The Ivan Hlinka Memorial is the biggest international U18 event outside the U18 Championship in April. The tournament which was originally called the U18 World Cup of Hockey takes place in mid-August each year and is usually hosted by Breclav or Hodonin (Czech Republic) and Piestany (Slovakia). Throughout the years, the tournament has featured some of the greatest future hockey stars including Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Rick Nash, Milan Michalek, Marc-André Fleury and Victor Hedman to name a few.

Format: the 8 leading U18 nations are divided into two separate groups. The teams are seeded according to the IIHF U18 rankings though the teams of the two host nations, Czech Republic and Slovakia cannot play in the same group. The winners of the two groups proceed to the final while the runners up play for the third place, 5th place and 7th place.

Canada has won the U18 World Cup/Ivan Hlinka Memorial 10 out of 12 times, and enters once again the tournament as a strong favourite. All Canada's players, except Jaden Schwartz (SJHL) play in CHL (WHL, OHL, QMJHL). The team features at least a handful of players who will be 1st round picks in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. These players include the forwards Brett Connolly, John McFarland and Tyler Toffoli and defenders Mark Pysyk and Erik Gudbranson. Another player, Brock Beukeboom is the son of the four-fold Stanley Cup winner, Jeff Beukeboom.
Sweden is having great success with its increased focus on youth development. In the 2009 NHL Entry draft no less than seven Swedes were selected in the first round. This years' batch of young Swedish prospects also contains plenty of material to keep the scout's eyes open. Some of the notable Swedish players include Gabriel Landeskog, Viktor Öhman, Frederic Weigel and goaltender Johan Gustafsson. Six of the players were born in 1993 and will only be eligible for the 2011 NHL Entry draft. Jonathan Nielsen who is still only 15 is the youngest player of the team. With such a young team, it seems unlikely that Sweden will top Canada and reach the final, but the team definitely has the potential. Sweden won the Ivan Hlinka Memorial in 2007.
Czech Republic enters the tournament with a squad led by defenseman David Musil. David Musil, who is the son of Frantisek Musil and the grandson of Jaroslav Holik, both legendary Czechoslovakian national team players, is regarded as one the biggest Czech talents in recent years, but he will only participate in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. The biggest prospect of the Swiss team is probably Nino Niederreiter who will play in WHL next season. Niederreiter was the best Swiss player in the U20 tournament in Puchov, Slovakia, played a few days ago.

Group B is Piestany (SVK) is slightly more open but will likely be decided in the very first game of the tournament between Russia and USA. The biggest prospect of team Russia is undoubtedly Kirill Kabanov who has already signalled a strong intention to play in the NHL. Kabanov is likely to be a top pick in the 2010 NHL Entry draft. Two of Russia's other big U18 prospects, Evgeny Kuznetsov and Roman Berdnikov are injured and won't participate. Instead the scouts will keep an eye with forwards Vladislav Namestnikov and Stanislav Galiev and defenseman Stefan Stepanov and Aleksei Marchenko, all players who are potential NHL 1st round picks.USA's roster is as usual centered around the U.S. National Team Development Program. Notable players include goaltender Cody Campbell, defenseman Ben Marshall and forward Austin Watson who play for the Calder Cup Champion, Windsor Spitfires of the OHL. Finland also enters the tournament with a few interesting names. The biggest prospect is Mikael Granlund (HIFK), a player that could very well reach top 10 in the NHL Entry Draft. Another  player the scouts will carefully watch is Joonas Donskoi (Kärpät). Slovakia will likely struggle to avoid to be last in group B. Slovakia's team does however include a few players who already play in the Slovak Extraliga. The biggest prospect on the team is undoubtedly forward Tomáš Jurčo (Kosice) Another player to watch is defenseman Martin Marinčin

ROSTERS

  Czech Republic
GK: Petr Mrázek (Vítkovice), Libor Kašík (Zlín) Defence: Bohumil Jank (Č. Budějovice), David Musil (Jihlava), Marel Hrbas (Plzeň), Daniel Krejčí (Slavia Praha), Ladislav Havlík (Pardubice), Tomáš Valenta (Zlín), Dušan Žovinec (Sparta Praha), Filip Pavlík (Třinec).
Forwards: Petr Straka (Plzeň), Jakub Culek (Plzeň), Tomáš Pacanda (Plzeň), Denis Kindl (Pardubice), Tomáš Nosek (Pardubice), Jakub Herman (Zlín), Jiří Rys (Ml. Boleslav), David Koudela (Ml. Boleslav), Jakub Strnad (Kladno), David Stach (Kladno), Adam Řehák (Vítkovice), Jaroslav Vlach (Liberec), Tomáš Filippi (Liberec), Marek Račuk (Litvínov).

