Cancik named to Czechia's Hlinka Gretzky Cup roster

Jan Běhounek

Fowrard Matyas Cancik, who officially signed with the Saint John Sea Dogs last week, has been named to Czechia's roster for the upcoming Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

Cancik has played internationally for Czechia in the past, most notably at last year's U17 World Challenge where he recorded a goal and an assist in four games.

Selected with the 14th overall pick in this year's CHL Import Draft, Cancik signed a QMJHL Scholarship and Development Agreement with the Sea Dogs on Thursday.

Czechia roster for the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. pic.twitter.com/wxwHKNXBad

— Czech Prospects (@CZprospects) July 26, 2026

Cancik split last season with Bílí Tygři Liberec's under-20 and under-17 teams. At the U17 level, the forward posted 22 goals and 22 assists in just 23 games while adding three goals and seven assists in nine playoff games. At the U20 level, he recorded a goal and seven assists in 12 games.

Czechia's first game is Monday, Aug. 3 against the United States. The tournament, which is being held in Edmonton, concludes on Aug. 8.

Sea Dogs forward Alexis Joseph was previously named to Team Canada's camp roster for the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

It's going to be a busy couple weeks for Sea Dogs players and international play. On Sunday, the World Junior Summer Showcase got underway with the recently signed Jamie Glance and import pick Vertti Svensk both in action.

Svensk was on Finland's second defense pairing in a 4-1 win over USA White. In the second game of the day, Glance – playing on a third line with Cooper Simpson and Logan Stuart – helped USA Blue defeat Sweden 6-1.

Three Sea Dogs to play in WJC Summer Showcase

Three Saint John Sea Dogs will take part in the 2026 World Junior Summer Showcase, which is set to begin on Sunday in Windsor.

Goaltender Samuel Meloche, who the Sea Dogs acquired from the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies this off-season, has been named to Canada's roster. Recently signed forward Jamie Glance will play for the Americans while defenseman Vertti Svensk, who the team selected in this year's CHL Import Draft, will suit up for Finland.

The tournament is an early step in evaluating players for the 2027 IIHF World Junior Championship. Four countries are participating: Canada, United States, Finland and Sweden.

The event begins with a pair of games on Sunday but Canada won't play their first contest until Wednesday night against Sweden.

Eight players from the QMJHL were named to the Canadian squad: goaltenders Meloche, Lucas Beckman (Cape Breton Eagles) and William Lacelle (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada); forwards Caleb Desnoyers (Moncton Wildcats) and Philippe Veilleux (Val-d’Or Foreurs); and defensemen Alex Huang (Chicoutimi Saguenéens), Charlie Morrison (Québec Remparts) and Xavier Villeneuve (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada).

Sea Dogs head coach Jim Hulton is an assistant coach with the Canadian world junior team.

Cancik signs with Sea Dogs

Jan Běhounek

The Saint John Sea Dogs announced a significant signing on Thursday, inking Matyas Cancik to a QMJHL Scholarship and Development Agreement.

The Czech forward was Saint John's top pick – 14th overall – in this year's CHL Import Draft.

"We're excited to welcome Matyas to the Sea Dogs," said Sea Dogs president and general manager Trevor Georgie in a news release. "He's as tenacious as he is talented. He's a really mature young man, and we know he'll make the most of his opportunity. He's going to be fun for our fans to watch over the coming seasons."

Cancik split last season with Bílí Tygři Liberec's under-20 and under-17 teams. At the U17 level, the forward posted 22 goals and 22 assists in just 23 games while adding three goals and seven assists in nine playoff games. At the U20 level, he recorded a goal and seven assists in 12 games. 

Cancik, listed at 5'9" and 170 lbs, is familiar with the Maritimes having played in the U17 World Challenge in Truro this past November. He recorded a goal and an assist in four games with Czechia.

The 17-year-old will join the Sea Dogs for training camp this August, according to the team.

Cancik is the first of Saint John's three 2026 import picks to sign. They also selected 17-year-old Slovakian forward Oliver Ozogany and 18-year-old Finnish defenseman Vertti Svensk.

