Connor Brown will represent Canada at the World Championships in Switzerland next month, returning to the tournament for the first time since 2021 and joining a roster that includes Gavin McKenna, Macklin Celebrini, Mat Barzal, Morgan Rielly and Mark Scheifele.
Brown, 32, produced 16 points in 10 games at the 2021 World Championships, including 14 assists, and he also finished the NHL season with 14 assists. For Canada, the mix of experienced veterans and young talent gives the team a deeper look as it heads into an international competition a step or two below the Olympics.
Brown’s selection also comes after Dougie Hamilton, Dawson Mercer, Cody Glass and Brenden Dillon either opted against playing or were not asked. That leaves Canada with a group built around players who can use the extra games to stay sharp, while other veterans around the league will do the same at the World Championships and the 4 Nations Face-Off.
Elsewhere, Aleksander Barkov will play for Finland, Martin Pospisil and Adam Sykora will suit up for Slovakia, and Emil Heineman, Albert Johansson, Simon Holmstrom and Oliver Ekman-Larsson are set for Sweden. The lineups underline how the tournament will pull together a wide slice of NHL talent, with Brown back in the frame after a strong run the last time he wore Canada’s colors.
