The Pittsburgh Penguins are sending a strong contingent to the 2026 IIHF Men's World Championship, with three players set to represent their countries on the international stage. The tournament kicks off next weekend in Switzerland, running from May 15 to May 31 in Zurich and Fribourg.

Forwards Tommy Novak and defenseman Connor Clifton will don the red, white, and blue for Team USA, while defenseman Parker Wotherspoon will be skating for Team Canada. It's a great opportunity for these players to showcase their skills and bring some international hardware back to Pittsburgh.

The Penguins' presence extends beyond the ice, too. Assistant general manager Jason Spezza and strength and conditioning coach Sean Young will be taking on key roles with Team Canada, adding a touch of Pittsburgh expertise to the coaching and support staff.

Notable absentees from the preliminary rosters include Penguins winger Bryan Rust, who wasn't listed for Team USA, and captain Sidney Crosby, who won't be suiting up for Canada this time around. Crosby was the sole Penguin at the 2025 World Championships, where Canada fell short of the podium after a quarterfinal loss to Denmark.

Now, Clifton and Novak will aim to help the United States defend their title as reigning champions, while Wotherspoon and Canada will be hungry to bounce back and secure a medal. Both teams open their tournaments next Friday. Canada faces Sweden at 10:20 a.m. ET, followed by Team USA taking on Switzerland at 2:20 p.m. ET.