Team Canada held a practice at the Gale Centre in Niagara Falls, Ont. on Friday.
Michael Misa slotted in as Team Canada’s top-line centre on Friday skating between Gavin McKenna and Porter Martone.
“I think we’re going to instantly click, find some chemistry, and I’m excited to play with them,” said Misa, who has one goal and two assists in seven games with the San Jose Sharks this season.
Friday marked Misa’s first practice since being loaned to Hockey Canada by the Sharks. What stood out about McKenna?
“Everything,” Misa said of the Penn State freshman. “His speed, creativity, just the way he sees the ice, it’s someone you want on your line.”
McKenna is projected to go first overall in the next NHL draft. Misa just went second overall last June when Martone, who is a freshman at Michigan State, was selected sixth overall by the Philadelphia Flyers.
McKenna and Martone lit up the 2024 under-18 World Championship while playing on the same line. Now, they have an NHLer skating between them. The potential for this trio together is sky high.
“Just how smart that line is [stands out],” said McKenna, who has four goals and 14 assists in 16 games this season. “We can all put the puck in the back of the net and we can all make plays. If we can mesh together pretty early then I think that’s a really dangerous line.”
“Misa’s very good up the middle of the ice, very fast, creates plays off the rush, and is very good in the D-zone breaking up plays, and getting odd-man rushes,” said Martone. “And you see Gav, the talent he has, he’s got the hockey mind, he thinks the game so well. You don’t really know what he’s going to do with the puck so you always got to be ready and always got to have your stick on the ice.”
Martone, who has 11 goals and nine assists in 16 games this season, is ready to do the heavy lifting on the line.
“I’m a big body, who can play hard,” the 6-foot-3, 208-pound winger said. “I think I got a great hockey mind too, and know where to go on the ice.”
The line will get a chance to build chemistry on Saturday night when Canada plays Sweden in a pre-tournament game in London, Ont.
“It’ll take a bit to get going, but the chemistry is going to come,” Martone said. “I think we could be a real threat.”
Canada will play a final pre-tournament game on Tuesday in Mankato, Minn. against Denmark.
By the time Canada opens the World Juniors on Boxing Day at 3M Arena in Minneapolis, the 3M Line is expected to be up and running.
“Oh, it’s dangerous,” said Team Canada defenceman Kashawn Aitcheson. “All three of those guys are super dynamic. They don’t need a lot of time and space to make plays … I think they’re going to do a lot of damage.”
Team Canada hopes Misa, McKenna, Martone will equal magic in Minnesota As it stands right now, Team Canada’s top line will consist of Michael Misa, Gavin McKenna and Porter Martone at this year’s World Juniors. The speed and skill that the trio possesses is an exciting prospect for the team as they continue to build chemistry before Boxing Day. Mark Masters has more.
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Misa and Martone did not dress in Canada’s first pre-tournament game against Sweden on Wednesday.
Soo Greyhounds forward Brady Martin scored twice in Canada’s 2-1 win in Kitchener, Ont. with McKenna assisting on both goals. McKenna clicked well with Martin, who was the fifth-overall pick by the Nashville Predators in June, and Montreal Canadiens prospect Michael Hage.
“We could go back to it any time,” said Team Canada head coach Dale Hunter. “You could go back to it after a period, so I don’t worry about that so much.”
What does Hunter like about Misa with McKenna and Martone?
“He’s a complete centre,” Hunter said. “He’s not like a shooter or a passer, he does a complete game and that’s what you’re looking for.”
Hage and Martin remained together at Friday’s practice with Kelowna Rockets forward Tij Iginla, who was rested on Wednesday, skating on the left side of the second line.
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Misa skated on the flank of Canada’s top power-play unit on Friday. His old Saginaw Spirit teammate, Zayne Parekh, who also started this season in the NHL with the Calgary Flames, is running point on the unit.
“When he has the puck, you just let him do his thing and you try to get open for him,” said Misa. “He’s so deceptive with the puck and with the way he’s able to make plays. It’s something every team looks for.”
Despite generating plenty of chemistry during three seasons as teammates in the Ontario Hockey League, Misa is still unsure exactly what Parekh is up to when he has the puck on his stick at certain moments.
“Especially, I feel like, on the power play,” Misa said with a smile. “You never know what he’s going to do. It’s always the right play, but just the way he goes about it, it’s pretty cool.”
McKenna is on the opposite flank of Misa on the top unit with Martin in front of the net and University of North Dakota freshman Cole Reschny in the bumper spot.
Canada Ice Chips: Not even Misa knows what Parekh’s up to on the PP Michael Misa practiced for the first time since the Sharks loaned the top prospect to Team Canada for the World Juniors, and the centre reunited with good friend Zayne Parekh on the top power play unit. TSN’s Mark Masters has more on how Canada’s power play units are is coming together.
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Reschny does not have a power-play goal this season, so how did the Flames prospect earn a spot on Canada’s top power-play unit?
