Team Canada held its first practice at the World Junior training camp on Saturday at the Gale Centre in Niagara Falls, Ont.

Gavin McKenna has no shortage of motivation heading into the World Juniors.

“I’m confident going into the tournament,” the Penn State freshman said. “There’s a lot of chatter around my year and stuff, but I think it’s a growth year for me. I’m playing against harder guys. I could have stayed in the [Western Hockey League] and put up a bunch of points, but I wanted to challenge myself this year and I’ve been getting challenged. I think that being in the NCAA prepares me for this tournament and hopefully I have a good one.”

Does the “chatter” fire him up?

“Oh yeah,” the left winger said with a big smile. “Yeah.”

After producing 41 goals and 129 points in 56 games while leading the Medicine Hat Tigers to a WHL title last season, McKenna made the decision to take his talents south of the border. He’s produced four goals and 18 points in 16 games with the Nittany Lions so far. And suddenly it no longer feels like a sure thing that McKenna will go first overall in the 2026 NHL draft.

“I think a lot of people forget how hard college hockey actually is,” said Michigan State freshman Porter Martone, who has produced nine goals and 20 points in 16 games after making the jump from the Ontario Hockey League. “He is still a young kid, and I think he’s adjusted tremendously. I played against him in two games this year and he was unbelievable. It’s a definitely different style of hockey and it does take time, but I think he’s translated really well. I think he’s just going to continue to keep improving, and I think it’s really going to pay off for him in this tournament.”

The World Junior stage offers McKenna, who will turn 18 on Dec. 20, a chance to make a statement and help Canada earn some redemption after back-to-back quarterfinal losses at the event.

“The way we’ve finished these last two years, Canada should never finish fifth,” McKenna said. “I think coming into this year there’s a lot of eyes on us to do well. I think that’s our motivation: Do it for the country. We let them down a few times now and we owe it to them.”

McKenna scored in the opening game against Finland last year in Ottawa, but was then held off the scoresheet in the next four games. He expects more from himself this year despite once again being Canada’s youngest forward.

“I expect a lot,” the native of Whitehorse said. “I expect to be one of the top guys. I want to lead this team. I want to be a leader, show the guys what it takes, and hopefully lead us to a gold medal.”

“He’ll be an offensive catalyst for us,” said Team Canada general manager Alan Millar. “We won’t have any more expectations for Gavin than he’ll have for himself. For our team to be successful collectively everybody’s got to be good but, at the same time, I wouldn’t be surprised if, at the end of the day, Gavin is one of the best players in the tournament.”

McKenna skated on Canada’s top line and top power-play unit at Saturday’s practice. The spotlight will be on him like never before when he takes the ice in Minneapolis on Boxing Day.

“Of course it’s pressure,” he said. “But I’ve dealt with it my whole life so it’s nothing new to me. I experienced it last year a little bit and, yeah, it’s nothing new. I’m prepared and I’m expecting it.”

“He’s a younger guy, but I think he’s been through a lot,” said Team Canada head coach Dale Hunter. “He’s an experienced younger guy, I guess, if you want to call it [that]. And, you know, we expect big things from him.”

McKenna is ‘confident’ going into WJC and is fired up by draft-year doubters Gavin McKenna discusses where his game is at now playing in the NCAA, hearing the chatter about how he’s playing and how it fires him up. Porter Martone also talks about transitioning to NCAA hockey and what that adjustment has been like.

—

McKenna and Martone are two of six returning players on Canada’s roster. The others are Barrie Colts centre Cole Beaudoin, Brantford Bulldogs centre Jett Luchanko, Owen Sound Attack goalie Carter George and University of Michigan goalie Jack Ivankovic.

“When we look at the returning player group the first thing that comes to mind is they need to be a motivated group, and they need to be a little angry,” said Millar. “We want that to filter through our group. We want them to lead in the right way in terms of getting our program back on track.”

And Millar is doing his part to fire up that group.

“The other thing, too, to keep in mind here is when you finish fifth the year before, you’re only a returning player if you make the team the following year,” he said.

