Cody Glass Selected for Canada's IIHF World Championship Team

He made the Nashville Predators roster out of training camp after spending all of last season in the AHL. He posted career highs in points (35), goals (14) and assists (21). He was nominated for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.

But Cody Glass' banner year isn't over yet - Hockey Canada announced on Friday that the 24-year-old forward will represent his home country on the international stage at the 2023 IIHF World Championship from May 12-28 in Tampere, Finland, and Riga, Latvia.

Glass had his best NHL season with Nashville in 2022-23, posting 35 points (14g-21a) and finishing sixth among Predators skaters in each of those three categories. It was a season of tremendous growth for Glass, who was elevated to a top-line center role after a busy trade deadline and a slew of injuries to the Predators roster.

While this will be his first IIHF World Championship appearance, Glass has suited up for Team Canada in international play on three previous occasions. He played on Team Canada Red at the 2015 World U-17 Hockey Challenge in Dawson Creek and Fort St. John, British Columbia. Two years later, he put up six points in five games for Team Canada at the 2017 IIHF U-18 World Championship in Poprad and Spišská Nová Ves, Slovakia. Most recently, he sported the Maple Leaf at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship in Victoria and Vancouver, British Columbia.

Glass was one of the first 20 players selected for Canada's National Men's Team by general manager Doug Armstrong (Sarnia, Ont./St. Louis, NHL), associate general manager Steve Yzerman (Nepean, Ont./Detroit, NHL), assistant general manager Shane Doan (Halkirk, Alta./Arizona, NHL) and senior vice-president of hockey operations Scott Salmond (Creston, B.C.). A selection committee of three NHL executives - Jim McKenzie (Gull Lake, Sask./Vegas, NHL), Jamie Pushor (Lethbridge, Alta./Tampa Bay, NHL) and Tim Taylor (Stratford, Ont./St. Louis, NHL) - and the coaching staff also assisted with player selections.

"We are excited to unveil the first 20 players who will wear the Maple Leaf at the 2023 IIHF World Championship, as this is a group that combines international experience with veteran leadership and young talent," Armstrong said. "We know these players will represent our country with pride in Tampere and Riga, and we look forward to competing for a gold medal this month."

Glass joins a loaded Team Canada roster of NHL veterans, up-and-coming stars and even one of 2023's top NHL Draft prospects in Adam Fantilli.

Prior to the start of the tournament, Canada will practice at the MVM Dome in Budapest, Hungary, May 6-9. It will also face off against Hungary on May 9 as part of its pre-tournament schedule.

Canada will open the 2023 IIHF World Championship against host country Latvia on May 12 at 12:20 p.m. CT. The Canadians will also face Slovenia, Slovakia, Kazakhstan, Switzerland, Norway and Czechia in the preliminary round before the tournament concludes with the medal games on May 28.