“Faceoffs alone,” said Hunter. “He’s good on the draws. It means a lot. You kill 30 seconds [if you lose the draw]. So, definitely the faceoffs are the key. Also, he moves the puck well and he has a good hockey sense.”
Reschny is winning 55 per cent of his draws in the NCAA. He won 56.4 per cent of his faceoffs last season with the Victoria Royals in the Western Hockey League.
“It’s something I’ve always worked on,” the 5-foot-11 centre from Macklin, Sask. said. “Just bearing down [is key].”
Like most of the forwards here, Reschny has played the flank on the power play for most of his hockey life.
“Being able to adapt is not a challenge for me, and I think I fit in well,” he said. “It’s being a support guy for everyone.”
Reschny, who has 18 points in 16 games this season, has remained in the bumper spot on the top unit throughout every practice at Canada’s camp.
“He’s such a hard worker,” said McKenna. “He can put the puck in the back of the net. He can win faceoffs. He’s a very smart player and he’s just always in the right spot it seems like, so he’s a big key to that power play.”
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With 19 goals in 27 games this season, Aitcheson actually leads all Team Canada players this season.
“Oh, really, a defenceman,” said Martone. “I would not have figured that … That’s pretty crazy.”
“Wow,” said McKenna. “He’s got a bomb.”
Aitcheson downplayed his offensive exploits.
“Our team has been really good,” he said of the Central Division-leading Colts. “Our coaching staff has put me in great spots.”
Eleven of his goals have come on the power play. Aitcheson also notes that luck has been on his side. He’s scoring on 20 per cent of his shots, which is up from 16 per cent last season when he potted 26 goals in 64 games.
Maybe Aitcheson’s tape job is helping. He uses white tape, but has black markings on the lower half of the blade.
“I started that a few years ago,” he said. “It’s just a little different than everyone else so I kind of like that. [Barrie goalie Sam Hillebrandt] told me he kind of messed with his eyes a bit, so I just kept it from there.”
Despite the eye-popping goal total, the New York Islanders prospect points out that he’s actually focusing more on the defensive side of the game this season.
“I’ve been really trying to dial in defensively and be able to stay consistent for 60 minutes against their top guys,” the 19-year-old from Toronto said. “And then, yeah, obviously been working on the offence. Still trying to find the net, and make plays offensively.”
Aitcheson skated beside Pittsburgh Penguins defenceman Harrison Brunicke on Canada’s second pair at Friday’s practice.
Aitcheson is plus-19 this season, which is tied for fifth among OHL defencemen.
“He’s really gritty, like, in the corners and stuff,” Misa said. “He’s not someone you want to play against.”
“He’s a heavy hitter,” said McKenna. “He works hard. He’s got a good stick. He’s very good defensively and, on top of that, he can put the puck in the back of the net.”
Who leads Team Canada in goals? The answer may surprise you Among all Team Canada players, it’s defenceman Kashawn Aitcheson who leads all players at camp with 19 goals for his club team this season. That revelation shocked some of his teammates, but upon further inspection, it all makes sense with the type of player Aitcheson is for the Barrie Colts.
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Aitcheson and Martone actually dropped the gloves in an OHL game last season.
“We give it to them a little bit about that,” said McKenna. “It’s pretty funny.”
“It’s the best way to get them closer together,” Misa said. “You’ve got to try to find ways to bond and they know it’s all love, so it’s funny.”
Aitcheson started taking shots at Martone at the buzzer of a 4-2 Barrie win on Oct. 12, 2024.
“Some guys have bugged Marty about that,” Reschny said with a smile. “It’s great. We got a lot of good competitors on this team.”
Aitcheson was suspended two games for initiating the fight. What was their first conversation like afterwards?
“A little awkward for sure,” Aitcheson admits with a smile. “But, you know, it’s water under the bridge now. We’re just both looking to one goal and focusing on that goal.”
“We’ve gotten into a couple tussles,” said Martone, who captained the Brampton Steelheads last season. “It’s all fun and games when that happens. We’re competitors when we play against each other, but now we’re on the same team and we’re going to fight for gold together.”
Aitcheson and Martone lead all Team Canada players in penalty minutes this season.
“We would go at it pretty hard,” Martone recalled of their OHL rivalry. “It just speaks to the character and the kind of way he wants to play. He wants to be that defenceman forwards don’t want to go against and, for me, I want to be that forward who defencemen don’t want to go against, so we kind of clashed a bit.”
From fighting each other to fighting for gold, OHL rivals Martone, Aitcheson join forces with Canada Kashawn Aitcheson and Porter Martone are familiar with each other from their OHL clashes, which included a fight. Although it may have made for some awkward moments at camp, both players have brushed off the past and have come together for a common goal on Team Canada.
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Before leaving for this training camp, Aitcheson received some advice from Islanders defenceman Matthew Schaefer, who made Canada’s World Junior squad last year before sustaining a tournament-ending injury in the second game.
