Canada is one victory away from reaching the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup final after completing a perfect preliminary round in Edmonton.
The Canadian under-18 team will face Finland in the semifinal on Friday, August 7, at Rogers Place. A victory would send Canada into Saturday’s gold medal game, where either the United States or Slovakia would be waiting.
Canada enters the knockout stage as one of the tournament favourites after winning all three of its preliminary-round games. The hosts scored 20 goals against Switzerland, Slovakia and Sweden while showcasing the depth and attacking talent that have made them difficult to contain.
Here is everything to know about Canada’s road to the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup final, including the schedule, possible opponents and Canadian players to watch.
Canada will face Finland in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup semifinal on Friday, August 7, 2026.
The game will begin at:
5 p.m. Mountain Time
7 p.m. Eastern Time
4 p.m. Pacific Time
8 p.m. Atlantic Time
8:30 p.m. Newfoundland Time
The semifinal will be played at Rogers Place in Edmonton. The winner will advance to the gold medal game, while the losing team will compete for bronze.
The 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup gold medal game is scheduled for Saturday, August 8, at Rogers Place.
The puck will drop at:
5 p.m. Mountain Time
7 p.m. Eastern Time
4 p.m. Pacific Time
8 p.m. Atlantic Time
8:30 p.m. Newfoundland Time
The bronze medal game will take place earlier on Saturday at noon Mountain Time.
TSN and RDS are broadcasting the preliminary games, semifinals and medal games played at Rogers Place.
Canada would face either the United States or Slovakia in the gold medal game.
The United States and Slovakia will meet in the other semifinal on Friday at noon Mountain Time. The winner will advance to Saturday evening’s championship game.
A Canada–United States final would bring together the two teams that completed the preliminary round with perfect records. The Americans won all three of their Group B games, including victories over Czechia, Finland and Germany. They scored 18 goals and allowed only six during the group stage.
The United States would also enter the final as the defending champion after winning the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
A final against Slovakia would be a rematch from the preliminary round. Canada defeated Slovakia 6-1 on Tuesday, with Kayden Stroeder scoring twice as the Canadians secured first place in Group A.
However, Slovakia remains dangerous. Forward Tomas Selic led all players with eight points after the preliminary round, including five goals and three assists.
Canada opened the tournament with a convincing 7-3 victory over Switzerland.
Liam Pue and Brock England each scored twice as Canada began its home tournament with an impressive offensive performance.
The Canadians followed that result with a 6-1 win over Slovakia. Stroeder scored two goals, while Canada controlled much of the game and confirmed its place at the top of Group A.
Canada then completed a perfect preliminary round by defeating Sweden 7-4 on Wednesday.
The hosts produced a dominant five-goal first period and finished the game with 49 shots. Sweden attempted to fight back during the second and third periods, but Canada added two late goals to secure its third consecutive victory.
Canada finished the preliminary round with:
Three wins from three games
20 goals scored
Eight goals allowed
First place in Group A
The results earned Canada a semifinal against Finland, which finished second in Group B behind the United States.
Finland reached the semifinals after winning two of its three preliminary-round games.
The Finns began the tournament with a 5-2 comeback victory over Germany before losing 4-1 to the United States. They secured their place in the semifinals by defeating Czechia 5-4 in their final group game.
Finnish goaltender Samu Heikkinen could be one of the most important players in the matchup. He stopped 38 shots against Czechia and entered the semifinal with a .922 save percentage, the third-best mark among tournament goaltenders after the preliminary round.
Canada will likely control more of the puck and create a higher number of scoring chances. However, Finland has already shown that it can remain competitive under pressure.
The Canadians must avoid becoming frustrated if Heikkinen makes several early saves. Patient puck movement and traffic around the net will be important against a Finnish team capable of defending compactly.
Maddox Schultz has been Canada’s leading scorer at the tournament.
The Regina Pats forward recorded one goal and six assists during the preliminary round. His seven points placed him second in the overall tournament scoring race behind Slovakia’s Tomas Selic.
Schultz has consistently created scoring opportunities for his linemates. His vision, passing and ability to find open space have made him one of Canada’s most influential attacking players.
Liam Pue entered the semifinal as Canada’s leading goal scorer.
Pue recorded four goals and two assists in three preliminary-round games. He scored twice against Switzerland and added another goal in Canada’s win over Sweden.
His ability to finish chances around the net could be especially important against Finland. Canada may create plenty of shots, but converting the best opportunities will determine whether the team reaches the final.
Kayden Stroeder has been one of Canada’s most consistent forwards.
He produced three goals and three assists during the preliminary round. Stroeder scored twice against Slovakia and added a goal and two assists in the victory over Sweden.
His speed and ability to contribute in different situations make him a major threat heading into the knockout stage.
Landon DuPont is one of the most closely watched prospects at the tournament.
The Everett Silvertips defenceman recorded one goal and two assists during Canada’s first three games. He has contributed on the power play while helping Canada move the puck quickly out of its defensive zone.
DuPont also brings previous tournament experience. He was the only player on the 2026 Canadian roster who won bronze at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
His composure and puck-moving ability will be important against Finland’s structured defensive system.
Goaltender Leif Oaten is another player who could have a major influence on the semifinal.
Oaten recorded a 2.50 goals-against average during the preliminary round. Although Canada has generated plenty of offence, its goaltender may need to make several key saves if the semifinal remains close.
Finland may not produce as many shots as Canada, but quick counterattacks and special teams could give the Finns dangerous opportunities.
Canada has received production from throughout its lineup.
Four Canadian players ranked among the tournament’s top seven scorers after the preliminary round:
Maddox Schultz with seven points
Liam Pue with six points
Kayden Stroeder with six points
Ryerson Edgar with five points
Canada has also received contributions from its defencemen. DuPont, Jaakko Wycisk, Brock Cripps and Alexis Joseph have all collected multiple points.
That depth makes it difficult for opponents to focus on a single forward line.
Finland may be able to limit one of Canada’s top players, but containing the entire Canadian lineup for three periods will be a much greater challenge.
Canada’s biggest priority will be maintaining its discipline.
The Canadians allowed Sweden to regain momentum after building a 5-0 lead in their final preliminary game. Penalties gave Sweden several opportunities to reduce the deficit, including two power-play goals.
A similar loss of control against Finland could be costly.
Canada must also manage the puck carefully through the neutral zone. Finland is comfortable waiting for mistakes and attacking quickly after turnovers.
Finally, Canada will need to remain patient in the offensive zone. Heikkinen has already demonstrated that he can handle a heavy workload, so the Canadians must create screens, rebounds and second chances rather than relying only on shots from distance.
Canada entered the tournament seeking its record-extending 26th summer under-18 gold medal.
The country has won 25 of the 34 gold medals awarded since the tournament began in 1991. Canada’s most recent championship came in Edmonton in 2024.
The Canadians appear capable of returning to the top of the podium. They have scoring depth, talented defencemen and the advantage of playing in front of a home crowd.
First, they must overcome Finland.
A victory on Friday would give Canada the opportunity to face the United States or Slovakia for gold on Saturday night at Rogers Place.
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