The 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup starts on August 5th in Edmonton. This event will showcase top U18 players from eight different countries. It’s a first look at many potential stars for the 2025 NHL Draft.
Team Canada has dominated this tournament for years, winning medals in 28 out of 32 tournaments since 1991. They even had long gold streaks from ’94 to ’02 and again from ’08 to ’15. Canada always wins when the event is hosted at home, and they’re ready to do it again this year. Their roster includes standout players like Gavin McKenna, who broke Alex Ovechkin’s U17 scoring record with 10 goals and 20 points in seven games. McKenna isn’t eligible for the draft until 2026 but is already making waves. Alongside him are defenseman Matthew Schaefer and centerman Jake O’Brien.
Canada’s depth is impressive too. The competition for spots on their fourth line includes Emile Guite, Ethan Czata, Braeden Cootes, and Liam Kilfoil — each bringing unique skills like Guite’s shot or Czata’s grit . Jack Ivankovic will be their goalie; he had a .915 save percentage in the OHL last year despite some doubts about his height.
Can Team USA Find Their Star?
Team USA takes a different approach by not using players from their National Team Development Program. Instead, they pick top talents from leagues like USHL and NAHL. This strategy raises questions about who will lead this mixed group of players each year.
This time around, Benjamin Kevan looks promising after leading all U17 skaters in the USHL with 57 points in 59 games last season—20 points more than the second-place Lev Katzin! Though not quite on Macklin Celebrini’s level as a generational talent, Kevan could still grab first-round attention with his powerful offensive style.
Fans might wonder if other names like Jesse Orlowsky or Sam Kappell can step up too; both have similar playmaking abilities as Kevan. However, undersized Sam Spehar could surprise everyone after an excellent U17 Selects camp earned him a roster spot.
Does Sweden Have Enough Firepower?
Sweden struggled last year but comes back stronger now with key prospects Jakob Ihs-Wozniak, Filip Ekberg, and Ivar Stenberg leading their lineup. Stenberg was particularly impressive during the World U17 Challenge with seven goals and ten points over seven games.
Other impactful players include Viktor Klingsell and Eric Nilsson who add depth to Sweden’s offense while Sascha Boumedienne stands out as an essential defenseman candidate for next year’s draft after scoring well both domestically (27 points) and internationally (11 points).
Fans might think that if Boumedienne can blend well with Sweden’s high-scoring forwards again this year—it’ll be one thrilling storyline!
What do you think? Will Canada keep dominating? Can USA find its star? Does Sweden have enough firepower? Let us know your thoughts!
