Oilers’ Bouchard, Nurse expected to join Canada for 2026 World Championship

A couple of notable names are set to represent their country on the world stage.

According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, Edmonton Oilers defensemen Evan Bouchard and Darnell Nurse are expected to be named to the Canadian National Team roster set to compete at the 2026 IIHF Men’s World Championship.

Both players have become available to participate in the tournament after the Oilers were shockingly eliminated by the Anaheim Ducks in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Bouchard and Nurse played in all six games of the Pacific Division Semifinal, with Bouchard scoring a goal and seven points, while Nurse failed to get on the scoresheet.

This will be Bouchard’s first experience with the senior national team. The last time he played for Canada was at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship. The only international hardware the Oakville, Ont. native has taken home was during the 2015 Under-17 World Hockey Challenge, helping Canada White win gold.

Nurse is making his third appearance at the Men’s Worlds, last doing so in 2019, taking home the silver medal. The Toronto native has also won gold at the 2012 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and 2015 World Juniors, and bronze at the 2011 Under-17 WHC and 2012 IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship.

The duo is joining a fairly stacked roster as they head overseas this year. Veteran names like John Tavares, Ryan O’Reilly, Mathew Barzal, Morgan Rielly, Robert Thomas and Mark Scheifele are expected to be named to the roster, along with young stars in Gavin McKenna and Macklin Celebrini.

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 May 15 against Sweden, and will face the likes of Italy, Denmark, Norway, Slovenia, Slovakia, and Czechia in Group B play.