Hlinka Gretzky Cup Selection Camp Participants Revealed
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – A total of thirty-six players – comprising 20 forwards, 12 defensemen, and four goaltenders – have received invitations from USA Hockey to participate in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup Selection Camp, scheduled for July 23-27 in St. Paul, Minn., at TRIA Rink.
The athletes are competing for a position on the final 23-player U.S. Under-18 Men’s Select Team that will take part in the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Edmonton, Alberta, from Aug. 3-8.
Team USA aims to defend its championship title from 2025 this year against seven other countries: Canada, Czechia, Finland, Germany, Slovakia, Sweden, and Switzerland. Matches will occur at Rogers Place and Downtown Community Arena.
To see the full list of invitees for the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup Selection Camp, click HERE.
For additional details regarding the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, click HERE.
2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup
The coaching staff for the U.S. Under-18 Men’s Select Team is headed by head coach Reid Cashman (Red Wing, Minn./Dartmouth College), with Todd Knott (Red Lake Falls, Minn./University of Wisconsin), Greg Rallo (Gurnee, Ill./Milwaukee Admirals), and Troy Thibodeau (Danvers, Mass./Miami University) serving as assistant coaches. The goaltending coach is Alex Westlund (East Haven, Conn./University of Connecticut), completing the coaching lineup.
Marc Boxer (Hancock, Mich./USA Hockey) is the general manager of the U.S. Under-18 Men’s Select Team, with Rod Braceful (Detroit, Mich./USA Hockey) and Tony Gasparini (Sioux Falls, S.D./Sioux Falls Stampede) assisting in player personnel matters.
Support staff includes equipment managers Mike Thibault (Lowell, Mass./Princeton University) and Jamie Healy (Portage, Mich.); athletic trainer Josh Englebretson (Owen, Wis./University of Nebraska Omaha); team physician Dr. Kellen Hansen (Soda Springs, Idaho); team manager Joe Amundson (Grand Forks, N.D.); and communications coordinator Francis Forte (Independence Township, N.J./USA Hockey).
