Another major tournament has been cancelled in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The annual Hlinka-Gretzky Cup under-18 tournament will not be held in 2020. This will make the first time the tournament has not been held since it began in 1991. Bob McKenzie of TSN broke the news earlier Tuesday afternoon.
As for the content, sorry to hear the 2020 Ivan Hlinka-Wayne Gretzky U-18 tourney scheduled for August in EDM is going to be cancelled. First big event for the 2021 NHL draft class and 2003 born players.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) April 21, 2020
Hlinka-Gretzky Cup Cancelled
This is another major blow to hockey in 2020. We still have no idea if the NHL will finish the rest of its 2019-20 regular season or what might happen for the playoffs and postseason. The Cup was scheduled to take place in August in Edmonton but that will not happen this year. That is terrible for members of the 2021 draft class as the Hlinka-Gretzky is the first big showcase for players who will appear in the following draft.
The Cup has taken place every year since 1991. Canada has won the vast majority of its gold medals but recent seasons have seen Russia and the Czech Republic sneak in. It is a shame that international hockey is suffering to the degree that it is. These tournaments are invaluable for both player development and scouting. It gives young players the chance to face the most talented of their piers. It also allows NHL teams to salivate over the next crop of future talent and project who they want in the next draft. All that is up in the air right now.
What This Means for the Future
We have no idea what the first showcase for the 2021 draft talent will be. Fans will need to wait for hockey’s various governing bodies to announce when operations will resume. That will involve working closely with state and federal authorities to ensure the health of fans, players and other personnel.
The 2021 class has some intriguing prospects at the top of its list. Aatu Raty from Finland could be the first overall pick but he has competition. Carson Lambos is a top defensive prospect in Canada while the United States Development Team features Luke Hughes and Chaz Lucius. Hughes in especially interesting as the brother of NHL skaters Jack Hughes and Quinn Hughes. The world will have to wait to see the top amateurs a while longer.
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