The 2026 World Junior Championship is right around the corner, and Canada is looking to rebound after back-to-back fifth-place finishes at the tournament.

The Canadians return six players (Gavin McKenna, Porter Martone, Cole Beaudoin, Jett Luchanko, Carter George and Jack Ivankovic) from last year’s team, with McKenna and defencemen Carson Carels, Keaton Verhoeff and Ethan MacKenzie all eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft.

Canada opens the World Juniors on Boxing Day against Czechia, the team that sent them home in the quarter-finals the past two years.

Here are eight players to watch for Team Canada:

Gavin McKenna – Forward, Penn State

A favourite to go first overall in the 2026 NHL Draft, McKenna decided to make the jump from the CHL to the NCAA for his draft year.

After piling up 129 points in 56 games last season with the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers as he led them to the league title and captured CHL and WHL player of the year honours, McKenna is averaging just over a point-per-game pace in his first year with Penn State, scoring four goals and 18 points in 16 games.

“The biggest thing for Gavin is the experience that he gained from last year’s World Junior is going to benefit him this year,” said TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button. “Gavin is such a brilliant thinker, he’s so creative. Understands how to open up the ice and how to create opportunities.”

McKenna had just one goal in five games for Canada at last year’s World Juniors.

Carter George – Goalie, Owen Sound

Another returning player, George led the 2025 World Juniors in save percentage (.936) and goals-against average (1.76) and was named a top-three player on the team despite Canada’s early exit.

George, who is in his fourth year with the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack, is 10-9-2 in 20 appearances with an .899 save percentage and 3.12 GAA this season.

“Elite thinker,” said Button of George. “His sense of the game, his sense of where danger lurks, how to shut it down, is simply outstanding.

“When you have him in the net, your chances to win gold should be very, very high. He’s got all the athletic and technical abilities, but his brain separates him.”

George previously backstopped Canada to gold medals at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and U18s and was drafted in the second round (57th overall) by the Los Angeles Kings in 2024.

Michael Hage – Forward, University of Michigan

Hage went from not being invited to last year’s Team Canada camp to being expected to play a top-six role this year.

A first-round pick (21st overall) by the Montreal Canadiens in 2024, Hage is third in the NCAA in scoring this season with 10 goals and 28 points in 20 games for the University of Michigan.

“We’re talking about an exceptionally high-end thinker,” said Button of Hage. “He knows how to facilitate with his wingers.

“Michael is skilled and he’s a hard competitor too. He can flat out play the game. He’s been a dominant player at Michigan this year.”

This will be Hage’s first time representing Canada internationally.

Brady Martin (Sault Ste. Marie), Porter Martone (Michigan State) – Forwards

Button has identified Brady Martin of the Soo Greyhounds and Michigan State’s Martone as the engines for Team Canada this year.

Martin and Martone were taken fifth and sixth in the 2025 NHL Draft by the Nashville Predators and Philadelphia Flyers, respectively, and will play big roles up front.

“You need dual engines to power, and Canada has it in those two guys,” said Button.

Martin started the season in the NHL with Nashville, notching an assist in three games before being returned to junior. With the Greyhounds, he has five goals and 16 points in 13 games.

Martone, like McKenna, made the jump to the NCAA this season and has 11 goals and 20 points in 16 games with the Spartans.

“Brady does it a little bit different than Porter, but when you have these two players bearing down on you, they are in your face, in your space, making you uncomfortable,” said Button.

“They’ve got skills and they’ve got finishing ability. It’s not just about guys that are going to go out and be catalysts with physical play. They do it in all areas of the game.”

Both players have helped Canada win gold previously at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and U18s.

Tij Iginla – Forward, Kelowna

Tij Iginla missed a lot of the 2024-25 campaign after undergoing double hip surgery in December of 2024 that cost him the remainder of the season.

Now in his fourth junior season and third with the Rockets, Iginla has 13 goals and 27 points in 17 games with Kelowna also set to host the 2026 Memorial Cup.

“Tij is today’s power forward,” said Button. “He’s so smart and so aware of how to take advantage. He gets what he is, he knows what he is and then he goes and does what he is.

“He can score in so many different ways. He can score in tight, from distance, on the rush, his hands are magnificent. He’s got every

component that you want in a player to help you win.”

Iginla was the first-ever draft pick by the Utah Mammoth in 2024, going sixth overall.

Zayne Parekh – Defenceman, Calgary Flames

On loan from the Calgary Flames, Parekh is expected to log heavy minutes for Canada after being cut from last year’s team.

Parekh has one assist in 11 games with Calgary this season but suffered an upper-body injury in early November. He recovered in time to join the Canadian camp.

“Zayne commands the game with the puck,” said Button. “He commands the game offensively. He can quickly make offence out of something that seems impossible. His anticipation is exceptional.

“Because he can shoot and pass the puck so well, he becomes a dual threat. And he’s got confidence that is limitless, and I love that about him.”

A Memorial Cup champion with the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit and a former CHL Defenceman of the Year, Parekh had 33 goals and 107 points in 61 games last season.

Kashawn Aitcheson – Defenceman, Barrie Colts

Aitcheson, a co-captain for the OHL’s Barrie Colts this season, has continued to bring the offence in his fourth junior year.

The 19-year-old leads all OHL defencemen in goals with 19 and is third in points with 32 in 27 games.

Last season, he had 26 goals and 59 points in 64 games as the New York Islanders drafted him 17th overall in June’s draft.

Despite the big offensive numbers, Button insists Aitcheson is more than that.

“I think Kashawn is the back-end motor,” said Button. “Such a great competitor. Kashawn is a really well-rounded player who plays hard defensively, plays physical, gets opponents uneasy.

“When I make the emphasis that he’s so much more than just offence, it’s not just a willingness to do different things. It’s an understanding of what those different things require and then being able to do it.”

Carson Carels – Defenceman, Prince George

For the first time since 1987, Team Canada will be bringing two 17-year-old defencemen to the World Juniors in Carels and Verhoeff.

Carels is off to a strong start in his second WHL season with the Cougars, scoring eight goals with 29 points in 28 games.

“I’m a big believer that the best defencemen need to command and control the game and that’s exactly what Carson does,” said Button. “And he does it in so many different ways. He does it with his brain, skating, passing, physical play.

“He’s just outstanding everywhere. He very well may be the best defenceman in this draft. He’s that good.”

Button had Carels at No. 6 in his November draft ranking.