2026 World Championship | NOTEBOOK

The 2026 IIHF World Championship is taking place in Switzerland from May 15 - 30. 

Stay here for daily tournament updates and highlights of the play of Devils players participating. 

Below is the following representation: 

🇨🇭Switzerland: Nico Hischier, Timo Meier

🇺🇸 USA: Paul Cotter

🇨🇦 Canada: Connor Brown, Dawson Mercer

🇫🇮 Finland: Lenni Hämeenaho

🇨🇿: Matyas Melovski

May 21

Switzerland 4, Great Britain 1

There they go again! Nico Hischier and Timo Meier each contributed, once again, to a Swiss victory.

Switzerland remains undefeated with five regulation victories after a win against Great Britain on Thursday. Hischier had a goal and an assist, while Meier had one assist. For Meier, the assist was his 8th point of the tournament, tying him with Sven Andrighetto for the team lead, while Hischier is right behind with seven points. 

Nino Niederreiter scored at 5:05 of the first period, with Hischier adding an unassisted goal just 1:02 into the second. Simn Knak also scored in the second period, and Niederreiter scored his second of the game 2:53 into the third. 

Niederreiter’s third-period goal came off an incredible effort by Meier, who twice had a toe-drag effort on Great Britain netminder Mat Robson, with Niederreiter jamming in the puck on the second rebound for the 4-1 goal.

Josh Waller had the lone goal for Great Britain.

Finland 7, Latvia 1

The Finns continue to dominate at Worlds, with their latest victory a 7-1 win against Latvia. Devils rookie Lenni Hämeenaho had an assist on the seventh Finnish goal 

Hämeenaho finished the game with one assist, one shot, and 13:54 of ice time. With his assist against Latvia, Hämeenaho now has five points through give games with two goals and three assists. 

Although Rudolfs Balcers opened the scoring against the Finns just 10 seconds into the game, it was all Finland after that, with three Finnish goals before the end of the first period. 

The Finns scored once again in the second and added four in the third.

Canada 5, Norway 4 (OT)

Canada avoided an upset, requiring overtime against Norway on Thursday. 

Norway jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, before Mark Scheifele had two goals to close out the first period. Norway retook the lead early in the second, with Canada tying it with a Gabriel Vilardi goal. 

The third period was a wild affair, with Canada taking their first lead on a Dylan Cozens goal, just 41 seconds into the third, which was followed by two goals by Norway in a less than two-minute span. 

Ryan O’Reilly tied the game, Canada’s third time requiring a game-tying goal. 

It took just 29 seconds into overtime for the game to be settled, with Scheifele completing the hat trick and powering Canada to a victory. 

Connor Brown had one shot on goal and played 11:12, while Dawson Mercer returned to the Canadian lineup, but played just 2:44.

May 20

Switzerland 9, Austria 0

The Swiss are on a roll!

And so are Nico and Timo!

Both Nico Hischier and Timo Meier had multi-point games – again – for the Swiss, who dominated the Austrians in a 9-0 victory, their fourth of the tournament, to remain undefeated.

In front of a raucous Swiss crowd, who did not stop chanting and singing for the entirety of the game, with their countrymen putting up a tournament-high nine goals on Austria.

Twice, Nico and Timo connect for a goal, Hischier scoring both and Meier assisting. The first of Hischier’s goals came off a Meier saucer feed that glided over two opponents’ sticks and right to the Devils captain, to give Switzerland a 3-0 lead, only minutes after Meier had put the team up 2-0.

Hischier and Meier connected for Hischier’s second goal mid-way through the third period for the 5-0 lead.

The Swiss scored four goals in the first period, three in the second and two in the third, while Swiss goaltender Leonardo Genoni held down the fort for his 13th shutout at an IIHF Worlds, becoming the all-time leader.

The Swiss have now outscored their opponents 22-4 through four games as the host nation.

Nico Hischier was named Switzerland's Player of the Game.

United States 4, Germany 3 (SO)

It took a shootout, but the United States came away with the victory over Germany for their second win of the tournament. 

Isaac Howard, Max Sasson, and Tommy Novak scored for the US in regulation, while Moritz Seider, Frederik Tiffels, and Marc Michaelis had goals for Germany. 

After an overtime that didn’t produce a winner, the shootout went five rounds, with Ryan Leonard scoring on the US’s final attempt on German netminder Philipp Grubauer. 

