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Isaac Howard named to Team USA for World Championships, fifth Oiler headed overseas
Photo credit: Flickr/Bakersfield Condors
May 7, 2026, 13:30 EDTUpdated: May 7, 2026, 14:18 EDT
Another Edmonton Oiler will be representing their country at the upcoming IIHF World Championships.
Isaac Howard is suiting up with the United States as the nation selected a younger roster with little overlap to the national Olympic team that won the gold medal in February.
He’s the fifth Edmonton Oiler heading to Switzerland. Recently snubbed for the Norris Trophy, Evan Bouchard will be playing for Team Canada on the blueline, alongside Darnell Nurse.
Another defenceman, Mattias Ekholm, will play for Sweden. German national team fixture Josh Samanski will don his nation’s colours as well.
Playing at the World Championships is not a new experience for Howard. He played in four games at last year’s tournament, which was the first time the US won the gold medal at the Worlds since 1933. Howard had one assist in those games.
Howard has a legacy of success playing internationally. As a junior, he played in the World Juniors in 2024 and won a gold medal, capping off two appearances at the World U18 Championships in 2021 and 2022.
The U.S. will open play in the IIHF Men’s World Championship in Zurich on May 15 against host Switzerland. Matthew Tkachuk is the only Olympian playing in this tournament.
This season was Howard’s first in professional hockey. While he achieved milestones like playing in his first NHL game and scoring his first goal, he spent the lion’s share of his season with the Bakersfield Condors.
In the AHL, the 2025 Hobey Baker Award winner had a terrific season and was named to the league’s All-Rookie Team along with fellow collegiate product Quinn Hutson. The 22-year-old scored 24 goals and 50 points, finishing fourth in team scoring. With the Oilers, he scored three goals and five points in 29 games.
The “Iceman” was acquired last July for the Oilers first-round pick Sam O’Reilly.
Michael Menzies is an Oilersnation columnist and co-host of PreGaming and Oilersnation After Dark. He’s also been the play-by-play voice of the Bonnyville Pontiacs in the AJHL since 2019. With seven years of news experience as the Editor-at-Large of Lakeland Connect in Bonnyville, Menzies collects vinyl, books, and stomach issues. Follow him on X at Menzies_4.
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