National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team prepares for Hlinka Gretzky Cup
Hockey Canada has announced the 27 players selected for the National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team training camp. This camp is a preparatory step for the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, which will take place from August 3-8 in Edmonton. The training camp itself is scheduled from July 27 to August 1 at NAIT Arena and Rogers Place in Edmonton.
The roster includes three goaltenders, nine defencemen, and 15 forwards. The selection process involved Program of Excellence (POE) general manager Alan Millar, POE head scout Byron Bonora, and U18 assistant general manager Yanick Lemay. They received input from Scott Salmond, senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations, and Benoit Roy, director of hockey operations.
Millar expressed enthusiasm for the group, noting it is a talented and well-rounded selection of young players. He highlighted the staff’s efforts to identify a roster that aims for success on home ice. The team is looking forward to gathering in Edmonton to continue preparations for the tournament, with the goal of achieving a podium finish in front of Canadian fans.
Among the 27 players, 25 participated in either Canada Red or Canada White at the U17 World Challenge. One player, DuPont, earned a bronze medal at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, while Joseph represented Canada at the 2026 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship.
QMJHL players among camp attendees
Six players from the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) have been named to the training camp roster. These players will have the opportunity to showcase their skills in Edmonton. The Hlinka Gretzky Cup is often seen as an early opportunity to observe potential top draft prospects.
Alexis Joseph of the Saint John Sea Dogs is among the QMJHL representatives. The centre is considered a top prospect and was the top pick in the 2025 QMJHL draft. Joseph previously played for Canada’s U18 Worlds team as an underager. His performance at the camp and the tournament could influence his standing as a projected top pick in the 2027 NHL draft.
Also attending is Malik L’Italien from the Halifax Mooseheads, who was the second overall pick in the 2025 QMJHL draft. L’Italien, a blueliner, will aim to impress Hockey Canada officials at the camp. Two players from the Newfoundland Regiment, blueliner Quinn Norman and centre Benjamin Veitch, are also on the roster. Both Norman and Veitch are from St. John’s and are not eligible for the NHL draft until 2028. Veitch had a strong playoff run in his rookie year, contributing to Newfoundland’s advancement to the second round of the playoffs.
Two goaltenders from the QMJHL will also participate: Sam Berthiaume of the Cape Breton Eagles and Mathis Fortin of the Drummondville Voltigeurs. Berthiaume played one QMJHL game last season, an overtime loss to Charlottetown. Fortin appeared in 10 games for the Voltigeurs last season, recording a 7-1-1 record and a .900 save percentage.
Coaching and support staff announced
The coaching staff for the National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team has also been named. Ryan Oulahen will serve as head coach. Oulahen previously acted as an assistant coach at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where Canada won gold. He recently completed his seventh season as head coach of the North Bay Battalion of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and his second season as assistant general manager.
Assisting Oulahen will be Ryan McDonald, Brad MacKenzie, and Kyle Chipchura. Jeff Harvey will be the goaltending coach, and Matthew Smith will serve as the video coach. This coaching staff was also selected by Alan Millar, Yanick Lemay, Scott Salmond, and Benoit Roy.
Millar expressed confidence in the coaching team, highlighting their experience, particularly in short-term international competitions. He believes their expertise will be valuable as the team prepares for the tournament and aims to represent Canada effectively. McDonald recently completed his first full season as head coach of the WHL’s Prince Albert Raiders, leading them to their first 50-win season since 2018-19 and to the WHL championship series. MacKenzie was promoted to head coach of the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL in July 2025, guiding them to the playoffs in his first season. Chipchura completed his second season as an assistant coach with the Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League (WHL).
The support staff for the team includes Colton Reiley and Taylor Cochrane as athletic therapists, Dr. Danielle Kelton as team physician, and Andrew MacNeill and J.R. Grant as equipment managers. Byron Bonora is the hockey operations head scout, Mitchell Furlotte is the hockey operations manager, Jake Grison is the hockey operations coordinator, and Spencer Sharkey is the media relations manager.
Canada is scheduled to open the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup against Switzerland on August 3 at 5 p.m. MT. The team will then play Slovakia on August 4 and Sweden on August 5 to conclude the preliminary round. The tournament will conclude with the medal games on August 8.
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Source: hockeycanada.ca
Ethan Brule is a Senior Hockey Writer at CasinoNews. He covered the NHL for a national Canadian outlet. He focuses on the NHL, the Maple Leafs and Team Canada and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Sports Media from Toronto Metropolitan University. Now based in Toronto, he plays beer-league hockey and follows the junior ranks. “Hockey in Canada is never only about the score.”
