The preliminary round of the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship continues with an exciting matchup as Canada takes on Slovenia on Friday, May 22, in Fribourg, Switzerland. Canada enters the game with momentum after an important overtime victory against Norway, while Slovenia hopes to produce one of the tournament’s biggest surprises.
The game is scheduled for 10:20 a.m. ET and is expected to attract major attention from hockey fans worldwide as Canada continues its quest for another world championship title.
Match Details
| Match | Canada vs Slovenia |
|---|---|
| Tournament | 2026 IIHF World Championship |
| Date | Friday, May 22, 2026 |
| Time | 10:20 a.m. ET |
| Venue | Fribourg, Switzerland |
| Round | Preliminary Round |
Canada vs Slovenia Live Scores and Final Results
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Slovenia | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
🏒 Final Result: Canada defeats Slovenia 3-1 at the IIHF World Championship 2026.
Fans around the world will closely follow the live score updates as Canada looks to maintain its strong form in the group stage. The Canadian squad features a blend of experienced NHL veterans and talented young stars, making them one of the strongest contenders in the tournament.
Live score updates, period-by-period results, goals, assists, penalties, and final statistics will be updated after the game begins in Fribourg.
Canada vs Slovenia Rosters and Lineup Updates
| Canada (CAN) | Slovenia (SLO) | |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Goalkeepers | |
| Jet Greaves (73) | GK | Zan Us (33) |
| Cam Talbot (33) | GK | Lukas Horak (61) |
Forward Lines & Defensive Pairings
| Canada | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| Line 1 | Line 1 | |
| Parker Wotherspoon (29) | D | Blaz Gregorc (15) |
| Evan Bouchard (22) | D | Maks Percic (26) |
| Sidney Crosby (87) – A | F | Marcel Mahkovec (8) |
| Macklin Celebrini (71) – C | F | Matic Torok (46) |
| Dylan Cozens (24) | F | Robert Sabolic (55) – C |
| Canada | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| Line 2 | Line 2 | |
| Morgan Rielly (44) | D | Aljosa Crnovic (44) |
| Dylan DeMelo (2) | D | Aleksandar Magovac (29) |
| Mark Scheifele (55) | F | Filip Sitar (49) |
| Robert Thomas (18) | F | Rok Ticar (24) – A |
| Gabriel Vilardi (13) | F | Anze Kuralt (92) |
| Canada | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| Line 3 | Line 3 | |
| Darnell Nurse (25) | D | Jan Golicic (17) |
| Zach Whitecloud (28) | D | Jan Cosic (41) |
| John Tavares (91) | F | Nace Langus (13) |
| Ryan O’Reilly (90) – A | F | Luka Maver (25) |
| Dylan Holloway (81) | F | Jan Drozg (21) |
| Canada | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| Line 4 | Line 4 | |
| Denton Mateychuk (5) | D | Rozle Bohinc (86) |
| Porter Martone (94) | F | Nik Simsic (12) |
| Fraser Minten (93) | F | Zan Jezovsek (91) |
| Connor Brown (16) | F | Miha Bericic (10) |
| Emmitt Finnie (58) | F | Jaka Sodja (23) |
Head Coaches
| Team | Head Coach |
|---|---|
| Canada | Misha Donskov |
| Slovenia | Edo Terglav |
Slovenia Roster Overview
Slovenia enters the tournament with a hardworking and determined lineup led by captain Robert Sabolič. The squad combines experienced international players with promising young talent aiming to compete against elite hockey nations.
Key players for Slovenia include Jan Drozg, Rok Tičar, Ken Ograjenšek, and Filip Sitar. On defense, Blaž Gregorc and Aleksandar Magovac are expected to play major minutes against Canada’s dangerous forward lines.
Goaltending could play a massive role for Slovenia, with Luka Kolin, Žan Us, and Lukaš Horak expected to help keep the game competitive.
Match Preview
Canada enters the contest as the heavy favorite due to its elite NHL-level roster depth and offensive firepower. The team showed resilience in its overtime win against Norway and now aims to continue building chemistry ahead of the knockout rounds.
Slovenia, meanwhile, will try to slow the pace of the game and rely on disciplined defensive hockey. Special teams and goaltending may ultimately determine whether Slovenia can stay close against the tournament powerhouse.
Players like Sidney Crosby and Macklin Celebrini are expected to be major offensive threats, while Slovenia will hope its veteran leadership can frustrate the Canadian attack early in the game.
Final Thoughts
The Canada vs Slovenia matchup promises fast-paced action and another important chapter in the 2026 IIHF World Championship preliminary round. Hockey fans will be watching closely to see whether Canada continues its winning run or Slovenia delivers a memorable upset performance in Switzerland.
Stay tuned for live scores, goal updates, highlights, and full final results following the conclusion of the game.