The summer evaluation season continues as the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup gets underway August 3-8 in Edmonton, Widely regarded as the unofficial kickoff before the real NHL Draft scouting season begins, the event brings together eight of the world’s hockey nations and many of the best draft-eligible prospects. The tournament provides an early look at several players who are expected to make noise leading into the 2027 NHL Draft. For NHL scouts, HockeyProspect.com, and draft fans, the Hlinka Gretzky Cup offers one of the first opportunities to see this year’s talent in an international setting. Every game carries significance as draft eligible players compete against the highest level of competition available during the summer hockey calendar.
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland
- 🇸🇰 Slovakia
- 🇸🇪 Sweden
- 🇺🇸 United States
- 🇨🇿 Czechia
- 🇫🇮 Finland
- 🇩🇪 Germany
Schedule (All games in Edmonton)
Monday, August 3, 2026
| Time |
Matchup |
Venue |
| 1:00 p.m. |
United States vs. Czechia |
Rogers Place |
| 3:00 p.m. |
Germany vs. Finland |
Downtown Community Arena |
| 5:00 p.m. |
Switzerland vs. Canada |
Rogers Place |
| 7:00 p.m. |
Slovakia vs. Sweden |
Downtown Community Arena |
Tuesday, August 4, 2026
| Time |
Matchup |
Venue |
| 1:00 p.m. |
Germany vs. Czechia |
Rogers Place |
| 3:00 p.m. |
Sweden vs. Switzerland |
Downtown Community Arena |
| 5:00 p.m. |
Canada vs. Slovakia |
Rogers Place |
| 7:00 p.m. |
Finland vs. United States |
Downtown Community Arena |
Wednesday, August 5, 2026
| Time |
Matchup |
Venue |
| 1:00 p.m. |
Switzerland vs. Slovakia |
Rogers Place |
| 3:00 p.m. |
Czechia vs. Finland |
Downtown Community Arena |
| 5:00 p.m. |
Sweden vs. Canada |
Rogers Place |
| 7:00 p.m. |
United States vs. Germany |
Downtown Community Arena |
Friday, August 7, 2026
| Time |
Round |
Matchup |
Venue |
| 12:00 p.m. |
Semifinal |
To be determined |
Rogers Place |
| 5:00 p.m. |
Semifinal |
To be determined |
Rogers Place |
| 7:00 p.m. |
Fifth-place game |
Group A third place vs. Group B third place |
Downtown Community Arena |
Saturday, August 8, 2026
| Time |
Round |
Matchup |
Venue |
| 12:00 p.m. |
Bronze-medal game |
Semifinal losers |
Rogers Place |
| 2:00 p.m. |
Seventh-place game |
Group A fourth place vs. Group B fourth place |
Downtown Community Arena |
| 5:00 p.m. |
Gold-medal game |
Semifinal winners |
Rogers Place |
