Bedard, Celebrini headline Canada’s young roster for world hockey championship

Forwards Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli and Macklin Celebrini will be part of a young Canadian squad looking to defend its gold medal at this year’s world men’s hockey championship.

Hockey Canada released its initial 22-player roster Friday for the tournament that runs May 10-26 in Prague and Ostrava, Czech Republic.

Bedard, the 2023 first-overall draft pick and a finalist for this season’s Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year, is coming off a successful first year with Chicago.

The 18-year-old from North Vancouver, B.C., led both rookies and the Chicago in scoring with 61 points (22 goals, 39 assists) despite missing 14 games with a broken jaw.

Fantilli, selected third overall in 2023 by Columbus, looking to return since his rookie campaign with the Blue Jackets was cut short after 49 games due to a calf laceration. The 19-year-old from Nobleton, Ont., was a member of Canada’s 2023 world championship team.

Celebrini, 17, is projected to go first overall at this year’s draft after winning the Hobey Baker Award as the top player in NCAA Division I men’s hockey. He had 64 points (32 goals, 32 assists) in 38 games with Boston College.

Buffalo (defencemen Owen Power and Bowen Byram and forward Dylan Cozens), Seattle (defenceman Jamie Oleksiak and forwards Brandon Tanev and Jared McCann) and St. Louis (defenceman Colton Parayko, goaltenders Joel Hofer and Jordan Binnington) are the most represented NHL teams on the roster with three players each.

Players from Canadian NHL teams include Calgary forward Andrew Mangiapane, Montreal defenceman Kaiden Guhle and Ottawa forward Ridly Greig.

Canada opens the tournament against Britain on May 11 in Prague.