Porter Martone, a 19-year-old forward from Michigan State, has been chosen as the captain for Team Canada at the upcoming 2026 world junior hockey championship. Hailing from Peterborough, Ontario, Martone previously played a supporting role for Canada in a tournament where they faced a quarterfinal defeat for the second consecutive year. Despite this setback, Martone has made a significant impact in his freshman season in the NCAA, ranking third in scoring with 11 goals and nine assists in 20 games. Having transitioned to Michigan State from the OHL, where he played for the Sarnia Sting and Mississauga/Brampton Steelheads, Martone was a top pick for the Philadelphia Flyers in the recent NHL Draft.
Joining Martone as alternate captains are Cole Beaudoin, a forward from the Barrie Colts and a first-round pick for the Utah Mammoth, and Harrison Brunicke, a defenseman for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Beaudoin, who also represented Canada previously, has been shining with 45 points from 14 goals and 27 assists in 25 games for Barrie this season. Brunicke, a second-round pick for the Penguins, has secured a spot in the NHL team following a successful training camp, scoring one goal in nine games this season.
The Canadian team, led by Martone and his alternate captains, is set to kick off their tournament journey in Minnesota, facing off against Czechia in a highly anticipated rematch of last year’s quarterfinal.