Canada plans to release two forwards, one defenceman and one goalie before travelling to Minnesota on Dec. 22.

At the start of camp, Hunter acknowledged Canada’s poor recent showings at the World Juniors, but the coach also made a point of not dwelling on it.

“You just initially say something,” Hunter revealed. “Like, [finishing] fifth [in consecutive years], nobody wants that, but it’s in the past now. Different team here, different ideas, different everything, so we leave that in the past. We remember it (smile), but now it’s gone.”

‘Do it for the country’: McKenna, Canada aim for World Juniors redemption After earning mixed reviews for his start at Penn State, Gavin McKenna returns to junior hockey with a lot to prove. McKenna can solidify his spot atop the 2026 draft class while helping Canada redeem itself at the World Juniors following an embarrassing fifth-place finish on home ice last year.

—

McKenna and Martone hit it off as linemates at the 2024 under-18 World Championship while helping Canada win a gold medal. McKenna racked up 20 points in seven games at the under-18 event while Martone picked up 17 points.

“He’s a lot of fun to play with,” McKenna said. “He’s a special player. He’s very smart. He can make plays and he can also put the puck in the back of the net. So there’s not much more you can ask out of a player.”

The pair also skated together at the World Junior Summer Showcase a few months ago.

“I really think our play style has meshed really well together,” Martone said. “I’m excited to get back here with him and get that chemistry back going again so when Boxing Day hits we’re ready to go. With the way he plays and the skill that he has, you know, I think I complement him a lot. Yeah, I think we could do a lot [of] good in this tournament.”

Like McKenna, Martone scored just once at last year’s World Juniors, and actually sat as a healthy scratch in two games.

“We talked about it,” Martone said. “Last year wasn’t the way that we wanted the tournament to go. I think that we both thought we could both bring more to the table to help the team win. I know he’s excited, and I’m excited, and everyone is.”

Martone, who was the sixth overall pick by the Philadelphia Flyers in last June’s NHL draft, believes he’s a more mature player this year.

“I think I’ve really just found my identity as a player,” he said. “I think I’ve added a lot of strength in the gym and that’s helped me with my speed on the ice. I think I’m more consistent every shift and just can be that power forward I need to be.”

Martone, McKenna excited to reunite on Canada’s top line Gavin McKenna and Porter Martone discussed their chemistry playing together as they were reunited on Canada’s top line at training camp on Saturday ahead of the World Junior Hockey Championship.

—

Beaudoin skated as the centre between McKenna and Martone on Saturday, but it would not be a surprise if Michael Misa takes that spot when he arrives. The Sharks forward has remained in San Jose for now as he rehabs an injury.

“Misa will be here, I expect, in the next three to four days,” Millar said. “Nothing serious. We expect that he’ll get into one or two pre-competition games at some point here.”

Canada will play Sweden twice next week, Wednesday in Kitchener, Ont. and Saturday in London, Ont., before wrapping up the exhibition schedule on Dec. 23 against Denmark in Mankato, Minn.

Canada Ice Chips: Misa missing (for now); Martin has marathon day Canada held its first practice of its World Juniors training camp on Saturday, and they got right to work on the details with fine tuning their faceoffs and working on shootouts. TSN’s Mark Masters has more from a busy day that saw Marek Vanacker practicing in place of Michael Misa and Brady Martin’s marathon day,

With Misa missing the start of camp, Hockey Canada issued a last-minute invitation to Brantford Bulldogs winger Marek Vanacker.

“I didn’t really expect that,” the 19-year-old said. “I was just taking a pre-game nap for a game, and I missed a couple calls, so when I woke up, it was a pretty cool surprise … When the first roster came out and I wasn’t invited, you know, you want to be invited to that. I wouldn’t say I was upset, but you want to be there, and then I kind of just shrugged it off.”

Vanacker leads the OHL with 26 goals in 26 games this season.

