Canada delivered a dominant performance on Saturday, crushing the United States 8-1 to win gold at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
CANADA DEFEATS THE U.S. TO CAPTURE GOLD AT THE HLINKA GRETZKY CUP! 🇨🇦🥇#HlinkaGretzkyCup pic.twitter.com/qnmWRTBziL
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 9, 2026
The annual international tournament features many of the world’s top under-18 hockey players, and Canada made sure there was little doubt about which team was the best this year.
Canada Reclaims the Gold
Jan 5, 2026; St. Paul, Minnesota, USA; Canada watches as their flag is raised and their national anthem is played for defeating Finland in the third place game of the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship ice hockey tournament at Grand Casino Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images
The victory gives Canada its 26th Hlinka Gretzky Cup championship, while also allowing the country to reclaim the trophy after the United States ended Canada’s run of three consecutive tournament titles by winning last year’s event.
This time around, there was no drama.
Canada completely overwhelmed the United States in the championship game, turning the matchup into a blowout and putting together one of the most impressive performances of the tournament.
Brock England and Maddox Schultz each scored twice, while Canada also received a massive contribution from its captain.
Landon Dupont Leads the Way
Landon Dupont recorded three assists in the championship game, continuing what was already an impressive tournament for one of the biggest names in Canada’s hockey program.
Dupont, who is projected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2027 NHL Draft, captained Canada’s roster at just 17 years old.
The highly regarded defenseman is coming off an impressive season with the WHL’s Everett Silvertips, where he recorded 73 points last season.
Dupont is now preparing for the next stage of his development. He is headed to the University of Michigan this fall, making his performance at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup an important part of his transition toward college hockey.
He even skipped the World Junior Summer Showcase in order to represent Canada’s Under-18 team.
For Canada, the tournament couldn’t have ended much better.
After watching the United States take the gold last year, Canada responded with an emphatic 8-1 victory to reclaim the championship and add another title to its impressive Hlinka Gretzky Cup history.