Joseph invited to Hlinka Gretzky Cup camp

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

Saint John Sea Dogs forward Alexis Joseph has been invited to Hockey Canada's under-18 team training camp ahead of the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

The invite comes as no surprise given that Joseph has represented Canada at both the under-17 and under-18 levels already. The 17-year-old appeared in just two games as an underager with Team Canada at the IIHF U18 World Championship this spring.

Just 27 players were invited to the camp and Joseph, who is one of the top prospects for the 2027 NHL Draft, is essentially a lock to make the team. The roster also includes Landon DuPont, who is considered the top-ranked prospect.

According to Hockey Canada's release, "of the 27 players, 25 suited up for Canada Red or Canada White at the U17 World Challenge, one player won a bronze medal at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup (DuPont) and one represented Canada at the 2026 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship (Joseph)."

Six QMJHL players earned invites: forwards Joseph, Malik L’Italien (Halifax Mooseheads) and forward Benjamin Veitch (Newfoundland Regiment); defenseman Quinn Norman (Newfoundland Regiment); and goaltenders Sam Berthiaume (Cape Breton Eagles) and Mathys Fortin (Drummondville Voltigeurs).

The annual Hlinka Gretzky Cup will take place Aug. 3-8 at Edmonton's Rogers Place and the attached Downtown Community Arena.

Canada opens the tournament against Switzerland on Aug. 3 followed by Slovakia on Aug. 4 and Sweden on Aug. 5. Playoff rounds take place Aug. 7-8.

Hulton named to WJC coaching staff

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

Jim Hulton has been named one of Team Canada's assistant coaches for the 2027 IIHF World Junior Championship.

The Saint John Sea Dogs bench boss will work under head coach Misha Donskov. From Hockey Canada's news release:

Hulton was named head coach of the Saint John Sea Dogs of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) last month, after 11 seasons as head coach of the QMJHL’s Charlottetown Islanders. He has represented Canada six times over the course of his career, starting with his debut as an assistant coach with Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team at the 2001 Six Nations Cup. He made his head coaching debut for Canada at the 2003 Junior World Cup, before helping Canada to a World Juniors silver medal in 2004 and a gold medal in 2005 as an assistant coach. He also represented Canada as associate head coach at the 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games and was an assistant coach at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship. Hulton has also served in various coaching capacities with the North Bay Centennials (1998), Mississauga IceDogs (1998-00), Belleville Bulls (2000-03), Kingston Frontenacs (2003-06), Royal Military College (2007), St. Michael’s Majors (2008), Florida Panthers (2008-10) and Tri-City Storm (2013-15).

Drew Bannister (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds), Brad Lauer (Spokane Chiefs) and Ryan Getzlaf were also named assistant coaches.

Canada’s National Junior Team will begin preparations for the tournament at the World Junior Summer Showcase, which will take place July 26 to Aug. 1 in Windsor.

The 2027 IIHF World Junior Championship will be held in Edmonton and Red Deer this winter.

Howard commits to Merrimack

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Ryan Howard has committed to the NCAA's Merrimack College Warriors.

Howard, who was traded to the Saint John Sea Dogs in June, made the announcement on Instagram Thursday. The 18-year-old forward confirmed that he'll begin attending the Hockey East school following the completion of his junior career.

"I am proud and honoured to announce my commitment to play D1 hockey and further my education at Merrimack College following my time in junior," wrote Howard. "A huge thank you to everyone who has helped me along the way!"

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Howard and defenseman Thomas Charbonneau were traded to the Sea Dogs last month. Howard has spent the previous two years of his QMJHL career with the Quebec Remparts, posting 12 goals and 19 assists in 124 regular season games.

Last season, Howard registered nine goals and 11 assists in 62 games. He added two goals in eight playoff games.

Merrimack, based near Lowell in North Andover, Mass., is not a college hockey heavyweight but is coming off an exciting 2025-26 campaign. The Warriors entered the Hockey East Tournament as the eighth-seed and went on to win their first conference title. They became the first eight seed to win the tournament.