COLUMBUS, Ohio — Several Columbus Blue Jacket players are heading overseas to represent Canada and the United States at the 2026 IIHF World Championship.
The championship will be hosted in Zurich and Fribourg, Switzerland from May 15-31.
What You Need To Know
The championship will be hosted in Zurich and Fribourg, Switzerland from May 15-31
Goaltender Jet Greaves and defenseman Denton Mateychuk will represent Canada
Forward Mathieu Olivier will represent the U.S.
Goaltender Jet Greaves and defenseman Denton Mateychuk will represent Canada while forward Mathieu Olivier will represent the U.S.
This is Greaves’, 25, international debut for Canada. He is the fifth goaltender in franchise history to win 25 games in a season after posting a 26-19-9 record with a 2.60 goals-against average and .908 save percentage with two shutouts in 55 contests last season.
He has a 36-28-11 record with a 2.61 goals-against average, .913 save percentage and four shutouts in 76 career games with the Blue Jackets since his NFL debut at the end of the 2022-2023 campaign.
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Jet Greaves (73) guards his net during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Meanwhile, Mateychuk, 21, is also skating for Canada in his first IIHF World Championships. He won a gold medal with his country at the 2021 IIHF U18 World Championships and was named a Top Three Player for his team at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championships.
He posted single-season career highs with 13-18-31, 88 shots on goal and a +12 plus/minus rating, while averaging 19:11 time on ice in 75 contests this past season. Mateychuk has registered 17-27-44 and 28 PIM in 120 career NHL games.
Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Dmitri Voronkov (10) celebrates his goal with teammates including Denton Mateychuk (5). (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Olivier, 29, will also make his debut on the international stage for the U.S. He scored double-digit goals for the second consecutive campaign and career after notching 15-11-26 and 101 penalty minutes in 61 contests this season.
He led the team in penalty minutes and hits (209) for the past season. Olivier has also collected 43-42-85 and 391 PIM in 263 career games over four seasons with the Blue Jackets since the 2022-23 season. he made his NHL debut in 2019 with the Nashville Predators and has notched 46-46-92 and 479 PIM in 311 career games between the two teams.
Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Mathieu Olivier (24) celebrates his goal in front of Edmonton Oilers center Curtis Lazar (20) in the first period of an NHL hockey game in Columbus, Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)