Regina Pats forward Zach Lansard will represent Canada on the international stage after being named to the national roster for the 2026 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship. The 17-year-old forward, who hails from Ste. Anne, Manitoba, is the only member of the Regina Pats selected to join the team for the tournament in Slovakia.
Lansard is coming off a breakout season where he recorded 56 points, including 24 goals and 32 assists, in all 68 regular-season games for the Pats. He was the only player on the team to appear in every game this year. His performance has also drawn significant attention from professional scouts, with recent rankings placing him in consideration for the second round of the upcoming 2025 National Hockey League draft.
The upcoming tournament is scheduled to take place from April 22 to May 2, 2026, in the cities of Bratislava and Trencin. Canada enters the competition looking to secure a third consecutive gold medal, following successful campaigns in both 2024 and 2025. During the preliminary round, Canada is set to face teams from Slovakia, Latvia, Norway, and Finland.
The selection marks a high point for Lansard following the conclusion of the Pats’ season, which ended in a first-round playoff series against the Medicine Hat Tigers. The organization is currently in a period of transition, as general manager Dale Derkatch is searching for a new head coach following the decision not to extend the contract of former coach Brad Herauf.
Lansard will be joined on the national roster by other standouts from across the country, including forward Beckett Hamilton of the Red Deer Rebels, who also represents the province of Saskatchewan.
