Penguins send three players to World Championships

PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 18: Connor Clifton #75 of the Pittsburgh Penguins in action during the game against the Philadelphia Flyers in Game One of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG PAINTS Arena on April 18, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty I

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What is the story about?

Three players will be representing the Pittsburgh Penguins when the 2026 men’s world championship kicks off next weekend in Switzerland.

Tommy Novak and Connor Clifton will be playing for the United States at the tournament, while Parker Wotherspoon will be skating for Canada.

The Penguins will also be represented by assistant general manager Jason Spezza and strength and conditioning coach Sean Young, who are taking on their respective roles with Team Canada.

Penguins winger Bryan Rust wasn’t listed on the preliminary Team USA roster, while Sidney Crosby was absent from Team Canada’s.

Crosby was the only player representing the Penguins at the 2025 World Championships. Canada finished outside of the podium after a quarterfinal loss to Denmark.

Clifton and Novak will now hope to keep the Canadians from a medal from a second straight year while helping the United States repeat as champions.

The 2026 IIHF World Championship is set to take place from May 15 to May 31 in Zurich and Fribourg, Switzerland. The full schedules for Team USA and Team Canada are linked here.

Both the United States and Canada are set to start the tournament next Friday. Wotherspoon and the Canadians will play Sweden at 10:20 a.m. ET, followed by a 2:20 p.m. ET puck drop for Clifton, Novak and Team USA against Switzerland.