‘Definitely tough’: Led by returnees, Canada looking rebound off world junior flops

Gavin McKenna playing for Canada in an exhibition game against Sweden ahead of the world junior hockey championship in London, Ont., on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nicole Osborne

Gavin McKenna had tears in his eyes. His voice cracked with emotion.

The teenage phenom dreamt of capturing gold for Canada on home soil. His first experience at the world junior hockey championship instead ended in bitter heartbreak.

“A lot to deal with,” McKenna said looking back at the country’s second straight quarterfinal exit some 12 months ago. “Canada, they’ve got a lot of pride in their country, and when you let them down like that, they’re not afraid to let you hear about it … not saying we didn’t deserve it.

“Processing that was tough, but just trying to turn that into fuel.”

The 18-year-old and his teammates — including five fellow returnees from the Ottawa horror show — are also looking to make amends. And board a plane in a few weeks with a record 21st gold medal.

“They’re not happy with the results last year,” said general manager Alan Millar. “And let’s face it, the mood of the country afterwards was tough. There was a lot of talk about the team. They’re a motivated group.

“And maybe a little pissed off.”

Anger was just one of the emotions experienced in the wake of last year’s disappointment.

“You think about it throughout the summer, you think about it now,” said forward Cole Beaudoin, assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct in Canada’s quarterfinal ouster to Czechia. “Definitely in the back your mind, but it’s a new year.”

The current roster features the usual mix of high draft picks, top prospects and help parachuted in from NHL clubs. While the Canadian contingent won’t have star centre Macklin Celebrini — still eligible for the world juniors at age 19 — and a number of other players in the professional ranks, it did get centre Michael Misa, who wasn’t invited to last year’s selection camp before going No. 2 overall at the 2025 draft, from the San Jose Sharks.

“A great opportunity,” said goaltender Carter George, another returnee along with forwards Jett Luchanko and Porter Martone, and backup netminder Jack Ivankovic. “Every guy in that room is not happy with the results the past two years.”

Neither is the country.

“Definitely tough as a Canadian kid,” Martone said of the furor following last year’s flop. “Tournament’s in Canada, you dream of that since you’re little. You lose on home ice … it’s not the way that anyone draws it up.”

Hockey Canada took a hard look its men’s under-20 program in the aftermath. Millar was brought on as full-time GM, while the usual selection process was replaced by a training camp that featured only a handful of cuts. Dale Hunter, who captured gold in 2020 and has built a powerhouse with the Ontario Hockey League’s London Knights, is also back as head coach.

George was the event’s top goaltender last year — statistically speaking — while the roster features five players with NHL experience, including defenceman Zayne Parekh of the Calgary Flames and forward Braeden Cootes of the Vancouver Canucks.

“We’ve got good speed,” Hunter said. “We’ll be an aggressive team.”

The easygoing Parekh, who also was cut from the 2025 squad, figures to be a key piece on the back end — in terms of skill and approach to the spotlight.

“A lot of people put pressure on us, but I don’t feel it,” he said. “It’s my first time playing in the tournament. Canada really should never be a fifth-place team at this event.”

That blue-line corps is also very green at the bottom end, with 17-year-olds Carson Carels and Keaton Verhoeff — like McKenna, both eligible for the 2026 draft — set to become the sixth- and seventh-youngest defenceman to wear the Maple Leaf at a world juniors since the program of excellence began in the early 1980s.

Canada opens the tournament Friday in Minneapolis against Czechia in Group B, which also features Finland, Latvia and Denmark. The United States will play out of nearby Saint Paul, Minn., in Group A against Sweden, Slovakia, Switzerland and Germany.

Mark Hunter, who is Dale’s brother and a member of the Canadian management team, said setting the right tone is crucial in a short event.

“Everybody gets ahead of themselves,” he said. “Our job is to keep them in the moment.”

That’s easier said than done for players getting a first taste.

“It’s a huge deal,” said forward Tij Iginla, whose dad, Jarome, is in the Hockey Hall of Fame. “After the tournament’s done, and hopefully we’ve won, I’ll look back and be like, ‘Man, that was really crazy.’

“But don’t make it seem bigger than it is.”

Dale Hunter said expectation comes with the territory. He’s convinced this Canadian iteration is ready.

“Part of sports,” Hunter said. “It’s about coming up big when the big time comes.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 23, 2025.

Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press