Devils forward Paul Cotter, a shootout specialist with New Jersey, went as the second shooter for USA and missed by the smallest of margins, coming in on Grubauer with his speed and slick stick handling. Cotter dragged the puck across the crease to try and stuff it in at the goal post, but Grubauer was able to get his skate in the way at the last second. 

Czechia 3, Italy 1

Matyas Melovsky and the Czechs avoided a major upset by coming from behind, late, against Italy. The Italian's took a 1-0 lead midway through the second period as the Czechs pressed for their first goal. It wasn't until 5:14 of the third that Czechia finally broke through on Italian netminder, and Anaheim draft choice, Damian Clara. Marek Alscher, Jakub Flek and Dominik Kubalil all scored in the third period to avoid the upset.

May 18

Switzerland 6, Germany 1

Talk about home ice advantage! The Swiss are 3-0-0 at the 2026 World Championship, taking place in Switzerland. 

After a six-goal outing against the Germans, the Swiss have scored 13 goals through their first three games.

Nico Hischier, Timo Meier and the Swiss national team gave the Swiss crowd a ton to cheer about in their third game at the World Championship. 

It took some time, but when it clicked, the Swiss went at Germany with an onslaught of goals. 

Both Hischier and Meier had multi-point games, with Hischier collecting a goal and an assist, and Meier picking up two assists. 

Hischier assisted on the Swiss's opening goal, which started a three-goal sequence in 3:33.

With Meier in the box, serving his second penalty of the game, Devils captain Nico Hischier connected shorthanded with Roman Josi and Dennis Malgin. Malgin wired home a Hischier pass from between the circles, to put the hometown team up 1-0, 5:56 into the second period.

Sven Andrighetto would double the Swiss lead, with the help of Meier at 8:54 to start the onslaught of Swiss second-period goals. After Christoph Bertschy extended the Swiss lead to 3-0, Hischier and Meier connected for a power play goal, Meier, tracking behind the German net, finding Hischier in the high ice with a backhand pass.

Roman Josi added a goal for the Swiss in the second, bringing the score to 5-0, before Sven Andrighetto scored his second of the game early in the third.

Germany broke Leonardo Geononi’s shutout with a goal by Frederik Tiffels with just under five minutes to play. 

Finland 6, United States 2

Lenni Hämeenaho came to play for the Finns on Monday, selected as Finland's Player of the Game after a three-point night. Going up against his Devils teammate, Paul Cotter, and the United States, the 21-year-old had two goals and an assist in the Finn's victory over the US. 

Finland is a perfect 3-0-0 at the tournament, scoring 13 goals and giving up just three in the process. Lenni’s first goal was an unassisted effort, chasing down the puck from Ryan Leonard, bumping him off the puck and wiring a perfectly placed shot past U.S. netminder Joseph Woll. 

Matt Coronato would score in the first period for the U.S. to tie the game, 1-1.

Hämeenaho assisted on the 2-1 Finland goal off a passing play with Patrik Puistola, and add the Finn’s fourth goal, a power play goal, off some incredible puck movement between he and Mikko Lehtonen. ​

The Finns chased US netminder Woll from the game, who was replaced by Devin Cooley to start the third period. 

Hämeenaho played 15:26 for the Finns, while Cotter played third line wing for the US and recorded 15:16 of ice time and took one minor penalty. 

The Americans have had a difficult start to the tournament, going 1-2 in the round robin play.

Canada 5, Denmark 1

Although the score looks rather lopsided after the final buzzer, Canada was only able to break through Dane netminder Nicolaj Henriksen in the third period. 

The shot totals were 27-9 for Canada after two periods, but the score sat at 0-0. The score wouldn't hold much longer, with Canada getting on the board just 28 seconds into the third, before adding another four goals in the third. Sidney Crosby had a four-assist outing for the Canadians. 

Devils forward Connor Brown, who scored the game-winner in Canada's opening game, played 14:47, while Dawson Mercer was scratched from the lineup.

Czechia 4, Sweden 3

Matyas Melovsky and the Czech's picked up a 4-3 victory against Sweden. Czechia held on for the victory, despite the Swedes outshooting them 12-1 in the third period, looking for an equalizer. 

Czechia is 2-0-1 to start the tournament, while Sweden in 1-2-0.

May 17

USA 5, Great Britain 1

Paul Cotter was the lone Devil in action on Day 3 of the World Championship and boy did he make it count! 

