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. This group was chosen by 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.
Alan Millar expressed enthusiasm for the team, describing the players as a talented and well-rounded group. He noted the staff’s efforts to assemble a roster capable of success on home ice, aiming to bring Canada back to the podium in front of local fans.
QMJHL Players Join Camp
Six players from the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) are among those invited to the training camp. These players will have the opportunity to showcase their skills ahead of the tournament.
Alexis Joseph of the Saint John Sea Dogs is one of the notable attendees. He was the top pick in the 2025 QMJHL draft and is considered a top prospect. Joseph played in 54 games with the Sea Dogs last season, and also participated in the U17 World Challenge, and earned a spot on Canada’s U18 Worlds team as an underager.
Another participant is Malik L’Italien from the Halifax Mooseheads. L’Italien, a blueliner, played in 64 games for Halifax. Also attending are blueliner Quinn Norman and centre Benjamin Veitch, both from the Newfoundland Regiment. Norman recorded a goal and 12 assists in 53 games as a QMJHL rookie, while Veitch had a strong playoff run, scoring five goals and two assists during Newfoundland’s run to the second round of the playoffs.
Two goaltenders from the QMJHL will also be at the camp: Sam Berthiaume of the Cape Breton Eagles and Mathis Fortin from the Drummondville Voltigeurs. Berthiaume played one QMJHL game last season, an overtime loss to Charlottetown, and had a .927 save percentage with a 12-4-0 record with the Truro Bearcats of the MJAHL. Fortin appeared in 10 games for the Voltigeurs, achieving a 7-1-1 record and a .900 save percentage.
Coaching Staff and Tournament Schedule
The coaching staff for the National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team has also been named. Ryan Oulahen will serve as head coach, having previously been an assistant coach when Canada won gold at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Assistant coaches include Ryan McDonald, Brad MacKenzie, and Kyle Chipchura. Jeff Harvey is the goaltending coach, and Matthew Smith is the video coach.
During the training camp, the team will participate in practices and play a game against Sweden on July 30. Additionally, Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team will face Czechia on August 1 as part of the pre-tournament schedule before the final roster is determined.
Canada will begin its 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup campaign 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 culminate with the medal games on August 8.
The coaching staff was selected by Alan Millar, Yanick Lemay, Scott Salmond, and Benoit Roy. Millar highlighted the coaches’ experience, particularly in short-term international competitions, as a valuable asset for the team’s preparation.
Ryan Oulahen recently completed his seventh season as head coach of the North Bay Battalion of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and his second as assistant general manager. He has a history of coaching at various levels, including assistant coach roles with Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team, where he won gold medals in 2024 and 2018.
Ryan McDonald, in his first full season as head coach of the WHL’s Prince Albert Raiders, led the team to its first 50-win season since 2018-19 and to the WHL championship series. He also won gold medals as head coach of Canada Red in 2025 and as an assistant coach with Canada White in 2024 at the U17 World Challenge.
Brad 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. He previously served as an associate coach and assistant coach with the Mooseheads and won a gold medal as an assistant coach with Canada White at the 2024 U17 World Challenge.
Kyle Chipchura completed his second season as an assistant coach with the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL. Before that, he was the team’s development coach in 2023-24. Chipchura also served as an assistant coach with Canada White at the 2025 U17 World Challenge.
The support staff for the team includes Colton Reiley and Taylor Cochrane as athletic therapists, Dr. Danielle Kelton as team physician, Andrew MacNeill and J.R. Grant as equipment managers, Byron Bonora as hockey operations head scout, Mitchell Furlotte as hockey operations manager, Jake Grison as hockey operations coordinator, and Spencer Sharkey as media relations manager.
Ticket packages and individual game tickets for the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup are available for purchase online.
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Source: hockeycanada.ca
