In the upcoming 2024 IIHF World Championship, Canada will showcase three of its brightest hockey stars. Among the first 22 players named to the roster are Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, and Macklin Celebrini. These young stars are expected to make significant contributions to the Canadian team as they face off against top international competition.
Bedard, a standout center, led all NHL rookies this season with 61 points. Fantilli, a 19-year-old center, had an impressive debut season for the Columbus Blue Jackets with 27 points. Celebrini, who won the Hobey Baker Award as the top men’s player in NCAA ice hockey, had a standout freshman year at Boston University.
Other notable names on the roster include goalies Jordan Binnington (St. Louis Blues), defensemen Bowen Byram and Owen Power (Buffalo Sabres), Colton Parayko (Blues), and forwards Michael Bunting (Pittsburgh Penguins), Dawson Mercer (New Jersey Devils), and Andrew Mangiapane (Calgary Flames). Roster additions will be announced in the coming weeks as other NHL players may join once their teams are eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Celebrini shares in his blog for NHL.com that he is unsure if he will enter the NHL next season or remain in school to continue playing hockey. The NHL Draft Lottery, taking place on May 7, will determine which team is likely to pick Celebrini with the No. 1 spot. Canada’s first game in the tournament is scheduled for May 11 against Great Britain, and these young stars are expected to play key roles in helping their country win gold on home soil.
In conclusion, Canada’s roster for the upcoming IIHF World Championship features three of its brightest and youngest hockey stars: Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, and Macklin Celebrini. These young players have already made impressive contributions to their respective teams at both the college and professional levels and are expected to do so again on an international stage.
