San Jose Sharks’ Macklin Celebrini and defenseman Sam Dickinson have both been selected to represent Team Canada at the 2026 IIHF World Championship. 

The San Jose Sharks, a National Hockey League (NHL) franchise, are based in San Jose, California. The team was established in 1991 and has stood strong ever since then, while developing young talent within its system. Macklin and Sam are both a part of the same team.

Celebrini is one of the most well-known young players in the league, who has quickly made his mark in the NHL. He is a major part of the San Jose Sharks’ core team, drafted at the age of 18 after a standout collegiate season at Boston University.

He already has many records to his name and is expected to feature for Canada for the second consecutive year at the tournament.  

Celebrini is known for his skating and his ability to play both offense and defense. Despite his young age, he has already drawn attention for his skill at an NHL level.

Meanwhile, Sam Dickinson built his reputation in a strong way as a defenseman who really stands out for his size. The 19-year-old showed a lot of development over the course of 72 games.

Sam has represented Canada previously, too, at Junior international levels (U-20 level), where he held several leadership roles. He's already popular among the scouts due to his height (6'3"). Some even rate him as a "low risk high reward."

Both players’ inclusion in the national team setup shows the country’s openness to integrating younger talent into its senior roster, adding more depth.

 IIHF World Championship Overview

The 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship is set to take place in Zurich and Fribourg, Switzerland, from 15th May to 31st May 2026, with 16 national teams competing for the title.

The countries participating include the USA, Switzerland, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Austria, Hungary, Great Britain, Canada, Sweden, Czechia, Denmark, Slovakia, Norway, Slovenia, and Italy. 

The teams are split into groups of eight for the prelims. Group A draw includes the United States, Switzerland, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Austria, Hungary, and Great Britain. 

Group B includes Canada, Sweden, Czechia, Denmark, Slovakia, Norway, Slovenia, and Italy. The matches take place within the groups so that every team faces the others in its section once.

Overall, the tournament ends up bringing some of the strongest hockey nations in the world, making it one of the most competitive battles in the sport. 

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Written by

Aadhya Nalla

Edited by

Suyashdeep Sason