In the upcoming 2024 IIHF World Championship, Canada will feature three of its most promising and young hockey stars. Among them are Connor Bedard, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks, Adam Fantilli, selected No. 3 by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the same draft, and Macklin Celebrini, projected to be the top pick in the upcoming 2024 NHL Draft.
Bedard led all NHL rookies this season in points and is a finalist for the Calder Trophy. Fantilli won the Hobey Baker Award and Celebrini put up impressive stats as a freshman at Boston University. Other players named to the roster include Jordan Binnington, Bowen Byram, Owen Power, Colton Parayko, Michael Bunting, Dawson Mercer, and Andrew Mangiapane.
Additional players may be added to the roster in the coming weeks, potentially including NHL players whose teams have been eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The NHL Draft Lottery will determine which team will likely take Celebrini with the No. 1 pick, and Celebrini himself has not yet decided whether he will go to the NHL next season or stay in school. The World Championship games will take place in Prague and Ostrava from May 10-26, with Canada’s first game scheduled for May 11 against Great Britain.