NHL's top rookie scorer plans to skate for Team Canada in Prague next month. Other Chicago players will play for their national squads.

Chicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard confirmed on Saturday he will play for Canada at the upcoming IIHF World Championship, running May 10-26 in Prague, Czechia.

Bedard, the NHL's leading rookie scorer with 22 goals and 61 points in 68 games this season, will don yet another jersey with a maple leaf emblem. He set scoring records leading Canada to the IIHF World Junior Championship in Halifax, Nova Scotia in January 2023.

"That's something I'm pretty excited about, to get the opportunity to play," Bedard said. "I feel like a year and a bit ago I was playing for my country every couple months. It's been awhile since I got that chance, so I'm looking forward to that." See video.

Bedard's linemate, Philipp Kurashev, is set to play for Switzerland.  Chicago defensemen Seth Jones and Alec Vlasic, paired for much of the season, will skate for Team USA.

Petr Mrazek, who had a resurgent season in nets for the Blackhawks, should be in goal for the Czechs in his hometown. Mrazek is looking forward to playing host to his Chicago teammates.

Bedard, from North Vancouver, British Columbia, said he and Kurashev had joked about scoring against the 32-year-old Mrazek in the tournament.

"Me and Kurshie were talking and our main goal is to score on Mrazek in the World Championships," Bedard said. "Stuff like that is always fun.

"I think that stuff's a lot of fun, getting to compete against those guys. Even in practice you're doing little things... and an actual game is a lot of fun. You're competitive with everyone, but probably even more competitive with your friends." See video.

Chicago rookie defenseman Kevin Korchinski, from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, wasn't sure yet if he'd be invited to play for Canada.