For the first time since the tournament has been known as the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, the United States has won the premier summer U18 international tournament. Team USA beat Sweden 5-3 in a thrilling final to claim the first summer U18 championship of any kind since winning the Junior World Cup in 2003.

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The Americans had lost to Sweden earlier in the tournament, but got their revenge in the game that mattered most. 

USA WINS THEIR SECOND EVER #HlinkaGretzky CUP 🔥 pic.twitter.com/YaTZdgEsdB

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 16, 2025

Youngstown Phantoms forward Jack Hextall stole the show in the finale, scoring a goal and adding two assists to propel Team USA to its first summer U18 championship in 22 years.

Former Sioux City Musketeer and future Saginaw Spirit forward Nikita Klepov scored what stood as the game-winner 45 seconds into the second period, showing off some soft hands before popping a shot over goaltender Milo Tjärlund. Waterloo Black Hawks defenseman Nick Bogas iced USA’s victory with a late power-play goal to make it 5-3 and get the celebrations started.

USA LEADS BY 2 👀

Nick Bogas strikes on the power-play to give USA a 5-3 lead with 2:30 left in the 3rd.#HlinkaGretzky pic.twitter.com/GBc3RtYvXZ

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 16, 2025

Team USA was led in the tournament by Des Moines Buccaneers standout Blake Zielinski, who had nine points over five games. That was tied for the fourth most by an American player in this tournament’s history.

USA Hockey National Team Development Program assistant coach Kevin Porter was Team USA’s head coach at the tournament. This was the first head coaching opportunity for the 2008 Hobey Baker winner, having served as an assistant coach with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins before returning to the NTDP as an assistant coach. That’s a pretty strong debut as a bench boss for the 39-year-old Michigan native.

On the road to the championship, USA finished 4-1 over five games, winning two of three preliminary-round games before stunning Canada in a semifinal shootout. That was the first win for USA over a Canadian team in more than 20 years at the tournament.

The 2025 #HlinkaGretzky Cup Champions, Team USA! pic.twitter.com/8jdhkSfINt

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 16, 2025

Team USA’s roster is primarily made up of players that are not part of the National Team Development Program. Many of the players played in the USHL or for other junior programs, while others spent time in the elite AAA ranks at the 16U or 18U level. With USA not icing its best possible roster at this event, wins have been hard to come by.

USA last played for the Hlinka title in 2016, losing to the Czechs. It has reached the final four total times in the Hlinka-era of the tournament, with other trips made in previous iterations of the summer U18 international showcase which dates hac as far as a tournament called the Phoenix Cup which was first contested in 1991.

After USA broke its 92-year gold-medal drought at the IIHF Men’s World Championship last spring, getting a win at the Hlinka feels like some positive momentum. On top of that, the Americans won the World Junior Championship, took bronze at the Men’s Under-18s, and won the IIHF Women’s World Championship. With 2026 being an Olympic year, the vibes appear to be pretty high around USA Hockey these days.

Canada finished the tournament in third place after a 3-0 win over Finland in the bronze-medal game. It was their 30th medal in summer U18 international competition.

Hlinka Gretzky Cup 2025 Final Standings

1. USA
2. Sweden
3. Canada
4. FInland
5. Czechia
6. Slovakia
7. Switzerland
8. Germany

Team USA Hlinka Gretzky Cup Roster 2025

Here are the players that helped USA Hockey end its 20-plus-year championship drought at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

Forwards

• Noah Davidson, Shattuck-St. Mary’s
• Nolan Duskocy, BK Selects
• Brody Gillespie, Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
• Shaeffer, Gordon-Carroll, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
• Caden Harvey, Penguins Elite
• Jack Hextall, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)
• Nikita Klepov, Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)
• Luke Puchner, Shattuck-St. Mary’s
• Brooks Rogowski, Oshawa Generals (OHL)
• Joseph Salandra, Brunswick School
• Kalder Varga, Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
• Jaxon Williams, Carolina Jr. Hurricanes
• Blake Zielinski, Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL)

Defensemen

• Nathan Bienstock, NJ Rockets
• Nick Bogas, Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL)
• Levi Harper, Shattuck-St. Mary’s
• Will McLaughlin, Drumheller Dragons (AJHL)
• Kade Meyer, Little Caesars
• Zaide Penner, Northstar Christian
• Alofa Tunoa Ta’amu, Edmonton Oil Kings  (WHL)

Goaltenders

• Aidan Hese, Sioux Falls Power
• Brady Knowling, U.S. National Under-17 Team (USHL)
• Kaenan Smith, Sioux Falls Power

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