Steelheads captain Porter Martone joins Team Canada at IIHF World Championship
Porter Martone’s OHL offseason just got even more memorable.
The Brampton Steelheads captain has been officially added to Team Canada’s roster at the 2025 IIHF World Championship, stepping in after New York Islanders forward Bo Horvat was ruled out for the remainder of the tournament with a lower-body injury.
Martone, 18, was initially brought in to skate with the team during pre-tournament practices and exhibition games, where he recorded two points (1G, 1A) against Hungary.
Projected to go high in the 2025 NHL Draft in June, Martone is getting another first-hand look at the international stage alongside some of hockey’s biggest stars — and he’s making the most of it.
“I was kind of in shock there for a bit,” said Martone. “It’s pretty surreal to be here, surrounded by the best players in the world. I dream of playing in the NHL and winning Stanley Cups, and now I’m on the ice with guys like Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon. The biggest thing for me is just to learn from them — how they act at the rink, and away from it.”
It seems learning is exactly what he’s doing — and quickly. In his debut against Sweden, Martone impressed with his competitive drive, physical presence and high-end puck control, making him one of the OHL’s most dynamic players.
“He’s showing why he’ll be one of the top NHL players in the future,” said veteran forward Brayden Schenn. “He’s a great kid. Coming into it, I wasn’t overly familiar with his game, but he played well.”
Martone, drafted fifth overall in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection by the Sarnia Sting, wore the ‘C’ for the Steelheads this season, leading the team with 98 points (37 goals, 61 assists) in 57 games, finishing seventh in league points. He added another nine points in six playoff games, reinforcing his status as a top-tier talent.
This isn’t Martone’s first time representing Canada, either. He’s worn the Maple Leaf on several occasions, including the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship and the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship, where he set a new career scoring record by a Canadian with 23 career points (8G, 15A), surpassing Connor Bedard’s previous mark of 21.
“He’s mature and works really hard,” said NHL superstar Sidney Crosby. “He’s one of the last guys off the ice every day. You can tell he’s really trying to soak up as much as he can here with this group.”
With Canada preparing for a quarterfinal matchup against Denmark, Martone will look to contribute however he can and help push his team toward another gold medal game.
But for now, just being part of this moment is a milestone, and a strong glimpse of what’s to come for the rising forward.
