British Columbia Hockey League alumni Kent Johnson and Brian Lebler are among those representing their countries at the 2025 IIHF Men’s World Hockey Championship.
Johnson, a 22-year-old forward from Port Moody, B.C., is representing Canada at the tournament in Sweden and Denmark. Lebler, a 36-year-old veteran who represents Austria internationally, is also suiting up at the prestigious event.
The selections come as both players continue to represent different stages of a professional hockey career, tied by a common stop in their development through the BCHL.
Johnson, currently with the Columbus Blue Jackets organization, played two full seasons with the Trail Smoke Eaters and two additional games as an affiliate player. He led the BCHL in scoring in his final year with 101 points in 52 games. His offensive ability and elite skill made him a standout prospect, eventually earning him an NCAA Division I scholarship to the University of Michigan and a first-round selection, fifth overall, in the 2021 National Hockey League Draft.
Since turning pro, Johnson has made strides with Columbus, including a 40-point rookie campaign in 2022–23. Internationally, he’s already had memorable moments in a Team Canada jersey, none bigger than scoring the overtime winner in the 2022 World Junior Championship final against Finland. This is Johnson’s second senior men’s tournament appearance. He also represented Canada in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China.
Lebler’s path to the Worlds has been markedly different. Born in Austria but raised largely in Canada, Lebler played for the Penticton Vees from 2004 to 2006 before heading to the University of Michigan, 14 years before Johnson did. After a brief stint in the American Hockey League in 2010-11, he established a career in Austria’s ICE Hockey League, primarily with Black Wings Linz, where he’s become a consistent scorer, team captain, and fan favourite.
Internationally, Lebler has been a regular presence on Austria’s national team at the World Championships and at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. At 36, his inclusion on Austria’s roster this year adds experience and depth to a squad typically fighting to remain in the tournament’s top division.
The 2025 IIHF Men’s World Championship is on until May 25 in Stockholm, Sweden, and Herning, Denmark.
For Johnson, the tournament could serve as a key development step to continue to grow his place among Canada’s rising stars. For Lebler, it’s another opportunity to keep building a long and successful international career.
Both players represent the increasing diversity of paths to the world stage, offering a reminder that international hockey features more than just NHL superstars. It’s also a platform for players with varied journeys and hometown roots.
