The 2026 IIHF World Championships will feature a marquee preliminary‑round clash as Canada meets Slovenia at 10:20 a.m. Eastern Time on May 22 in the BCF Arena of Fribourg, Switzerland.
Canada arrives with a flawless record, having opened the tournament with a 5‑2 victory over Norway that was highlighted by a hat trick from Mark Scheifele. The performance underscored the depth of the Canadian forward group and kept their perfect record intact.
Slovenia, fresh from a 3‑1 win over Czechia, has been anchored by goaltender Zan Us, whose steady play has limited opponents to few chances. Rookie forward Macklin Celebrini sparked the offense with a hard shot that rang off the post, while veteran Marcel Mahkovec has been a reliable presence on the back end. For Canada, veteran forward Nathan MacKinnon and defenseman Noah Dobson are expected to add depth to the attack, and goaltender Jet Greaves will aim to extend his recent strong performances.
The last encounter between the two nations ended in a 4‑0 shutout for Canada, a result that adds a layer of historical context to the upcoming contest.
Shot dominance and goaltending
Early shot counts illustrate Canada’s control, with ten shots on goal already recorded while Slovenia managed only one, a disparity that highlights the Canadians’ offensive pressure. Mid‑tournament, Denton Mateychuk added his second goal of the tournament, further widening the gap.
Live updates and highlight reels are available on FloHockey, allowing fans to track every key moment as it unfolds. The event is also covered by the International Central European Hockey League, which provides official statistics and broadcast links.