Montembeault: Celebrini, Scheifele, Barzal Join Canada’s 2026 Roster

montembeault is part of the latest Team Canada roster push for the 2026 Men’s World Hockey Championship, with Macklin Celebrini, Mark Scheifele, Mathew Barzal, Morgan Rielly and Gavin McKenna all committing to play. The tournament is set for Zurich and Fribourg, Switzerland, from May 15-31, and Canada is chasing its first gold medal at the event since 2023.

Celebrini leads Canada’s additions

Celebrini gives Canada a young top-end option after a season in which he scored 45 goals and 70 assists over 82 games. He also carried that production into international play, scoring five goals and adding five assists over six games for Canada at the Winter Olympics in Italy.

The San Jose Sharks sophomore already has world championship experience as well. Last year, he posted three goals and three assists over eight games, giving Canada a player who has already handled the pace of the tournament before turning 20.

Scheifele and Barzal return

Scheifele brings a much different profile. The Winnipeg Jets centre posted a career-high 103 points this season, with 36 goals and 67 assists, and has not played in a world championship since 2017. Barzal adds another established scorer after finishing his season with the New York Islanders at 19 goals and 53 assists over 81 games.

Barzal’s last world championship appearance came in 2022. Rielly also returns with major tournament pedigree, having won gold with Canada at the 2016 World Championship and finishing 2025-26 with 11 goals and 25 assists over 78 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

McKenna and Greaves join

McKenna adds another high-end piece after producing 15 goals and 36 assists over 35 games for Penn State this season. Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Jet Greaves also earned a spot, giving Canada another option in net as the roster takes shape for Switzerland.

The additions follow Canada’s 6-0 round robin run last year, before the team fell 2-1 to Denmark in the quarter-final. For a roster built around players with recent NHL scoring numbers and recent international experience, the task in Zurich and Fribourg starts with converting that depth into a title run.