Macklin Celebrini named Canada’s captain for 2026 World Championship
One of the game’s rising stars is set to lead his country into battle.
On Sunday, Hockey Canada announced that Macklin Celebrini has been named captain of the Canadian Men’s National Team for the 2026 IIHF Men’s World Championship. Veteran forwards Ryan O’Reilly and John Tavares have been named the alternates for the annual tournament.
Meet the captains! / Voici nos capitaines! 🇨🇦 C: Macklin Celebrini (@BCHockey_Source) A: Ryan O’Reilly (@OHFHockey) A: John Tavares (@OHFHockey) #MensWorlds | #MondialMasculin
At 18, Celebrini is the youngest player to captain Canada at any senior national team tournament. He isn’t the youngest male to wear a letter at the event, though, as Sidney Crosby was just 18 when he wore the ‘A’ at the world championship 20 years ago.
The San Jose Sharks star is just a few months removed from making a significant impact at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Despite being the youngest player to compete for Canada’s men’s team at the Winter Games, Celebrini finished second in tournament scoring behind captain Connor McDavid, notching 10 points in six games, helping the Canadians reach the gold medal game. He also tied Jarome Iginla for most goals by a Canadian in an Olympic tournament with NHL participation, finding the back of the net five times.
O’Reilly was an alternate captain for Canada last year, and was named one of the team’s top three players, despite the Canadians missing out on the podium. He was also a member of the 2016 World Cup team that won it all, taking home the gold at the 2015 and 2016 Men’s Worlds, along with the 2007 Under-17 World Hockey Challenge and 2008 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
Tavares was the captain of the Canadian team two years ago. He has taken home gold at the 2014 Olympics, 2016 World Cup of Hockey, 2008 and 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship and 2012 Spengler Cup.
Canada is looking to medal for the first time in three years. The nation is the record holder for the most gold medals (28) and total medals (53). They won gold in 2021 and 2023, and silver in 2019 and 2022. Canada will kick off the tournament on Friday against Sweden, and will face the likes of Italy, Denmark, Norway, Slovenia, Slovakia, and Czechia in Group B play.