Oaten Named to Canadian Hlinka Gretzky Roster
Published on July 31, 2026 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Lethbridge Hurricanes News Release
LETHBRIDGE, AB - The Lethbridge Hurricanes Hockey Club have announced that 2009-born goaltender Leif Oaten has been named to the Canada's National Men's Summer Under-18 Team for the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup by Hockey Canada.
Oaten, 16, is one of two goaltenders named to the 22-man roster, which includes nine Western Hockey League players.
The Calgary, Alberta, product has previously represented Canada at the 2025 U17 World Challenge where he helped Canada Red capture the Gold Medal in Truro, Nova Scotia. Oaten appeared in four games for the gold medalists posting a 2.95 GAA and a .905 SV% and was named one of the tournament all-stars. He also was named to the preliminary roster for Canada prior to the 2026 IIHF World Under-18 Championships in May.
The 6 '3, 194-pound netminder was originally drafted by the Hurricanes in the third-round (58th overall) in the 2024 Western Hockey League Prospects Draft. The Calgary, Alberta, product recorded a 6-19-2-0 record with a 4.23 goals- against average and a .876 save percentage with one shutout in 31 regular season games during his rookie season in 2025-2 026. Prior to joining the 'Canes, Oaten appeared in 19 regular season games during the 2024 -2025 season with the Edge Hockey Academy posted a record of 11-7-1 with a 2.42 GAA and a .922 SV% with two shutouts.
Oaten is the first Hurricanes player to represent Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup since Dylan Cozens at the 2018 tournament when he helped the Canadians capture the Gold Medal.
The 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup will take place from August 3rd to 8th in Edmonton, Alberta, at Rogers Place and the Downtown Community Arena. The Canadian's will open their three-game preliminary schedule against Switzerland on August 3rd at 5:00pm before facing Slovakia and Sweden.
Season Tickets for the 2026-2027 season, which will mark the Hurricanes 40th Anniversary season in Lethbridge, are now on sale. Premium Season Tickets are also available for an additional $250 per seat. Season Tickets can be purchased by visiting the Yates Memorial Theatre and VisitLethbridge.com Arena Ticket Centre, by calling 403-329-SEAT (7328) or online at www.visitlethbridgearena.ca. Catch up on all the latest on the Lethbridge Hurricanes by visiting the team's website at www.lethbridgehurricanes.com, and/or follow on Twitter @WHLHurricanes.
Western Hockey League Stories from July 31, 2026
- Byrtus Signs with Hurricanes - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- Wenatchee Wild Welcome DJ McFarland as Team's New Equipment Manager - Wenatchee Wild
- Oaten Named to Canadian Hlinka Gretzky Roster - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- WHL Leads Canada's National Men's Summer Under-18 Team with Nine Players Set to Compete at 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup - WHL
- 22 CHL Players on Canada's 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup Roster - WHL
- The Classics Are Back - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Wenatchee Wild Defenseman Tait Selected to Canadian Roster for Hlinka Gretzky Cup - Wenatchee Wild
- King Promoted to Head Coach - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Vanicek, Kachlir, Stroeder, Chipchura to Represent Home Countries at Hlinka Gretzky - Edmonton Oil Kings
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