Young Canadian Squad Named to Defend Gold Medal at World Men’s Hockey Championship
CALGARY — The stage is set for an exciting showdown at this year’s world men’s hockey championship, as Hockey Canada announced its initial 22-player roster on Friday. With a mix of seasoned veterans and young talent, the Canadian squad is gearing up to defend its gold medal in Prague and Ostrava, Czechia from May 10-26.
Leading the charge for Canada are forwards Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, and Macklin Celebrini. Bedard, the first-overall draft pick in 2023, had an impressive rookie season with the Chicago Blackhawks, leading both rookies and his team in scoring despite missing time with a broken jaw. Fantilli, the third overall pick in 2023, is looking to make a strong comeback after a shortened rookie campaign with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Meanwhile, Celebrini, the projected first overall pick in this year’s draft, is coming off a stellar season at Boston College where he won the Hobey Baker Award.
The Canadian roster also features players from various NHL teams, with Buffalo, Seattle, and St. Louis leading the way with three players each. Notable names include Owen Power, Bowen Byram, and Dylan Cozens from Buffalo, Jamie Oleksiak and Brandon Tanev from Seattle, and Colton Parayko from St. Louis.
With a mix of talent from both the NHL and NCAA, Canada is poised to make a strong statement at the world championship. The team will kick off their campaign against Britain on May 11 in Prague, and fans can expect an exciting display of skill and determination from the defending champions.
Stay tuned for more updates as additional players are added to the roster in the coming weeks. Let the countdown to puck drop begin!