Landon DuPont Shines as Canada Defeats Slovakia to Stay Perfect at Hlinka Gretzky Cup

Team Canada continued its impressive start at the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup with a commanding 7-1 victory over Slovakia, improving to 2-0 in the tournament with another dominant offensive performance in Edmonton.

Highly regarded prospect Landon DuPont led the Canadian attack by scoring the opening goal and adding an assist, helping Canada remain unbeaten after two round-robin games. DuPont, widely considered one of the leading prospects for the 2027 NHL Draft, opened the scoring on the power play just over two minutes into the first period.

Slovakia responded quickly to level the game, but Canada’s lead was restored only 19 seconds later when the home side regained control and never looked back.

Kayden Stroeder produced a standout performance with two goals, while Ryerson Edgar, Liam Pue, and Alexis Joseph each contributed a goal and an assist as Canada showcased its offensive depth. Joseph completed the scoring in the closing seconds of regulation when a pass on a two-on-one rush deflected into the Slovak net.

Canada generated relentless pressure throughout the contest, outshooting Slovakia 48-13. Goaltender Leif Oaten faced limited action but remained composed whenever called upon, stopping 12 shots to record the victory.

The win followed Canada’s convincing 7-3 triumph over Switzerland in its tournament opener, giving the host nation back-to-back high-scoring victories heading into the final round of group-stage play.

Elsewhere in Canada’s group, Switzerland earned a dramatic 7-6 victory over Sweden with the winning goal arriving just two seconds before the final buzzer. The result left Sweden in a difficult position, needing a victory over Canada in its final group match while also relying on Slovakia to defeat Switzerland to keep its semifinal hopes alive.

In the opposite group, the United States strengthened its position with a 4-1 victory over Finland, while Czechia defeated Germany 8-3. The Americans secured first place in the group with six points, while Finland and Czechia will meet in their final preliminary-round game to determine which team joins the United States in the semifinals.

The Hlinka Gretzky Cup remains one of the premier international tournaments for under-18 hockey players and serves as an early showcase for many of the sport’s future stars. Although the competition is not officially sanctioned by the International Ice Hockey Federation, it is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious youth tournaments in the hockey calendar.

Hosted jointly by Hockey Canada, the Czech Ice Hockey Association, and the Slovak Ice Hockey Federation, the tournament provides elite young players with an opportunity to gain valuable international experience while representing their countries against the world’s top emerging talent.

Following the conclusion of the round-robin stage, the top teams will advance to the semifinals scheduled for Friday, with the bronze medal and championship games set to take place on Saturday. Canada will now look to carry its strong momentum into its final preliminary-round matchup as it pursues another Hlinka Gretzky Cup title.

Courtesy: sportsnet