Hockey Canada has announced its star-studded roster for the 2024 IIHF World Championship.
The tournament will take place from May 10-26 in Prague and Ostrava, Czechia.
The Canada roster is headlined by none other than Connor Bedard, the first overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks.
Bedard, just 18 years old, has already made a name for himself in his rookie NHL season, leading all rookies with 61 points (22 goals, 39 assists) in 68 games. His exceptional play has earned him a spot as a finalist for the prestigious Calder Trophy.
Despite the Blackhawks’ failure to make the postseason, Bedard expressed excitement about representing Canada once more on the international stage.
Connor Bedard confirms he will be playing for Team Canada at the 2024 IIHF World Championship. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/dyBTioyyqh
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) April 20, 2024
Joining Bedard are two other young stars: Adam Fantilli, the Columbus Blue Jackets’ second overall pick in the 2023 draft, and Macklin Celebrini, projected to be the top pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.
Fantilli impressed in his rookie season with the Blue Jackets, tallying 27 points in 49 games before a calf injury cut his campaign short.
Celebrini, a 17-year-old forward, won the Hobey Baker Award as the top men’s college player after a stellar freshman season at Boston University.
The roster also features a strong veteran presence, with notable names such as goalie Jordan Binnington (St. Louis Blues) and defensemen Bowen Byram, Owen Power (Buffalo Sabres) and Colton Parayko (Blues).
The forward group includes Michael Bunting (Pittsburgh Penguins), Dawson Mercer (New Jersey Devils), and Andrew Mangiapane (Calgary Flames), the 2021 tournament MVP.
Here’s the full Team Canada World Championship roster for 2024:
| Position | Player Name | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Forward | Connor Bedard | Chicago Blackhawks |
| Forward | Michael Bunting | Pittsburgh Penguins |
| Forward | Macklin Celebrini | NHL Draft 2024 |
| Forward | Dylan Cozens | Buffalo Sabres |
| Forward | Adam Fantilli | Columbus Blue Jackets |
| Forward | Ridly Greig | Ottawa Senators |
| Forward | Dylan Guenther | Arizona Coyotes |
| Forward | Andrew Mangiapane | Calgary Flames |
| Forward | Jack McBain | Minnesota |
| Forward | Jared McCann | Seattle Kraken |
| Forward | Dawson Mercer | New Jersey Devils |
| Forward | Brandon Tanev | Seattle Kraken |
| Defense | Bowen Byram | Buffalo Sabres |
| Defense | Kaiden Guhle | Montreal Canadiens |
| Defense | Jamie Oleksiak | Seattle Kraken |
| Defense | Colton Parayko | St. Louis Blues |
| Defense | Owen Power | Buffalo Sabres |
| Defense | Damon Severson | New Jersey Devils |
| Defense | Olen Zellweger | Anaheim Ducks |
| Goaltender | Jordan Binnington | St. Louis Blues |
| Goaltender | Nico Daws | New Jersey Devils |
| Goaltender | Joel Hofer | St. Louis Blues |
As the Stanley Cup Playoffs continue, Hockey Canada expects to add more NHL players to the team. Rumors suggest Anaheim Ducks forward Mason McTavish and Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby may be among those joining.
Canada’s quest for back-to-back gold medals begins on May 11 against Great Britain. With a nice blend of youth and experience, Team Canada appears destined to make a strong run at the 2024 IIHF World Championship.
Including Bedard, Fantilli, and Celebrini alongside established NHL stars makes us excited about this squad’s potential to bring home gold for Canada again.