The ECHL is represented by 34 players in the 2026 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship, which begins today and runs through May 31 in Zurich and Fribourg, Switzerland.

There is at least one former ECHL player on 15 of the 16 teams in the tournament, led by six players appearing on the roster for Italy, five players with Great Britain and four players with Latvia. Three players who played in the ECHL this season are participating in the tournament – Rapid City and Norfolk’s Johnny Curran (Great Britain), Norfolk’s Krisof Papp (Hungary) and Wheeling’s Jake Smith (Italy).

Thirteen coaches in the tournament have ECHL experience, including Great Britain Assistant Coach Chuck Weber, who coached Iowa this season and led Cincinnati to Kelly Cup titles in 2008-10; United States Head Coach Don Granto, who led Peoria to the 2000 Kelly Cup title, and Canada Assistant Coach Spencer Carbery, who is the only coach to win Coach of the Year in the ECHL, American Hockey League and National Hockey League.

In addition, five officials who have officiated in the ECHL have been selected to work the tournament with referees Nolan Bloyer, Jesse Gour and Sean MacFarlane and linesmen Shane Gustafson and John Rey.

Former ECHL players and coaches participating in 2026 IIHF World Championships:

Austria – Assistant Coach Kirk Furey (Atlantic City, 2001-04); Thimo Nickl (Wheeling, 2023-24) and Peter Schneider (Indy, 2014-16; Florida, 2016-17 and Kalamazoo, 2016-18)

Canada – Assistant Coach Spencer Carbery (Bakersfield, 2007-08; Stockton, 2007-08; Fresno, 2007-08; South Carolina, 2008-16); Jet Greaves (Kalamazoo, 2021-22) and Cam Talbot (Greenville, 2010-11)

Czechia – Josef Korenar (Rapid City, 2021-22)

Denmark – Assistant Coach Morten Madsen (Texas, 2007-08); Video Coach Peter Hirsch (Bakersfield, 2003-04 and 2010-11) and Mikkel Aagaard (Adirondack, 2016-17 and Manchester, 2017-18)

Finland – Vili Saarijarvi (Toledo, 2015-16 and 2017-18)

Germany – Assistant Coach Mark French (Atlantic City, 2004-05 and Wheeling, 2020-21); Assistant Coach Rob Leask (Johnstown, 1993-95); Samuel Dove-McFalls (Fort Wayne, 2022-23); Philipp Grubauer (South Carolina, 2011-12 and Reading, 2012-13) and Frederik Tiffels (Wheeling, 2017-18)

Great Britain – Assistant Coach Chuck Weber (Trenton, 2001-02; Augusta, 2003-05; Utah, 2005-06; Cincinnati, 2006-10; Atlanta, 2017-18 and Iowa, 2025-26), Assistant Coach Corey Neilson (Louisiana, 2000-02; Pensacola, 2003-06 and Florida, 2005-06); Johnny Curran (Wichita, 2020-21; Norfolk, 2025-26 and Rapid City, 2025-26); Ben Davies (Norfolk, 2016-17); Liam Kirk (Atlanta, 2022-23); Cade Neilson (Utah, 2024-25) and Brett Perlini (Bakersfield, 2012-13; Greenville, 2013-14; Toledo, 2013-14; Indy, 2014-15; Fort Wayne, 2014-17; Rapid City, 2016-17 and Wichita, 2016-17)

Hungary – Zsombor Garat (Worcester, 2023-24); Kristof Papp (Iowa, 2024-25 and Norfolk, 2025-26) and Adam Vay (Quad City, 2016-17 and Rapid City, 2017-18)

Italy – Matt Bradley (Newfoundland, 2018-20 and Greenville, 2020-22); Cristiano DiGiacinto (Jacksonville, 2017-18 and 2022-23; Cincinnati, 2023-24); Bryce Misley (Iowa, 2021-22); Phil Pietroniro (Utah, 2015-17); Nick Saracino (Worcester, 2017-18; Wheeling, 2018-20 and Jacksonville, 2020-21) and Jake Smith (Wheeling, 2025-26)

Latvia – Martins Dzierkals (Orlando, 2017-18); Ralfs Freibergs (Ontario, 2014-15 and Toledo, 2015-16); Kristers Gudlevskis (Florida, 2013-14) and Mareks Mitens (Adirondack, 2021-23)

Norway – Christian Kasastul (Greenville, 2022-23)

Slovakia –Samuel Hlavaj (Iowa, 2024-25) and Kristian Pospisil (Orlando, 2017-18)

Slovenia – Goaltending Coach Klemen Mohoric (Johnstown, 1996-97 and Louisville, 1996-97) and Jan Drozg (Wheeling, 2019-20)

Sweden – Magnus Hellberg (Cincinnati, 2012-14)

United States – Head Coach Don Granato (Columbus, 1991-93 and 1997-99 and Peoria, 1999-2000); Assistant Coach Kevin Dean (Cincinnati, 1991-92 and Trenton, 2010-11); Assistant Coach Ty Hennes (Bakersfield, 2004-05); Goaltending Coach Thomas Speer (Idaho, 2011-12; Las Vegas, 2011-12 and Allen, 2014-20); Devin Cooley (Florida, 2020-22) and Tommy Novak (Florida, 2020-21)

About the ECHL

Formed in 1988-89 with five teams in four states, the ECHL has grown into a coast-to-coast league with 30 teams in 23 states and one Canadian province for its 38th season in 2025-26. There have been 782 players who have gone on to play in the National Hockey League after starting their careers in the ECHL, including 14 who have made their NHL debuts in the 2025-26 season. The ECHL has affiliations with 30 of the 32 NHL teams in 2025-26, marking the 28th consecutive season that the league has affiliations with at least 20 teams in the NHL. Further information on the ECHL is available on its website at ECHL.com.