  Canada
GK: Louis Domingue (Moncton, QMJHL, Calvin Pickard (Seattle, WHL), Defence: Erik Gudbranson (Kingston, OHL), Mark Pysek (Edmonton, WHL), Brandon Gormley (Moncton, QMJHL), Ryan O'Connor (Barrie, OHL), Brock Beukeboom (Sault Ste. Marie, OHL), Alexander Petrovic (Red Deer, WHL), Stephan Silas (Belleville, OHL), Forwards: Gregg Sutch (Sarnia, OHL), Jaden Schwartz (Notre Dame, SJHL), Tyler Seguin (Plymouth, OHL), Sean Couturier (Drummondville, QMJHL), Jeffrey Skinner (Kitchener, OHL), Michael Bournival (Shawinigan, QMJHL), Brett Connolly (Prince George, WHL), John Mc Farland (Sudbury, OHL), Tyler Toffoli (Ottawa, OHL), Brad Ross (Portland, WHL), Quinton Howden (Moose Jaw, WHL), Ryan Spooner (Peterborough, OHL), Jordan Weal (Regina, WHL)

  Sweden
GK: Gustafsson Johan (Färjestads BK), Steen Stefan (Leksands IF) Defence: Alm Johan (Skellefteå AIK) Berglind Victor (Brynäs IF), Brodin Jonas (Färjestad BK), Gunnarsson Daniel (Leksands IF), Johansson Karl (Östersund/Brunflo IF), Nemeth Patrik (AIK IF), Nielsen Jonatan (Tranås AIF) , Larsson Adam (Skellefteå AIK) Forwards: Landeskog Gabriel (Djurgårdens IF), Larsson Johan (Brynäs IF), Ottosson Sebastian (Linköpings HC), Pettersson Adam (Skellefteå AIK),Rensfeldt Ludvig ( Brynäs IF), Nordström Joakim(AIK IF), Rask Victor (Leksands IF),Thorell Erik ( Färjestads BK), Rakell Rickard (AIK IF), Öhman Victor (IF Malmö Redhawks), Sundström Johan (Frölunda HC), Weigel Fredric (Djurgårdens IF)

  Switzerland
GK: Meili Lukas (ZSC Lions), Saikkonen Dennis (SC Bern Future);  Defence: Eigenmann Daniel (PIKES EHC Oberthurgau), Hebeisen Silvan (SC Bern), Kukan Dean (ZSC Lions),  Marti Christian (Kloten Flyers),  Orellana Kewin (Lausanne HC),  Sutter Dave (Genève-Servette HC),  Thaler Marco (EHC Winterthur).  Trutmann Dario (EV Zug) Forwards: Arnold Eric (ZSC Lions) Bärtschi Sven (SC Langenthal), Haas Gaëtan (EHC Biel),  Lammer Dominic (Kloten Flyers),  Leuenberger Kaj (EHC Biel),  Martschini Lino (EV Zug),  Niederreiter Nino (HC Davos) Rexha Alban (SCL Tigers), Schmutz Reto (PIKES EHC Oberthurgau), Vermin Joël (SC Bern), 
Theodoridis Joshua (ZSC Lions), Walser Samuel (Kloten Flyers).

  Russia
GK: Sergei Kostenko (Metallurg Novokuznetsk),Kirill Brashkin (Lada, Togliatti),Pavel Suchkov (Red Army), Defence: Stefan Stepanov (PHK Krylya Sovetov Moscow),Ivan Gavrilenko (Metallurg Magnitogorsk), Alexander Savoskin (PHK Krylya Sovetov Moscow), Aleksei Marchenko (Red Army), Viktor Postnikov (Metallurg Magnitogorsk), Sergei Ilminsky (Dynamo Moscow), Artur Amirov (Lokomotiv Yaroslavl), Vitaly Zotov (Lokomotiv Yaroslavl), Roman Rukavishnikov(Atlant Moscow Oblast), Ildar Isangulov (Salavat Yulaev Ufa), Forwards:  Vladislav Namestnikov (Khimik Voskresensk),Vladislav Cartaev (Salavat Yulaev Ufa),Nail Yakupov (Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk), Alexander Komisarchuk (Lokomotiv Yaroslavl), Roman Lubimov (Red Army), Mikhail Grigorenko (Red Army), Pavel Kulikov (Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk),Bogdan Potekhin (Metallurg Magnitogorsk), Kirill Kabanov (Spartak Moscow), Evgeny Grigorenko (Metallurg Magnitogorsk), Stanislav Galiev (Indiana Ice - USA), Sergei Barbashev (Red Army), Ainars Podzinsh (PHK Krylya Sovetov Moscow), Ivan Telegin (Metallurg Novokuznetsk), Emil Galimov (Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk).

