The 2026 Ice Hockey World Championship in Switzerland is already generating headlines as former Northern Michigan University standouts Atte Tolvanen and Kristof Papp take to the ice for Austria and Hungary respectively.
Opening Day Highlights
Canada opened its campaign with a commanding 5‑3 victory over Sweden, a match that featured a flurry of early goals and a dramatic finish.
John Tavares opened the scoring for Canada, followed by a backhand strike from Ryan O’Reilly that put the Canadians up 2‑0 in the first period. The Swedish side answered with a goal from Jacob Larsson, and Lucas Raymond tied the game on a power‑play midway through the middle frame.
Dylan Holloway restored the lead for Canada with a slot‑bound goal, and Mattias Ekholm’s one‑timer soon levelled the contest at 3‑3. In the final period, Connor Brown struck 3:21 in, and Dylan Cozens capped the win with a deflected backhand.
Sidney Crosby, whose Pittsburgh Penguins were eliminated in the first round of the NHL playoffs, joined the Canadian squad as an alternate captain, stepping in for John Tavares and bringing veteran leadership to the young team.
Other Opening Fixtures
Finland began its tournament with a 3‑1 win over Germany, while the United States is scheduled to meet host Switzerland later on the same day. The Czech Republic will face Denmark in a later fixture, adding further intrigue to the early schedule.
Canada’s storied legacy at the championship includes 28 titles, though the nation last lifted the trophy three years ago, a drought that fans hope to end this year.