Langford defenceman helps Canada reclaim gold at Hlinka Gretzky Cup

Langford defenceman helps Canada reclaim gold at Hlinka Gretzky Cup

Published 2:30 pm Monday, August 10, 2026

Langford’s Brock Cripps is an international gold medallist once again.

The 17-year-old defenceman helped Canada reclaim the Hlinka Gretzky Cup on Saturday (Aug. 8), as Canada cruised past the United States 8-1 in the gold-medal game in Edmonton, Alta.

Cripps, who developed with the Juan de Fuca Minor Hockey Association, finished fourth in scoring by a defenceman in the tournament, registering one goal and five assists for six points in five games.

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The Prince Albert Raiders blueliner was also the lone player from Vancouver Island on Canada’s roster.

“Wearing the Canada logo on your jersey is definitely not something you can do every day, so I’m not going to take it for granted and try to win gold for my country,” Cripps said in an interview on CHL.com.

The gold medal is Cripps’ second with Canada. He previously helped the country win gold at the 2025 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

Cripps is projected to be a first round pick in the 2027 NHL Entry Draft.

Canada went 3-0 through round-robin play before doubling Finland 6-3 in the semifinal and then putting together its most dominant performance of the tournament against the Americans.

The victory gave Canada its 26th gold medal in the history of the tournament, which dates back to 1991. It was also Canada’s fourth gold in the past five years after the country finished third in 2025.

“This group will be remembered for playing the Canadian way. We got better every single day, and tonight was 60 minutes of exactly how you would want to draw things up. This is an impressive team that is led by an impressive staff, and I am going to remember this experience forever,” Canada’s head coach Ryan Oulahen said after the game.

The Hlinka Gretzky Cup was played in Edmonton, Alta., bringing together eight of the top under-18 hockey nations.

Around the rinksAnother Langford defenceman is also set to wear the red and white.

Raeya Mackie, 16, who recently committed to play NCAA hockey at the University of Minnesota Duluth, has earned a spot with Canada’s national women’s under-18 team.

Mackie, and Canada’s 22-player roster will face the United States in a three-game series in Richmond from Aug. 12 through 15.