Team Canada will take on Team USA in the final of the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
The 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup wraps up on August 8 as Team Canada and Team USA renew their rivalry in the Gold Medal game. The summer tournament is a great scouting opportunity, as it features some of the top prospects that will be eligible for the 2027 and 2028 NHL Drafts. With the Vancouver Canucks currently in a rebuild, some of these players participating in the Gold Medal game could one day find themselves as part of the organization.
The biggest name heading into the final is Canada captain Landon DuPont. The 17-year-old defenceman has dominated the WHL over the last two seasons and is the projected first overall pick for the 2027 draft. Committed to the University of Michigan for next year, DuPont has the potential to be a franchise-altering defender at the NHL level.
Overall, Canada has several players projected as first-rounders in the 2027 draft. This includes Brock Cripps, Brock England and Alexis Joseph. All three have played big roles for Canada and will be leaned on heavily in the final.
It is also never too early to start scouting the 2028 draft. Both Maddox Schultz and Liam Pue have been lighting up the tournament, despite only being 16. Fans in the Vancouver area will have the chance to see these two future stars in person later this year as the Regina Pats visit the Vancouver Giants in WHL play on November 27.
Finally, on the USA side, a name to watch is Joey Cullen. The 16-year-old is the son of former NHLer Matt Cullen and is considered a top prospect for the 2028 draft. Cullen has been a leader for the Americans and will need to have a big game for Team USA to capture Gold.
The 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup final is scheduled for August 8, 2026 at 4:00 pm PT. The Gold Medal game will be broadcast on TSN. Canada is looking for its 26th Gold Medal at the tournament, while the Americans will have their eyes set on becoming back-to-back champions.
Landon DuPont of the Everett Silvertips (Photo Credit: Evan Morud/Everett Silvertips/WHL)Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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