Newfoundland Players Join National Camp
Two players from Newfoundland who play in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) have been selected for the training camp roster for the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. These players are Quinn Norman and Ben Veitch. Their inclusion marks a significant step in their hockey careers, as they will compete for a spot on Team Canada.
Ben Veitch recorded 21 points in 58 games during his rookie season in the QMJHL last year. Quinn Norman also contributed to his team with 13 points in the league during the previous season. Both players have prior experience representing Canada, having participated in the U-17 World Hockey Challenge last fall.
Sarnia-Area Players Also Invited to Camp
In addition to the Newfoundland players, two individuals with connections to Sarnia have received invitations to Hockey Canada’s national men’s summer under-18 team training camp. The camp is scheduled to begin on Monday in Edmonton. Among the 27 players vying for a spot on Team Canada for the Hlinka Gretzky Cup are Sarnia Sting defenceman Kaden Aucoin and Kingston Frontenacs defenceman Matthew Henderson, who is from Sarnia.
Both Aucoin and Henderson have previously worn the Maple Leaf. They represented Canada White at the 2025 U17 World Challenge in Truro, N.S., where they earned silver medals. During that tournament, Henderson accumulated six points in five games, while Aucoin registered two assists.
Last season, Aucoin, in his rookie year with the Sting, had seven points in 61 games. Henderson, meanwhile, recorded 18 points in 63 games. The training camp will include exhibition games against Sweden and Czechia before the final roster is determined. The camp is set to conclude on August 1.
Tournament Schedule and Other Team News
The Hlinka Gretzky Cup tournament in Edmonton will feature preliminary-round games for Canada. The team will face Switzerland on August 3, followed by a game against Slovakia on August 4, and then Sweden on August 5. The medal games for the tournament are scheduled for August 8.
In other news related to the Sarnia Sting, defenceman Jacob Reese has reportedly committed to the University of Connecticut for the upcoming season. This decision means he will not return to the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) as an over-ager. During his single season with the Sting, Reese contributed 20 points and led the team with 101 penalty minutes across 66 games.
His departure leaves the Sting with 10 signed defencemen. This total includes Kalib Capecci, who is reportedly unlikely to return as an over-ager after being drafted by the United States Hockey League’s Des Moines Buccaneers. Additionally, Sting rookie defenceman Adrian Sgro performed well at Hockey Canada’s national under-17 development camp in Oakville this week, where he scored a goal and three assists in three games. He helped Team Red secure third place out of four teams with a 1-1-1-0 record. This 80-player camp is part of the evaluation process for the 2026 U17 World Challenge.
Former Sting assistant coach Chris Lazary has resigned from his position as head coach of the Saginaw Spirit. He is reportedly set to become an associate head coach at the University of Michigan. Lazary joined the Spirit as an associate coach during the 2016-17 season and was promoted to head coach in November 2018, leading Saginaw to the 2024 Memorial Cup championship. He spent two seasons with the Sting from 2014 to 2016.
Several Sting alumni have also signed new professional deals for the upcoming season. Jamison Rees, a former Carolina Hurricanes draft pick, is joining Germany’s Straubing Tigers after playing six seasons in the AHL, most recently with the Belleville Senators. Ryan Mast, a former Boston Bruins draft pick, is moving to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins from the Rockford IceHogs within the AHL. Defenceman Colton Kammerer is beginning his professional career with the ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bears after four years at the University of New Brunswick. Forward Drake Rymsha signed for his fourth stint with the ECHL’s Fort Wayne Komets after spending the past three seasons in Europe. Canada will open the Hlinka Gretzky Cup against Switzerland on August 3.
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Source: vocm.com
