Twelve Ontario Hockey League alumni and eight staff members with OHL ties are headed to Switzerland as part of Canada’s National Men’s Team for the 2026 IIHF World Championship, Hockey Canada announced on Friday.
The tournament runs from May 15-31 in Zürich and Fribourg, Switzerland, with Canada opening preliminary round play against Sweden on May 15.
Among the 23 players named to the Canadian roster are 12 former OHL players, including veterans John Tavares, Ryan O’Reilly and Mark Scheifele, along with younger standouts such as Jet Greaves, Sam Dickinson and Jack Ivankovic.
Canada’s management and coaching staff also features strong OHL representation, including assistant coach D.J. Smith, head coach Misha Donskov, assistant coach Spencer Carbery and management group members Jason Spezza and Kyle Dubas.
The OHL alumni named to Team Canada’s roster include:
Goaltenders
- Jack Ivankovic, Mississauga/Brampton Steelheads
- Jet Greaves, Barrie Colts
Defencemen
- Evan Bouchard, London Knights
- Sam Dickinson, London Knights
- Dylan DeMelo, Mississauga St. Michaels Majors
- Darnell Nurse, Soo Greyhounds
Forwards
- Connor Brown, Erie Otters
- Ryan O’Reilly, Erie Otters
- Mark Scheifele, Barrie Colts
- Robert Thomas, Hamilton Bulldogs and London Knights
- John Tavares, Oshawa Generals and London Knights
- Gabriel Vilardi, Windsor Spitfires and Kingston Frontenacs
Several players on the roster bring significant international experience, including 12 who have previously represented Canada at the IIHF World Championship and 14 who have competed at the IIHF World Junior Championship.
The OHL-connected staff members named to Team Canada include:
- Spencer Carbery, assistant coach – former head coach of the Saginaw Spirit in 2016-17
- D.J. Smith, assistant coach – former head coach of the Oshawa Generals and Windsor Spitfires, also played for Windsor from 1994-97
- Scott Murray, goaltending consultant – former goaltending coach with the Sudbury Wolves from 2009-13
- Misha Donskov, head coach – former assistant coach with the London Knights and Ottawa 67’s
- Gregory Campbell, management support – played for the Plymouth Whalers and Kitchener Rangers from 2000-03
- Jason Spezza, management group – played for Brampton, Mississauga, Windsor and Belleville from 1998-02
- Kyle Dubas, management group – served with the Soo Greyhounds from 2000-06 and 2011-14
- Sean Young, strength and conditioning coach – with the Ottawa 67’s since 2018
Canada will hold its pre-tournament camp in Paris, France before travelling to Switzerland. The Canadians will also play pre-tournament games against France on May 10 and Hungary on May 13.
TSN and RDS will broadcast tournament action throughout the event.
For more information on Canada’s National Men’s Team, visit Hockey Canada.
