Florida Panthers Shine at 2026 IIHF World Championship in Switzerland
The Florida Panthers will be well-represented at the upcoming 2026 IIHF World Championship in Switzerland. Five players and five staff members from the Panthers will participate in the tournament, which will be held from May 15 to May 31 in Zurich and Fribourg. The games will be broadcast on NHL Network in the United States.
Marek Alscher, a 22-year-old player, will represent Czechia at the IIHF World Championship for the first time. He previously played for his home country at the 2024 IIHF U20 World Junior Championship. Aleksander Barkov, a 30-year-old player from Finland, missed the 2026 Winter Olympic Games due to injury but has a history of success in international competitions. Anton Lundell, a 24-year-old player from Finland, will be participating in his second IIHF World Championship after earning a silver medal in 2021. Sandis Vilmanis, a 22-year-old player from Latvia, will make his debut at the IIHF World Championship. Matthew Tkachuk, a 28-year-old player from the United States, will attempt to become the first American to join the Triple Gold Club.
The Panthers will also have four staff members representing the United States at the tournament. Panthers Assistant General Manager Brett Peterson will serve as General Manager, Panthers Head Equipment Manager Teddy Richards will serve as equipment manager, Florida’s Head Athletic Trainer Dave DiNapoli will work as athletic trainer, and Panthers President of Hockey Operations & General Manager Bill Zito will serve on the Advisory Group. Panthers Assistant General Manager Gregory Campbell will assist with evaluating and selecting players for Canada.
Fans can follow all the Panthers' representatives at the 2026 IIHF World Championships on the team's website. Territory Memberships for the 2026-27 season are now available for purchase. Stay updated on Panthers news, concerts, and events at Amerant Bank Arena & FTL War Memorial by signing up for the '93 Society newsletter. For ticketing needs, visit FloridaPanthers.com or SeatGeek.com.