stars prospect Emil Hemming, who led Finland’s U-18 league in scoring, had 19 points in 31 U-20 league games and nine points in nine games for the U-17 national team last year. Hemming will turn 17 during the tournament and is already 6’4” and 187 lbs.

However, with no Finns currently projected to be taken in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft for the second year in a row, this roster isn’t going to strike fear into anybody and, playing in a group with Canada and host Czechs in Brno, advancing to the semifinals will be difficult.

Before the tournament, Finland will have a four-day training camp in Vierumäki from Aug. 4 to 7, followed by a pre-tournament game against Sweden in Piešťany, Slovakia on Aug. 9.

Click here for the complete tournament schedule. 

Venues, Schedule For 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup The Czech Ice Hockey Association and Hockey Slovakia jointly announced this week the <a href="https://hlinkagretzkycup.cz/eng/zapasy.asp">schedule for the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup</a> – an annual summer tournament for players entering their final U18 season.

Goaltenders:  Gammals William, Tappara Tampere; Kartano Markus, Lukko Rauma; Riihimäki Aarni, JYP Jyväskylä.

Defensemen: Alalauri Samu, Pelicans Lahti; Hand Ilpo, Kärpät Oulu; Kasurinen Mici, Pelicans Lahti; Kämäräinen Nicolas, Jokerit Helsinki; Laatikainen Max, Kiekko-Espoo; Piiparinen Juho, Tappara Tampere; Suominen Julius, Lukko Rauma; Uronen Eelis, HIFK Helsinki.

Forwards: Arkko Luka, Pelicans Lahti; Hemming Oscar, Kiekko-Espoo; Kallio Wilmer, TPS Turku; Karassaari Janne, Kärpät Oulu; Kähkönen Viljo, HIFK Helsinki; Laitinen Jiko, Ilves Tampere; Myllyniemi Matias, Ilves Tampere; Rinne Rasmus, Ilves Tampere; Suvanto Oliver, Tappara Tampere; Torkki Oliver, Kiekko-Espoo; Uronen Anttoni, HIFK Helsinki; Vanhatalo Vilho, Tappara Tampere.

Photo © David Reginek-Imagn Images.

Other team rosters announced so far:

Czechs Reveal 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup Roster The Czech Ice Hockey Association announced on Monday its roster for this year’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup, which runs Aug. 9 to 14 in Brno, Czechia and Trenčín, Slovakia. The Czechs have lost in the final to Canada in each of the past two years.