Canada’s Celebrini, Fantilli opt out of hockey worlds

BUDAPEST, Hungary — Teen forwards Macklin Celebrini and Adam Fantilli have decided to return to North America ahead of the start of the world men’s hockey championship, Hockey Canada announced Tuesday.

Hockey Canada said Celebrini planned to attend Tuesday night’s NHL draft lottery. The 17-year-old is projected as the first overall pick in this year’s NHL draft.

Fantilli, 19, is electing to focus on next season with the Columbus Blue Jackets after his rookie campaign was cut short after 49 games due to a calf laceration. He was part of Canada’s championship-winning team last year.

Forwards Pierre-Luc Dubois, Brandon Hagel and Nick Paul were added to the team.

Hagel and Paul became available when Tampa Bay was ousted by Florida in the first round of the NHL playoffs, while Dubois became free when

Los Angeles fell to Edmonton.

Paul scored the overtime winner as Canada beat Finland 3-2 in overtime in the 2021 final in Riga, Latvia. Hagel was also on that team

Dubois was part of the 2022 team that lost 4-3 in overtime to Finland in the 2022 final.

Canada plays its first game at the 2024 championship Saturday against Britain in Prague.

LOOSE PUCKS: Jordan Binnington made 21 saves and Dylan Guenther had a goal and an assist as Canada beat Hungary 4-0 Tuesday in a pre-tournament game before the world men’s hockey championship.

Colton Parayko, Bowen Byram and Owen Power also scored for the defending world champions, who outshot the hosts 66-21.

Connor Bedard and Andrew Mangiapane added two assists each.

Hungary goaltender Bence Balizs made 26 saves on 28 shots before being replaced halfway through the game by Dominik Horvath.