Canada will be led by Macklin Celebrini as captain, with Sidney Crosby also joining the team for the world hockey championship in Switzerland. The United States aims to defend its title after winning last year for the first time in 92 years.
Celebrini, the 19-year-old standout from the San Jose Sharks, becomes the youngest-ever captain for Canada and is part of the team’s roster for the upcoming competition in Zurich and Fribourg. His remarkable performance in his second NHL season saw him set a Sharks record with 115 points from 45 goals and 70 assists in 82 regular-season games.
Recognized for his outstanding play, Celebrini was a finalist for the prestigious Ted Lindsay Award, standing alongside established stars Connor McDavid and Nikita Kucherov. Only two legendary players in NHL history, Crosby and Wayne Gretzky, reached the 50-point mark quicker in a season than Celebrini.
Despite settling for silver at the recent Milano-Cortina Olympics, Canada remains a powerhouse at the world championships, having secured 28 titles in the past. Celebrini teams up with alternate captains John Tavares and Ryan O’Reilly, both 35 years old.
The addition of Crosby for his fourth appearance at the tournament provides a boost for Canada, which looks to bounce back from a disappointing fifth-place finish last year. Celebrini, the top pick in the 2024 NHL draft, was part of the 2025 tournament team that suffered a surprising 2-1 loss to Denmark in the quarterfinals.
Defending champion, the U.S., clinched victory last year with Tage Thompson scoring in overtime. However, Thompson is absent from this year’s roster due to NHL playoff commitments. Forward Matthew Tkachuk aims to become the first American in hockey’s Triple Gold Club, having previously won the Stanley Cup and a gold medal at the Milano-Cortina Games.
Host Switzerland, led by players like Nico Hischier and Timo Meier, is determined to improve on its runner-up finishes in previous years. Sweden, featuring Lucas Raymond, and Finland, with Aleksandar Barkov, are also strong contenders for a medal.
The 16 teams will compete in two groups during the preliminary round, with the top four from each group advancing to the quarterfinals. The final and bronze-medal matches are scheduled for May 31.