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L’Italien honoured to play for Canada alongside DuPont For Halifax’s Malik L’Italien, his Team Canada debut has him on the top defensive pairing. It just so happens his partner is reigning WHL champion and projected no. 1 overall pick in the 2027 NHL Draft, Landon DuPont. “We do different things and when you bring it together that’s what makes us a good pairing,” L’Italien said. “We will continue to bring it every game and the chemistry will [get better] across the tournament.” The tournament also presents the 17-year-old his first opportunity to represent his country. He enters the tournament after a rookie season in which he played 64 games for the Herd and tallied 24 points (four goals). “It’s awesome and a dream come true to be around those guys,” L’Italien said. “It’s such a great group and to wear the logo is awesome. To play hockey with that jersey on is an awesome feeling.” For more information on the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, click here. Canada’s roster for the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup Goaltenders (2) Sam Berthiaume (Cape Breton Eagles / QMJHL) Leif Oaten (Lethbridge Hurricanes / WHL) Defencemen (7) Brock Cripps (Prince Albert Raiders / WHL) Landon DuPont (Everett Silvertips / WHL) Matt Henderson (Kingston Frontenacs / OHL) Malik L’Italien (Halifax Mooseheads / QMJHL) Cooper McAslan (London Knights / OHL) Quinn Norman (Newfoundland Regiment / QMJHL) Boston Tait (Wenatchee Wild / WHL) Forwards (13) Brock Chitaroni (Ottawa 67’s / OHL) Ryerson Edgar (Niagara IceDogs / OHL) Brock England (Seattle Thunderbirds / WHL) Ben Harvey (Prince Albert Raiders / WHL) Alexis Joseph (Saint John Sea Dogs / QMJHL) Aleks Kulemin (Kingston Frontenacs / OHL) Charlie Murata (Flint Firebirds / OHL) Liam Pue (Regina Pats / WHL) Maddox Schultz (Regina Pats / WHL) Kayden Stroeder (Edmonton Oil Kings / WHL) Benjamin Veitch (Newfoundland Regiment / QMJHL) Camryn Warren (North Bay Battalion / OHL) Jaakko Wycisk (Guelph Storm / OHL)