Canada opened the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup with a statement 7-3 win over Switzerland at Rogers Place, turning what started as a close contest into a full-on beatdown. After giving up a couple early goals, the Canadians poured in five unanswered ones in the first period and never let the Swiss back into it, powered by multi-goal nights from Brock England and Liam Pue.
Seattle Thunderbird and Red Deer, Alberta native Brock England opens up the scoring for Canada making it a 1-0 game just 1:18 into the first period The assists on the goal went to Saint John Sea Dogs Alexis Joseph and Niagara Ice Dog Ryerson Edgar.–In a blistering start to Canada’s 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup campaign, Seattle Thunderbirds forward Brock England found the back of the net just 78 seconds into the opening game against Switzerland, capitalizing on a chaotic scramble in front of the crease to give the hosts an early 1-0 lead.
Jonah Neuenschwander ties the game up on the Power Play for Switzerland at 4:50 of the first period with a snipe blocker side. The assist on the goal went to Portland Winterhawk Alessandro Dominichelli
Sam Neff gives the Swiss a 2-1 lead at 5:30 of the first period after picking up a horrid Canadian turnover. The helper on that goal went to Noel Bosshard.
Liam Pue ties the game up for the Canadians at 2 at 8:27 of the first period. The assists on the goal went to Regina Pats Maddox Schultz and Wenatchee Wild Boston Tait.-16-year-old Maddox Schultz threaded a precise pass to linemate Liam Pue, who finished the play to knot the score at 2-2 against Switzerland. The chemistry between the two Regina Pats prospects proved decisive early,
North Bay Battalion’s Camryn Warren made it a 3-2 Canada game at 8:51 of the first period. The assist on the goal went to London Knight Cooper McAslan.–Camryn Warren finished a chaotic scramble in the Swiss crease to put Canada ahead 3-2 midway through the first period. The North Bay forward buried the puck past the sprawled goaltender for the go-ahead marker.
Ryerson Edgar made it a 4-2 game at 9:11 of the first period unassisited capitalizing on a Swiss turnover. This marked the end of night for Swiss goalie Ayden Huet who was replaced by Luca Blaser.–Ryerson Edgar scored Canada’s fourth goal of the first period against Switzerland at the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, capitalizing on a Swiss turnover by driving hard to the net and jamming the puck home in a scramble in front of the crease to make the score 4-2. The goal forced Swiss starter Ayden Huet out of the game after he had allowed four goals on just nine shots.
Liam Pue made it a 5-2 game for the Canadians at 14:48 of the first period with the assist on the goal going to Maddox Shultz.–Liam Pue snagged the draw and instantly ripped home his second of the night, pure fire right off the faceoff. Canada was already rolling, and this kid just kept the party going against Switzerland.
Shots on goal in the first period were 20-10 for Canada
Newfoundland’s Benjamin Veitch makes it a 6-2 game for the Canadians at 7:24 of the second period. The assists on the goal went to Edmonton Oil King Kayden Stroeder and Guelph Storm’s Jaakko Wycisk.–Ben Veitch sniped home a laser finish after a buttery sequence of cross-ice feeds from Kayden Stroeder and Jaako Wycisk, turning the Swiss zone into a highlight-reel showcase and pushing Canada’s lead to 6-2. Pure tic-tac-toe magic that left the goalie grasping at air while the Canadian bench erupted.
Shots on goal in the second period were 13-7 for the Canadians
Brock England makes it a 7-2 game for Team Canada at 5:47 of the third period while the Canadians were shorthanded. The assist on the goal went to Flint Firebird Charlie Murata.–Brock England ripped home a shorthanded beauty off his own rebound, burying it to push Canada up 7-2 and put an exclamation mark on a total beatdown of Switzerland. The kid just keeps finding ways to make magic happen when the other team’s supposed to have the edge.
Tim Trussel cuts the game down to 7-3 when he got a Swiss goal at 7:11 of the third period. The assists went to Alessandro Domenichelli and Nicolas Hasler
Shots on goal in the third period were 15-8 for Canada. Canada outshot Switzerland 48-25 in the game.
For the Canadians Sam Berthiaume stoppped 22 of the 25 shots that he faced for the win for the Canadians. For the Swiss Ayden Huet stopped 5 of the 9 shots he faced before being replaced by Luca Blaser who stopped 36 of the 39 shots he faced.
Brock England was named Team Canada’s Player of the Game. He scored twice, including the shorthanded goal that made it 7-2.
Canada’s next game is Tuesday August 4th against Slovakia