“I think Marek has played a heavier, harder game this year, and that’s resulted in real impressive production offensively,” Millar said. “He was the next guy up … Our message to him is, ‘Hey, you know, probably disappointed in the original list, but it doesn’t mean anything now. You’ve got the opportunity and take advantage and show us what you can do.’”

OHL goals leader Vanacker gets second chance at Team Canada  After initially being left off Canada’s World Junior training camp roster, Marek Vanacker received a late invite on Friday. The Brantford Bulldogs winger, who leads the OHL with 26 goals in 26 games, is determined to make the most of his second chance. 

—

Calgary Flames defenceman Zayne Parekh is looking forward to reuniting with Misa, who he won a Memorial Cup with in 2024.

“I’m juiced,” Parekh said. “I think it’s going to be great. I know I’ll be in his hotel room probably the whole day. Me, him and [former Spirit teammate] Nic Sima FaceTime every day still, so I’m always in contact with those guys. It will be nice to see him.”

Parekh, who was loaned to Hockey Canada by the Flames for the World Juniors, is looking forward to bonding with his new teammates as well.

“It’s nice to be around a bunch of young kids again and not adults,” the 19-year-old from Nobleton, Ont. said with a smile. “I mean, here we’re going to hang out every second of the day and it’s really different in the NHL where guys have families of kids and it’s tough to really spend time away from the rink with those guys. So, it’s really nice to be in that environment again. I missed it.”

Parekh has not played since suffering a shoulder injury on Nov. 7 so the intensity of Saturday’s practice was an adjustment.

“Kind of eased into it a bit,” he said. “I’ve done a contact skate, but when you’re in the NHL, like, the skates are only kind of like morning skates and you’re not really getting any bumps, so definitely shied into it at first. But I felt really good. My shoulder feels good. Maybe a little bit behind in the conditioning, but it’s coming.”

Parekh piled up 107 points in 61 games in the OHL last season, but was among the cuts at Canada’s World Junior selection camp.

This time around, Parekh projects to play a front-line role. He skated on Canada’s top pair beside Kitchener Ranger Cameron Reid on Saturday. He believes they can do for Canada what Zeev Buium and Cole Hutson did for Team USA in Ottawa last year.

“You look at kind of like that Buium, Hutson ‘D’ pairing last year, I think we could do something similar or even better,” Parekh said. “He was telling me that he’s just going to let me go and kind of do my thing. I told him, ‘Well, I mean, you’re just as good as I am with the puck.’ We’re going to find some chemistry there and it’s going to be, I think, a really good ‘D’ pairing.”

Hutson, who will be back with Team USA this year, led the 2025 World Juniors in scoring (11 points) and plus-minus (+11).

Parekh also has a championship pedigree. Parekh’s Spirit beat Hunter’s London Knights in the championship game at the 2024 Memorial Cup.

“He sees the ice so well,” Hunter raved. “Every time he touches the puck something dangerous is going to happen. We watched a lot of video on him, but sometimes it didn’t help so that’s a unique player, that he can play to that high a level.”

Now, Hunter will finally benefit from Parekh’s play.

“I wanted to joke with him and ask him if I’m on the dark side now,” Parekh said with a grin.

Parekh returns from injury on Canada’s top pair; likes potential with Reid Zayne Parekh discusses how his first practice with Canada went, how his shoulder is feeling, what he likes about his pairing with Cameron Reid, and more.

—

Parekh is one of three Canadian players who have been loaned out by their NHL clubs for the World Juniors with the others being Misa and Pittsburgh Penguins defenceman Harrison Brunicke.

Three other Canadian players have also suited up in the NHL previously including Luchanko with the Flyers, Brady Martin with the Nashville Predators and Braeden Cootes with the Vancouver Canucks.

Cootes, who was Vancouver’s first-round pick (15th overall) in June’s NHL draft, called the trade of Quinn Hughes “pretty crazy” even if it wasn’t unexpected.

“You could kind of tell that maybe something was going to happen,” Cootes said. “It sucks. He’s such a great player, and he was so good to me. He was a great leader, always including me and everything. We got some good players back, though, too. Some young guys, which was always good. But, yeah, it was pretty crazy.”