USA
GK: Cody Campbell (Fargo Force USHL), Zane Gothberg (Thief River Falls HS), Defence: Brandon Archibald (Soo Greyhounds OHL),William Eiserman (Newburyport HS),Kevin Gravel (Marquette Rangers NAHL),Kevin Lind (Chicago Steel USHL),Ben Marshall (Mahtomedi HS),Scott Mayfield (St. Louis Blues AAA U16),Jamieson Oleksiak (Chicago Steel USHL), Forwards: Nick Bjugstad (Blaine HS),Connor Brickley (Belmont Hill School),Charlie Coyle (Thayer Academy/Dynamos),Brian Ferlin (Jacksonville Ice Dogs MJHL),Kevin Hayes (Nobles School),Christian Isackson (St. Thomas Academy Cadets),Mike Parks (St. Louis Selects AAA),Kyle Rau (Eden Prairie HS),Colten St. Clair (Fargo Force (USHL), Thomas Tynan (Chicago Mission U18),Sam Warning (St. Louis Selects AAA),Austin Watson (Windsor Spitfires (OHL).

  Finland
GK: Sami Aittokallio (Ilves), Jonathan Iilahti (Blues), Defence: Marcus Fagerudd (Ässät), Santeri Arousva (Ässät), Miro Hovinen (Blues), Olli-Pekka Viitaniemi (TPS), Julius Nyqvist (HIFK), Markus Västilä (Ilves), Konsta Mäkinen (Ilves), Forwards: Mikael Granlund (HIFK), Mikael Kuronen (Ilves), Timo Hiltunen (KalPa), Joonas Donskoi (Kärpät), Petteri Halinen (Blues), Roope Hämäläinen (SaiPa), Micke-Max Åsten (HIFK), Joel Mustonen (Skellefteå), Jose Sneck (Jokerit), Patrik Moisio (TPS), Teemu Tiitinen, (Dallas), Teemu Rautiainen (HPK), Mika Partanen (HIFK)

  Slovakia
GK: Dominik Riečický (HC Košice) , Juraj Šimboch (Hk Nitra), Defence:  Martin Marinčin (HC Košice), Michal Čajkovský (HC Slovan Bratislava), Denis Danihel, Michal Srnec (both HK 36 Skalica), Dominik Kubica (Hk Trnava), Adam Jánošík (HC Liberec, CZE), Mário Kuráli (HK ŠKP Poprad), Peter Trška (HC Vsetín, CZE), Forwards:  Tomáš Jurčo, Dominik Šimčák (both HC Košice), Patrik Wesselényi, Roman Ihnaťo, Boris Krempaský (all HK Spišská Nová Ves), Viliam Daráš, MArtin Kalináč (both HC Slovan Bratislava), Matej Bene (Hk Nitra), Lukáš Cingel, Patrik Jaráb (both Mshk Žilina), Dominik, Michal Murček (MHC Martin), Dominik Hegyi (HC Třínec, CZE)

Ivan Hlinka Mem. /U18 World Cup
      Past Winners
2008    Canada
2007    Sweden
2006    Canada
2005    Canada
2004    Canada
2003    USA
2002    Canada
2001    Canada
2000    Canada
1999    Canada
1998    Canada
1997    Canada

2009 Ivan Hlinka Memorial

11 August
14:00 USA - Russia
15:30 Canada - Sweden
17:30 Slovakia - Finland
19:00 Czech Republic - Switzerland

12 August
14:00 Finland - USA
15:30 Switzerland - Canada
17:30 Slovakia - Russia
19:00 Czech Republic - Sweden

13 August
14:00 Russia - Finland
15:30 Sweden - Switzerland
17:30 Slovakia - USA
19:00 Czech Republic - Canada

15 August
14:00 7th place (4A-4B) Breclav
13:30 5th place (3A-3B) Piestany
17:30 3rd place (2A-2B) Piestany
17:00 Final (1A - 1B) Breclav