Semifinal Action in Edmonton
The U.S. Under-18 Men’s Select Team secured a 5-2 victory over Slovakia in the semifinals of the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, held in Edmonton, Alberta, advancing to the championship game.
Nash Roed led the offense with a hat trick, capping the win with an empty‑net goal in the third period, while Gavin Burcar contributed a goal and two assists.
Slovakia opened the scoring when Alexander Michael Ferreira’s early goal was nullified after a goaltender interference call, and Patrik Rychlik later added a marker that bounced off the back wall.
The Americans outshot the Slovaks 44-23, but they struggled on the power play, converting only one of seven opportunities, while Slovakia went 0‑1 on the man advantage.
Goaltender Mason Courville earned the win with 21 saves, preserving the lead after the early setback.
Championship Outlook
The championship match is scheduled for August 8 and will pit the United States against either Canada or Finland, a contest that will be broadcast live across the United States on the NHL Network.
The tournament’s journey began in various locales, from the Minnesota hometown of White Bear Lake to the California community of Coto De Caza, reflecting the broad reach of the sport.