Canada adding Porter Martone, Dawson Mercer to IIHF World Championship roster
Hockey Canada announced on Tuesday that they have added forwards Porter Martone and Dawson Mercer to their roster for the 2026 IIHF World Championship in Switzerland.
The tournament, which kicks off on Friday, runs from May 15 to 31 in Zurich and Fribourg.
Here’s what you need to know.
Team Canada
Martone, the sixth overall pick in the 2025 NHL draft, spent most of the past season playing in the NCAA for Michigan State, notching 25 goals and 50 points in 35 games.
The 19-year-old signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Philadelphia Flyers on March 29 and quickly became a key member of the team. He scored four goals and had 10 points in nine regular season games and added another two goals and five points in 10 playoff games before the Flyers were swept by the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs.
This will be Martone’s second time wearing a Team Canada jersey this season after captaining Canada to a bronze medal finish at this year’s World Juniors. He led the tournament with six goals.
Mercer just finished his fifth season with the New Jersey Devils. He played all 82 games in 2025-26, recording 20 goals and 42 points.
This will be Mercer’s third time representing Canada at the IIHF World Championship. He was also on the Canadian teams that won silver in 2022 and finished fourth in 2024.
2026 IIHF World Championship
The additions of Martone and Mercer add to Hockey Canada’s strategy of leaning on younger players. At just 19-years-old, San Jose Sharks star Macklin Celebrini was named Canada’s captain ahead of a 6-1 pre-tournament win over France. Ryan O’Reilly and John Tavares will serve as alternate captains.
Canada opens the tournament on Friday against reigning bronze medalist Sweden. The Canadians will play in Group B, along with Sweden, Czechia, Denmark, Slovakia, Norway, Slovenia and Italy.
Canada is a sizeable +140 favourite to win the tournament. They are also -220 to win Group B and -350 to medal.