A Close Contest in Edmonton
The U.S. Under-18 Men’s Select Team finished the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in second place after an 8‑1 loss to Canada in the championship game. The result gave the Americans a 4‑0‑0‑1 record, marking their tenth all‑time second‑place finish in the tournament.
Head coach Reid Cashman praised the squad’s dedication, noting that the young players showed they can compete at the highest level despite the defeat.
Early Momentum for Canada
Canada struck first at 1:24 of the opening period, when Brock England opened the scoring with a wrist shot. Maddox Schultz added a power‑play goal at 8:33, extending the lead to 2‑0 after a cross‑ice pass from Landon DuPont.
The United States answered with a power‑play goal of their own at 1:37, as Gunnar Conboy narrowed the gap to 3‑1. However, Canada’s special teams continued to dominate, tallying three power‑play goals by the end of the second period.
Power‑Play Dominance
Benjamin Veitch and Liam Pue each contributed to Canada’s surge, with Pue scoring twice to push the lead to 6‑1 before the third period. Jaakko Wycisk capped the scoring with the final goal, sealing an 8‑1 victory.
Canada outshot the U.S. 45‑17, and while the Americans converted just one of five power‑play chances, Canada went 3‑of‑5 on the man advantage.
Gunnar Conboy was named U.S. Player of the Game for his performance, but the depth and execution of Canada’s roster proved decisive.