Team Canada defeated the United States 8-1 on Saturday at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, capturing its 26th gold medal at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Coach Ryan Oulahen’s squad finished the tournament with a perfect 5-0 record, outshooting the Americans 45-17 in a decisive championship performance.
Canada Dominates the United States in Edmonton Championship Final
Canada claimed its 26th Under-18 gold medal at the summer event with a resounding 8-1 victory over the United States on Saturday night at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta. The host nation controlled the pace from the opening period, building a 3-1 lead after twenty minutes and extending it to 6-1 by the start of the third frame.
The Canadian power play operated efficiently at 3-for-5, while the team’s relentless offensive pressure overwhelmed the American defense, resulting in a 45-17 advantage in total shots on goal. Brock England, Maddox Schultz, and Liam Pue each scored twice for the victors, while Benjamin Veitch and Jaakko Wycisk added single tallies to round out the scoring according to regional reporting.
“This is a crazy moment because we have dreamt of this since the start of the tournament, and it was our mission to win gold.”
Maddox Schultz, player of the game
The 17-year-old defenseman headlined Canada’s roster after recording 73 points last season with the Western Hockey League’s Everett Silvertips. Dupont missed the world junior summer showcase to be with the Under-18 team and is headed to the University of Michigan this fall.
Reclaiming the Trophy After Defending Champions Edge Past Previous Streak
The lopsided final allowed Canada to reclaim the tournament trophy after the United States won last year’s event to end Canada’s streak of three straight tournament wins.
Canada vs. USA Full Highlights | Hlinka Gretzky Cup Finals
For the United States, the silver medal marks the program’s 10th all-time second-place finish at the event. The team concluded its tournament run with a 4-0-0-1 record as documented by Team USA Hockey, having previously defeated Slovakia 5-2 in the semifinals behind a hat trick from Nash Roed and a four-point performance from Gavin Burcar.
“I could not be prouder of this team. Tonight did not go the way we wanted, but as I look at the tournament as a whole, it was amazing to see a group of young men come together and compete at the highest level.”
Reid Cashman, head coach of the U.S. Under-18 Men’s Select Team
Gunnar Conboy provided the lone goal for the American side in the title game, converting on a power play as the U.S. finished 1-for-5 with the man advantage.
Path to Gold and Standout Performances Across the Tournament
Team Canada navigated the preliminary round in first place within Group A, securing victories over Switzerland (7-3), Slovakia (6-1), and Sweden (7-4). The hosts then earned their spot in the gold-medal match by defeating Finland 6-3 in a hard-fought semifinal that saw Jaakko Wycisk net the game-winning goal.
Photo: Team USA Hockey
Ryan Oulahen led the Canadian bench, capturing gold in Edmonton after previously serving as an assistant coach during Canada’s victory at the 2024 tournament.
“I know the score says what it says, but I would have been proud if it was a 1-0 game, just the way we played. Everybody literally bought into how we wanted to do things.”
Photo: BayToday.ca
Ryan Oulahen, Team Canada head coach
Cam Warren, another North Bay Battalion representative, added two assists in the final game. Warren previously won gold with Canada Red at the U17 World Challenge in Truro, Nova Scotia, and completed the Hlinka Gretzky Cup with two goals and five assists while skating alongside Maddox Schultz and Liam Pue.
In the earlier bronze-medal match on Saturday, Finland defeated Slovakia 3-2 after Roni Kuukasjarvi scored a power-play winner at 13:27 of the third period. Meanwhile, Sweden defeated Germany 4-2 to claim seventh place in the tournament standings.
