After splitting time between the Edmonton Oilers and their AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors, during the 2025-26 campaign, rookie forward Isaac Howard will be joining the United States' entry ahead of the 2026 IIHF World Championship.
Howard joined the Oilers after being traded to the team by the Tampa Bay Lightning as part of the Sam O'Reilly trade. The Lightning previously drafted him with the 31st pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.
The Hudson, Wisconsin native previously took part in the USA Hockey's National Team Development program from 2020 to 2022, playing for the under-18 team while also representing the United States at the 2021 and 2022 editions of the U18 World Juniors. In the latter tournament, Howard recorded 11 points (six goals and five assists) through six games played.
From 2022 to the end of the 2024-25 season, Howard took his talents to the NCAA, first for the University of Minnesota-Duluth before transferring to Michigan State prior to the start of the 2023-24 campaign.
Howard's lone season at the University of Minnesota-Duluth saw him record 17 points (six goals and 11 assists) through 35 games played, while his two seasons with Michigan State saw him record a total of 88 points. The 2023-24 campaign saw Howard record a point-per-game pace through 36 games, while the following season saw him score 52 points (26 goals and 26 assists) through 37 contests played.
Howard would start the 2025-26 season in Edmonton, but a run of form that saw him record just three points (two goals and one assist) ultimately earned him a trip to Bakersfield that lasted until early-January. He recorded another two points upon returning to the Oilers' lineup for the month of January, but would ultimately get sent back to Bakersfield.
In Bakersfield, Howard recorded 50 points (24 goals and 26 assists) through 47 games played. During the Condors' first-round series, which saw them lose in three games to the Coachella Valley Firebirds, Howard tallied four points, all of which were assists.
The Oilers rookie is already contributing for the United States' senior team
The 2026 IIHF World Championship will serve as the second time that Howard plays at the tournament. During the 2025 edition of the tournament, Howard played in four games, recording just one assist over that span.
In the United States' lone pre-tournament game, a 5-2 win over Germany, Howard would play a part in the result. Specifically, he recorded the primary assist on Detroit Red Wings prospect Max Plante's goal in the third period; Boston Bruins center James Hagens would record the secondary assist on the goal.
Howard will have a chance to continue to make a mark on the international stage when the Americans kick off their tournament on May 15 against Switzerland.
The 2026 edition of the IIHF World Championship will run from May 15 to May 31. The Americans are hoping to secure back-to-back gold medals in the tournament for the first time.
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