Sharks’ Sam Dickinson won’t be loaned out for 2026 World Juniors
According to Victory+ insider Frank Seravalli, the San Jose Sharks have elected not to send Sam Dickinson to the 2026 World Junior Championship.
Hearing #sjsharks will not be loaning defenseman Sam Dickinson to Team Canada for World Juniors. In other words, barring the unforeseen, Canada’s defense is set for tournament. #TheFutureIsTeal
Dickinson is the only U-20 NHL defenseman beyond New York Islanders rookie Matthew Schaefer who will not be loaned out for the World Juniors. Calgary and Pittsburgh have previously allowed Zayne Parekh and Harrison Brunicke to challenge for gold, respectively.
Dickinson would have been the lone returning defenseman had the Sharks let him go.
The 19-year-old had two assists in five games with Canada a year ago in his only IIHF tournament to date. Dickinson has represented Canada at both the U-17 and U-18 levels, winning gold at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
Dickinson has spent the entire season with the Sharks, registering one goal and three points in 27 games. While he has only played in the NHL this year, many wondered if the club would allow him to go to the World Juniors, given his limited ice time. Instead, keeping Dickinson allows him to continue developing with the team’s coaching staff without any mid-season distractions.
The Toronto, Ontario native was selected 11th overall by the Sharks in 2024. He had an impressive 184 points in 185 games over three seasons with the OHL’s London Knights, winning two league titles and the 2025 Memorial Cup.
With the news, Canada will roll with the eight defenders they still have on the roster. Canada will have one more practice session in Niagara Falls on Monday before heading to Minnesota to face Denmark on Tuesday.
Canada will open the tournament against Czechia on Friday, the team that has eliminated Canada from the quarterfinals in the past two years. Canada last won gold at the 2023 tournament in Halifax, their second consecutive title.
The Sharks will return to action on Tuesday, Dec. 23 against the Vegas Golden Knights.
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