Cootes appreciated how Hughes offered a motivational message prior to a pre-season game against Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers.

“He was just telling me, ‘Don’t take it backseat to anyone. Just play with confidence.’ I thought that was pretty cool,” Cootes recalled.

Cootes ended up facing McDavid and the Oilers three times (twice in the pre-season and once in the regular season). What does he remember about going up against No. 97?

“Probably my first draw,” he said with a smile. “I actually zipped it back and I was shocked. We have this thing we do after a face-off and I kind of forgot, because I was startled a little bit. Also, I remember he got me with a good reverse hit too, and that was tough, and then he was gone. He was pretty quick.”

The NHL experience gave Cootes some extra confidence, which he brought back to the WHL where he has 10 goals and 23 points with the Seattle Thunderbirds this season.

Canucks prospect Cootes on Hughes trade: ‘It sucks … He was so good to me’ Canucks prospect Braeden Cootes talks about Vancouver trading Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild, and how he impacted him as a player.

—

Martin missed the start of Canada’s camp due to weather-related travel delays, which forced the Greyhounds forward to remain in Sault Ste. Marie on Friday night.

“It was a little frustrating,” he said. “I mean, I didn’t really want to get up at three in the morning, but it happens. It took me about a day and a half. Yeah, it was not ideal but, I mean, hey, I’m here now, and I’m happy to be here.”

Martin missed the 5-on-5 section of practice on Saturday, but made it into the special teams work.

“I’ve been up for 12 hours straight so, yeah, I didn’t feel great,” he said with a smile. “But it was nice to get out there for a quick rip.”

Powering through is what Martin does.

“I think just my work ethic and compete level is what I bring every night,” he said. “I think that’s what the team needs and what a championship team needs, so that’s what I’ll bring.”

It’s that attitude that earned him a look with the Predators. He actually started on the top line with Filip Forsberg and Ryan O’Reilly.

What did he learn from O’Reilly?

“Every little detail counts,” he said. “You watch him after practice, and he’s picking up rims off the half wall and it’s stuff like that, that you wouldn’t think matters, but it all matters … It’s just reps, just repetition. Yeah, he does it so often. Every practice he’s the last one off the ice.”

—-

A staple at most Hunter practices is a shootout competition at the end of the workout. The first one of Canada’s camp was won by Luchanko, who was the only player to score twice.

“I know his move, but he got me on it,” said George with a smile. “So I was pretty pissed off at that one.”

The other goal scorers in the shootout competition were Kelowna Rockets centre Tij Iginla, Bulldogs centre Jake O’Brien, Penn State defenceman Jackson Smith, University of North Dakota defenceman Keaton Verhoeff and Parekh.

“Over rehab, I’ve just been doing that on my EBUG for the last four weeks,” Parekh explained. “I tried it again against [Devin] Cooley the other day and it worked. It’s the only move I got, though. I got nothing else.”

Parekh laughed.

After Canada failed to score in an eight-round shootout against Latvia last year, Hockey Canada plans to dedicate more time to it during this year’s training camp. In fact, former NHLer Kyle Turris will do a presentation on shootouts for the players next week.

Who stood out during Canada’s first shootout competition? Carter George, Gavin McKenna and Porter Martone shared who impressed during Canada’s shootout competition at the end of their first practice on Saturday.

—-

Lines at Team Canada’s practice on Saturday:

McKenna – Beaudoin – Martone

Cootes – Iginla – Hage

Bear – Luchanko

Greentree – Desnoyers – O’Reilly

Vanacker – O’Brien – Reschny

Reid – Parekh

Aitcheson – Brunicke

Carels – Danford

Smith – Verhoeff

MacKenzie

George

Ivankovic

Ravensbergen

Power play units at Team Canada’s practice on Saturday:

QB: Parekh

Flanks: Iginla, McKenna

Bumper: Reschny

Net front: Martone

QB: Smith

Flanks: Luchanko, O’Brien

Middle: Greentree

Down low: Hage