Hockey Canada has followed up news of their World Championship coaching staff by announcing the first 15 players on their tournament roster. The team is a healthy mix between veteran NHL experience and burgeoning stars. That includes reigning first overall draft pick Macklin Celebrini, who will receive his first chance to join Canada’s Men’s team. Celebrini will operate down a loaded center depth chart, behind NHL stars Bo Horvat and Ryan O’Reilly.
Celebrini is the headliner, but Canada will embrace a major youth movement with this lineup. They’re also bringing young forward Adam Fantilli and Kent Johnson, as well as defenseman Ryker Evans. All three players proved their worth as everyday NHL talents this season – Fantilli with a 30-goal season, Johnson with 57 points, and Evans with a routine top-four role in Seattle. Interestingly, the roster does not yet contain 2023 first-overall pick Connor Bedard, who scored eight points in 10 tourney games last summer.
Team Canada has also invited 22-year-old goaltender Dylan Garand – the only invitee to not spend the entire season in the NHL. Garand instead served as the starter for the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, where he managed a .913 save percentage and 20-10-8 record. He’ll likely be the third-string goaltender once Canada adds more experienced pros currently in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Evans’ role on defense will be sheltered by major supports in the form of MacKenzie Weegar, Noah Dobson, Brandon Montour, and Travis Sanheim. All four players are top defensemen for their NHL clubs and collectively form a very experienced blue-line for the international lineup. None of Canada’s first five defense invites were on the World Championship roster last year.
The current roster is as follows:
F Macklin Celebrini (Sharks)
F William Cuylle (Rangers)
F Adam Fantilli (Blue Jackets)
F Tyson Foerster (Flyers)
F Barrett Hayton (Hockey Club)
F Bo Horvat (Islanders)
F Kent Johnson (Blue Jackets)
F Travis Konecny (Flyers)
F Ryan O’Reilly (Predators)
D Noah Dobson (Islanders)
D Ryker Evans (Kraken)
D Brandon Montour (Kraken)
D Travis Sanheim (Flyers)
D MacKenzie Weegar (Flames)
G Dylan Garand (Rangers)
Team USA made some additions yesterday in case anyone cares. No Matt Coranato suprisingly.
link to teamusa.usahockey.com
No evidence to support this, but you may be the first to ever state “No Matt Coronato surprisingly’ in the history of hockey.
You truly are a sad and pathetic individual.
If you did a bit of homework, you’d discover that there were reports that Coronato was going over to play
Dude, it’s only hockey. Lighten up a bit. Or a lot. It’s a joke.
Oh. Haha. ROFL.
See, now you get it. I had a feeling that you had a sense of humor inside that serious personality.
Yes, I LMAO.
Well done. Having fun is not a sin. Hockey is fun. Glad that you are enjoying the games.
I enjoy your posts as they tend to be far above the rabble that infest this site.
Bad on Badard every chance to play for team Canada and you don’t i would say a big “X” beside his name for the Olympic team in 2026…