Canada is one win from the championship game after rolling through the preliminary round at the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Edmonton. The host team now turns to Finland in Friday’s semifinal at Rogers Place, with a place in Saturday’s gold medal game on the line.
The Canadians have been one of the tournament’s most complete teams so far. They finished the opening stage unbeaten, piled up 20 goals, and showed the kind of scoring balance that makes them hard to game-plan against.
Finland is the next obstacle, and the winner will move on to meet either the United States or Slovakia for gold. For Canada, the assignment is straightforward: repeat the energy, keep the pressure high, and avoid giving a disciplined opponent room to settle in.
Friday’s Semifinal Schedule
Canada’s semifinal against Finland is set for Friday, August 7, 2026 at Rogers Place in Edmonton. The game will begin at 5 p.m. Mountain Time, which is 7 p.m. Eastern Time, 4 p.m. Pacific Time, 8 p.m. Atlantic Time, and 8:30 p.m. Newfoundland Time.
This matchup carries clear stakes for both sides. The winner advances to the final, while the losing team drops into the bronze medal game later in the tournament.
TSN and RDS are carrying the games at Rogers Place, including the semifinals and the medal round.
What Comes Next if Canada Wins
If Canada gets past Finland, it will play for gold on Saturday, August 8. The championship game is scheduled for 5 p.m. Mountain Time, with the same start time listed as 7 p.m. Eastern Time, 4 p.m. Pacific Time, 8 p.m. Atlantic Time, and 8:30 p.m. Newfoundland Time.
The bronze medal game will be played earlier on Saturday at noon Mountain Time. That means the semifinal winners will get a short reset before the tournament’s final prize is decided in front of the Edmonton crowd.
Canada’s potential final opponent is already known in advance. The other semifinal pits the United States against Slovakia, and the winner of that game will face Canada if the hosts handle Finland.
The Possible Final Opponents
A matchup with the United States would set up a meeting between two teams that went through the preliminary round unbeaten. The Americans won all three of their Group B games, beating Czechia, Finland, and Germany while scoring 18 goals and allowing only six.
The United States would also arrive as the defending champion after taking the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. That alone would give a Canada-U.S. final an added layer of tension and familiarity.
A date with Slovakia would look different but still carry plenty of intrigue. Canada already beat Slovakia 6-1 in the group stage, with Kayden Stroeder scoring twice in a game that helped Canada secure first place in Group A.
Slovakia still has players capable of changing a game quickly. Tomas Selic led the tournament in scoring after the preliminary round with eight points, including five goals and three assists, so Canada cannot assume the rematch would be routine.
| Team | Preliminary Record | Goals For | Goals Against | Notable Detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 3-0 | 20 | 8 | First in Group A |
| United States | 3-0 | 18 | 6 | Defending champion |
| Slovakia | 2-1 | — | — | Tomas Selic led the event in scoring |
| Finland | 2-1 | — | — | Reached semifinal after beating Czechia |
How Canada Built Its Perfect Start
Canada opened with a 7-3 win over Switzerland, a result that immediately showed the team’s offensive ceiling. Liam Pue and Brock England each scored twice, and the Canadians looked dangerous in transition and around the crease from the start.
The second game was even more convincing in terms of control. Canada beat Slovakia 6-1, with Stroeder scoring twice and the team dictating most of the pace from the opening minutes.
The group stage finished with a 7-4 win over Sweden, a game that featured a dominant first period and a heavy shot total. Canada poured in five goals before the first intermission, finished with 49 shots, and sealed its third straight victory with two late goals after Sweden tried to push back.
- Canada defeated Switzerland 7-3.
- Canada defeated Slovakia 6-1.
- Canada defeated Sweden 7-4.
Those three results produced a clean preliminary-round record, first place in Group A, and a semifinal date with Finland, which placed second in Group B behind the United States.
Why Finland Is a Serious Test
Finland reached the semifinal by winning two of its three games, and its path showed a team that can respond after setbacks. The Finns opened with a 5-2 comeback victory over Germany, then lost 4-1 to the United States before closing with a narrow 5-4 win over Czechia.
Goaltender Samu Heikkinen may be the most important figure in the matchup. He stopped 38 shots against Czechia and carried a .922 save percentage into the semifinal, which ranked among the top marks for tournament goaltenders after the preliminaries.
Canada will likely own more of the puck and create more chances, but Finland has already shown it can survive long stretches without momentum. That makes early finishing a priority for the Canadians, because a patient and compact opponent becomes more dangerous the longer a game stays close.
The key for Canada is not just volume, but quality. If Heikkinen is seeing the puck clearly, the Canadians will need traffic, rebounds, and quick decisions rather than low-percentage shots from the outside.
Five Canadians Worth Watching
Maddox Schultz has been Canada’s most productive playmaker through the preliminary round. The Regina Pats forward posted one goal and six assists, finishing with seven points and placing himself near the top of the tournament scoring race. His passing touch and ability to find soft spots in coverage have made him a central part of Canada’s attack.
Liam Pue has given Canada a direct finishing threat. He scored four goals and added two assists in the first three games, including a two-goal effort against Switzerland and another tally against Sweden. His conversion rate around the net could matter a great deal if Friday turns into a shot-heavy game.
Kayden Stroeder has been just as important in a different way. He scored three goals and three assists, highlighted by his two-goal night against Slovakia and a strong performance against Sweden. His pace and versatility help Canada attack in multiple directions.
Landon DuPont continues to draw attention as one of the tournament’s most closely watched prospects. The Everett Silvertips defenseman had one goal and two assists in the preliminary round, and his puck movement has helped Canada exit its zone cleanly and keep pressure on opponents. He also brings valuable experience, since he was the only player on Canada’s 2026 roster who returned after earning bronze at the 2025 event.
Leif Oaten could become a factor if the semifinal tightens. The Canadian goaltender posted a 2.50 goals-against average in the preliminary round, and although the team has not needed many saves to this point, he may have to deliver a few important stops if Finland keeps the score within reach.
Canada’s Biggest Advantage
The strongest part of Canada’s tournament has been its scoring depth. Four players finished the preliminary round among the top seven scorers at the event, which means opponents cannot simply focus on one line or one star.
That balance extends beyond the forwards. DuPont, Jaakko Wycisk, Brock Cripps, and Alexis Joseph all chipped in offense from the blue line, giving Canada another layer of unpredictability.
When a team can score from multiple positions and from different types of shifts, it becomes far harder to defend for 60 minutes. That is one reason Canada has looked so difficult to contain so far.
Against Finland, that depth should matter again. Even if one line is quiet, Canada has enough secondary scoring to keep pressure on the game.
How Canada Can Reach the Final
The first priority is discipline. Canada let Sweden regain some momentum after building a 5-0 lead in the final preliminary game, and penalties opened the door to Swedish power-play goals. Against a structured team like Finland, that kind of lapse could make the game much tighter than it should be.
The second priority is puck management through the middle of the ice. Finland is comfortable waiting for mistakes and striking quickly off turnovers, so Canada cannot afford sloppy exits or rushed passes in the neutral zone.
The third priority is patience in the offensive zone. Canada should get chances, but it may need to work for rebounds, screens, and second looks rather than expecting clean looks from a distance. If the Canadians stay committed to that approach, they have the tools to reach the final and keep their bid for another summer title alive.