Cotter had a goal and two assists in the USA's 5-1 defeat of Great Britain, powering the US to their first victory of the tournament.

Cotter opened the scoring 13:55 into the matchup, and assisted on two third-period goals, one by Mathieu Olivier and the other by Declan Carlile. 

Cotter was promoted to the third line prior to the start of the game, playing on a line with Max Sasson and Olivier. He opened the tournament playing on the fourth line on Day 1 of the tournament. 

May 16

Switzerland 4, Latvia 2

Timo Meier and Nico Hischier each had a point in Switzerland's 4-2 victory over Latvia on Saturday. Meier and Hischier connected for the opening Swiss goal, off a 2-on-1, with Meier completing the play off a cross-ice pass from the Devils captain.

The hometown boys pick up their second victory in as many days, and will have the day off on Sunday from gameplay.

Meier, for the second straight game, led the Swiss forwards in time on ice with 14:21 of gameplay, while Hischier wasn't far behind at 13:41. 

Canada 6, Italy 0

Connor Brown had an assist for Canada in their decisive 6-0 victory over Italy. Brown assisted on Canada's second goal, scored by Fraser Minten, and 16:23 in the win. The assist was Brown's second point of the tournament, after scoring the game-winning goal in the teams opening game on Friday. 

Dawson Mercer, who is dressed as the 13th forward, played 7:02 and was held without a point.

Finland 4, Hungary 1

Lenni Hameenaho played 15:08 in Finland's 4-1 victory over Hungary. 

Jesse Puljujarvi had two goals, with Ville Heinola and former Devil Janne Kuokkanen contributing goals for the Finns, who stay perfect to start the tournament. 

Slovenia 3, Czechia 2 (OT)

Matyas Melovsky recorded his first point with the Czech Men's national team on Saturday in a 3-2 ovetime loss to Slovenia. Melovsky assisted on Martin Kaut's second period goal, Czechia's first goal of the game. Melovsky also registered three shots on goal in his 16:56 of ice time.

Melovsky was named Czechia's Player of the Game.

May 15

Switzerald 3, USA 1

The hometown boys opened the tournament with a big win over the United States. Nico Hischier and Timo Meier, along with their Swiss teammates, picked up the victory in Zurich. 

Pius Suter opened the scoring for the Swiss at 2:03 of the first period, followed by a goal by Sven Andrighetto to double the lead. 

Alex Steeves scored for the Americans to bring the US within one before Ken Jager capitalized to seal the Swiss victory on home ice. 

Hischier and Meier were held without points in the opener, but logged the most minutes of the Swiss forwards. They make up two-thirds of the Swiss top line, with 24-year-old Theo Rochette, who is making his tournament debut. Meier led the charge with 17:12 time on ice, while Hischier was just behind at 16:51. 

On the other side of the ice was Paul Cotter, playing with the Americans. He lined up with James Hagens and Sam Lafferty. Cotter played 14:04 in the US loss.

Canada 5, Sweden 3

Connor Brown scored the game-winning goal for Canada in its tournament opener on Friday. Brown and the Canadians defeated Sweden, 5-3. 

John Tavares and Ryan O’Reilly scored for Canada in the first period, before Jacob Karsson and Lucas Raymond evened the score at 2-2 in the second. Dylan Holloway broke the tie, but the Swedes tied the game again, with Mattias Ekholm’s second period goal, setting up a draw going into the third period. 

Brown scored 3:21 into the third period, after Canada had seen a 2-0 and a 3-2 lead disappear after 40 minutes of play. Brown logged 14:34 time on ice while playing on the fourth line with Fraser Minten and Porter Martone.

Dylan Cozens scored at 12:59 of the third for the insurance goal.

Devils forward Dawson Mercer dressed as the 13th forward and played 4:00 and was a plus-1.

Finland 3, Germany 1

Lenni Hameenaho played 11:56 in Finland's 3-1 victory over Germany in their tournament opening game. 

Anton Lundell opened the scoring for the Finns in the first period, and after a goalless second, Jesse Puljujarvi doubled the lead for Finland. 

Stefan Loible brought Germany within one before Aatu Raty scored with under five minutes to play to extend Finland's lead. 

Czechia 4, Denmark 1

Matyas Melovsky made his Czech Men's national team debut on Friday, playing 16:15 and registering one shot on goal in Czechia's 4-1 win over Denmark.