Canada kicked off its quest for a 21st World Junior Hockey Championship title with commanding authority, blanking Finland 4-0 during the tournament's opener held at the Canadian Tire Centre on December 26, 2024. This match was especially significant for the Canadian squad, who were determined to rebound after their disappointing fifth-place finish at last year’s championships held in Sweden.
Among the top young prospects on Canada’s roster is 17-year-old Gavin McKenna, who scored the opening goal late in the first period. The Whitehorse native, known as the youngest player on the team and projected to be the No. 1 pick at the 2026 NHL draft, showcased his talent by managing to score with just 51.4 seconds remaining before the end of the first period. McKenna later revealed his mixture of adrenaline and nerves during the game, stating, “Definitely a little bit of nerves... tried to look at it just like it was another game, but seeing the crowd… it’s something I’ll always remembered.”
Backing up McKenna, Carter George made his mark as the goaltender, securing the shutout with 31 saves. Despite not being heavily tested early on, George demonstrated impressive focus and skill, particularly during the pressure-filled moments of the third period when Finland aimed for breakthrough goals. “It’s definitely a cool experience,” mentioned George, reflecting on the electric atmosphere as fans cheered his name. “To hear a crowd like this cheer your name, it was just incredible.”
The other goals for Canada came from Easton Cowan, Luca Pinelli, and Matthew Schaefer, with Schaefer sealing the victory by scoring on an empty net late in the game.
Head Coach Dave Cameron commended the team’s performance, noting how important it was to establish dominance against such competitive teams. “We were real solid,” said Cameron. “You get ahead in this tournament against good teams, there’s gonna be push back,” reflecting on the strategic importance of outpacing their opponents.
Canada and Finland are positioned in Group A, which also includes competitors such as the United States and Germany, with the Americans having won against the Germans 10-4 earlier on the same day. Sweden, Czechia, Slovakia, Switzerland, and Kazakhstan make up Group B.
The Canadian team entered this year’s tournament with substantial pressure to succeed, especially after the underwhelming performance of the previous year. The program's leadership recognized the need for change, and discussions surrounding the idea of creating a more competitive and cohesive squad set the tone for this year’s selection camp. “The word ‘competitive’ has been top of mind since the group first got together,” Cameron added, emphasizing the importance of building synergy among the players.
Gavin McKenna’s goal was particularly special, marking not only the beginning of Canada’s scoring run but also the debut of the team’s goal song, “Live Is Life” by the Australian pop group Opus, adding to the celebratory vibe of the match.
Canada’s captain, Brayden Yager, also donned the ‘C’ for this tournament after receiving messages of encouragement from NHL superstars like Sidney Crosby and Josh Morrissey. Yager, who previously faced disappointment last year, was eager to motivate his team, asserting, “We’ve got a really special group... we’ve got the team to do something really special.”
Looking forward, Canada will face Latvia next, promising more thrilling hockey as they seek to reclaim their stature and build off their successful opener. Meanwhile, Finland is set to meet Germany, hoping to recover from this loss.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on December 26, 2024.
