Men's Ice Hockey | 8/10/2026 11:05:20 AM
USHL talent was on display throughout the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup as eight players with league ties helped the United States capture a silver medal in Edmonton.
From timely goals to playmaking performances, the group made its presence felt throughout Team USA’s run to the championship game. The eight players combined for 12 goals, 16 assists and 28 points across five tournament games.
Ethan Sung led the way with six points, recording four goals and two assists. The Sioux Falls Stampede forward finished second among Team USA skaters in both goals and points, providing a consistent scoring threat throughout the tournament.
Joey Cullen and Jake Prunty of the U.S. NTDP followed with five points apiece. Cullen scored three goals and added two assists as the youngest player on the U.S. squad, while Prunty recorded a team-high five assists.
Sioux Falls' Ryland Rooney contributed two goals and two assists for four points over five games. Green Bay's Gunnar Conboy finished the tournament with one goal and two assists, scoring Team USA’s lone goal in the gold-medal game against Canada.
Trevor Shorter of the Chicago Steel and Becker Wenkus of the Des Moines Buccaneers each registered one goal and one assist.
Nash Roed was another key contributor during Team USA’s run, finishing with three goals and two assists for five points in five games. The NTDP forward scored all three of his tournament goals in a hat-trick performance, helping power the American offense during its run to the gold-medal game
Although the United States fell short in the final, its silver-medal finish capped an impressive week of international competition and provided another opportunity for the league’s players to compete against some of the top talent in their age group.
For the USHL-connected group, the tournament was more than a collection of strong individual performances. It was another showcase of the skill, depth, and development taking place across the league as its players continue to make an impact on the international stage.
About the USHL
The United States Hockey League (USHL) and its 16 teams are committed to being the world's leading junior hockey league. This season, more than 50% of NCAA Division I men's hockey players and nearly 25% of NHL players have USHL experience. The USHL has developed more than 315 direct NHL Draft picks since 2020, and nine of the last 10 Hobey Baker Award winners, including Macklin Celebrini (Chicago Steel).
Elevated through the recently announced Declaration of Excellence with the NHL and USA Hockey, the league's player-first approach, including a 2:1 practice-to-game ratio and a schedule with 90% of games played on weekends, provides its players with the optimal environment for athletic and personal growth, creating pathways for the next generation of stars like Auston Matthews (NTDP), Kyle Connor (Youngstown Phantoms), Jeremy Swayman (Sioux Falls Stampede), and Johnny Gaudreau (Dubuque Fighting Saints).