The 2026 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Hockey Championships begin on Friday in the state of Minnesota. One of the storylines is the fact that three players on Team Canada have been loaned by National Hockey League franchises for the tournament. Let’s take a look at these three potential future stars who will be trying to make a name for themselves over the next two weeks.
Harrison Brunicke
The Calgary-raised blueliner was actually born in Johannesburg, South Africa before moving to Calgary at the age of two. In addition to playing hockey, Brunicke played soccer and baseball growing up in southern Alberta. Brunicke was a second round pick, 44th overall, in the 2024 National Hockey League Entry Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins. He played his junior hockey with the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League.
In nine games this season, Brunicke has one goal for one point. He scored his goal on October 9 in a 4-3 Penguins win over the New York Islanders at the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Brunicke tied the game at two at 5:41 of the second period from Filip Hallander of Sundsvall, Sweden and Thomas Novak of St. Paul, Minnesota.
Brunicke made NHL history as he was the first South African-born player to score in the NHL. The only other South African born player to play in the NHL was goaltender Olaf Kolzig. The 2000 Vezina Trophy winner with the Washington Capitals also played for the Tampa Bay Lightning in his 17 NHL seasons.
Michael Misa
The centre from Oakville, Ontario was the San Jose Sharks’s first round pick, second overall, in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Misa was only selected behind defenseman Matthew Schaefer of Hamilton, Ontario, who was selected first overall by the New York Islanders. Misa’s junior team was the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League.
In seven games this season, Misa had one goal and two assists for three points. He was a -1 with two penalty minutes, 13 shots on goal, 20 faceoff wins, five blocked shots, two hits, and five giveaways. The goal came in a 6-5 Sharks win over the Minnesota Wild on October 26. Misa put the Sharks up 2-0 from defenseman Timothy Liljegren of Kristianstad, Sweden at 13:35 of the first period.
Zayne Parekh
The defenseman from Nobleton, Ontario was the Calgary Flames’s first round pick, ninth overall, in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. Parekh has played parts of the last two seasons with the Flames. Like Misa, Parekh played for the Spirit.
In 12 NHL games with the Flames, Parekh has one goal and one assist fore two points. He is a +3 with two penalty minutes, one power-play point, 13 shots on goal, six blocked shots, six hits, three takeaways and 18 giveaways.
Parekh’s lone NHL goal came on April 17, 2025 in a 5-1 Flames win over the Los Angeles Kings at Crypto.com Arena. Parekh scored from Flames captain Mikael Backlund of Vasteras, Sweden at 8:24 of the third period. The goal put the Flames up 4-0 at the time.
