Four San Jose Sharks forwards went to play for their country at the 2025 IIHF World Championship, and all have had great starts.
Will Smith is showing his passing skills for Team USA
San Jose Sharks rookie Will Smith was touted as one of the best passers of his 2023 NHL Draft class. The center turned winger is showing off his patience with the puck on the bigger ice.
Smith had a secondary assist in USA’s 5-0 opening game and added two more against Hungary on Sunday.
Smith has shown great chemistry with his former Boston College teammate, Cutter Gauthier. Gauthier is tied for the tournament lead with three goals in two games.
Alexander Wennberg is playing a top role for Sweden
Alexander Wennberg was a top-six center for the San Jose Sharks for most of the season. The playmaking forward is continuing that trend for his country.
Wennberg plays on Sweden’s second line with New York Rangers forward Mika Zibanejad and Nashville Predators star Filip Forsberg.
Despite Zibanejad being a natural center, Sweden keeps Wennberg down the middle. Sweden was in danger of losing on home soil to Austria on Saturday, but two third-period goals by Zibanejad and Wenneberg pushed Sweden to a 4-2 victory and a 2-0 record.
William Eklund had to be removed from Sweden’s roster after suffering a scary injury in the pre-tournament games.
Pavol Regenda is in the lineup and making an impact for Slovakia
Despite not playing a single game for the San Jose Sharks this season, Pavol Regenda made an impact within the organization. Regenda was acquired from the San Diego Gulls mid-season and found himself as the winger on the ‘Cuda top line.
Regenda constantly made his way onto the scoresheet for the Barracuda, especially in the playoffs. The winger scored three goals in six games for the Barracuda this postseason.
After being a late addition to Slovakia’s lineup, Regenda scored the game-winning goal against Slovenia on Sunday with a nice deflection.
Macklin Celebrini is living the dream next to Sidney Crosby
Team Canada just began its second game at the 2025 IIHF World Championship. Head coach Dean Evason made a few line changes for the game against Latvia.
Despite the changes, Evason left the San Jose Sharks’ cornerstone next to his hockey idol, Sidney Crosby.
Celebrini was moved from the right to the left wing for Canada’s second game. Philadelphia Flyers winger Travis Konecny was moved to the same line as Crosby and the Sharks winger.
Celebrini scored his first career goal for Canada at the World Championship with a wrist shot through the five-hole. The Sharks’ rookie’s goal pushed the score to 6-1.
Celebrini had an assist in his Canadian World Championship debut.
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