“Just enjoy the moment,” Aitcheson said of the message. “The crowds, the media, the eyes all on you, it’s going to be a fun time and just, ‘Don’t let your country down,’ and, ‘Bring home gold’ … He played in Canada so in the States, it’s going to be quite the opposite.”
Aitcheson is relishing the chance to spoil the party in Minnesota where defending champion Team USA is looking to win its first-ever World Junior gold medal on home soil.
“I love it,” Aitcheson said of playing in hostile territory. “You want to be the enemy. You want to be the bad guy. So, yeah, we’re the dream killers. We’re planning to kill everyone’s dreams this tournament.”
Although Aitcheson insists he’s not going to go out of his way to land any big hits.
“Honestly, I don’t really look for it,” he said. “If it’s there then obviously I’ll take it, but I’m just more focusing on playing hard, playing physical, playing really good defensively and, if the opportunity is there, jumping up in the O-zone.”
‘We’re the dream killers’: Hard-hitting Aitcheson loves playing in hostile territory Kashawn Aitcheson spoke about the advice he has received from Matthew Schaefer, who had his World Juniors cut short last year due to an injury. Aitcheson is welcoming the pressure that comes with playing in hostile territory.
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Eight tires were piled up on the edge of the crease on Friday as Canada’s netminders worked on tracking pucks through screens.
“You try to teach any goaltender at any age that if they see the release, they’ve got a chance to make a save,” said goalie coach Dan De Palma. “The most important thing is to see the release and work to see pucks and go from there.”
De Palma uses this drill back in Kamloops, B.C. where he works as the Blazers goalie coach, but he needed some help to make it happen here.
“One of the fellas at the rink had a buddy that owns a local tire shop,” he said. “I wish I could give it a plug right now. But, yeah, they came up with those pretty quick. It was one phone call and the tires arrived.”
Some NHL teams, like the Toronto Maple Leafs, use mannequins to simulate screens.
“The Leafs budget probably is a little bit greater than the Kamloops Blazers budget,” De Palma said with a grin. “Although we’re treated pretty well there. But, yeah, we don’t have the mannequin yet.”
If the tires weren’t available, De Palma may have asked a player to stand in.
“Guys that want to get in the lineup usually are a little more brave,” he said with a grin. “The tires are pretty brave. They never get out of the way.”
‘The tires are pretty brave’: Kicking tires on Canada’s goalies Goaltending coach Dan De Palma used an interesting prop for some drills at Friday’s practice. Tires were used and De Palma explained why they are great to help young goaltenders and offered an assessment on his three goalies so far.
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Owen Sound Attack goalie Carter George stopped 19 of 20 shots to earn the win on Wednesday.
“I thought he was playing the right way,” said De Palma. “Every goalie has a certain way they play when they’re at their best, and I thought he did that. I thought he was on the pucks. He’s never an urgent guy in the crease. He’s pretty calm, but there was a little bit of pace to his game and I think that’s pretty important.”
Jack Ivankovic, who like George was on Canada’s team last year, is expected to get the start on Saturday. When the Michigan freshman is at his best, what is he doing well?
“He’s early to spots,” De Palma said. “He’s tracking really well. He just sees pucks real well. So you just try and get him in the right spot and make sure he’s tracking it all the way in.”
Prince George Cougar Joshua Ravensbergen is the other goalie at Canada’s camp.
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Five players on Team Canada made the jump from the Canadian Hockey League to the NCAA this season. Unlike in the CHL, in the college game players must wear a full visor or cage.
“It took me a little bit of time,” Martone said of the adjustment. “I remember looking down at the puck and, like, the bars are kind of in the way.”
At Penn State, players all wear full visors also known as bubbles.
“Obviously you get used to it, but at the start, like, I don’t know, I hate wearing something over my face,” said McKenna.
Players who are under 18 must wear full facial protection in IIHF events. McKenna turns 18 on Saturday, which means he’ll be able to go back to wearing a visor at the World Juniors.
“It’s nice to finally breathe,” he said with a big smile.
“I’m so happy to be back in a visor,” echoed Martone, who is 19. “It’s the best thing.”
There is a down side, of course.
“It’s easier to kind of breathe and see, but I did eat a puck off the face on Wednesday,” said Reschny, who wears a cage at North Dakota. “It was a good welcome-back moment to the visor. I mean, it happens.”
Reschny needed two stitches to close a cut on his chin.
‘Nice to finally breathe’: Birthday boy McKenna happy to be back in visor for World Juniors Gavin McKenna has had to wear a bubble helmet during his time in the NCAA this season but sure is glad to go back to wearing a visor for the World Juniors. McKenna spoke about the adjustment he has had to make for college hockey.
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Lines at Friday’s practice:
McKenna – Misa – Martone
Iginla – Hage – Martin
Reschny – Beaudoin – Luchanko
Greentree – Cootes – O’Reilly
Bear – Desnoyers
Reid – Parekh
Aitcheson – Brunicke
MacKenzie – Danford
Carels – Verhoeff
George
Ivankovic
Ravensbergen
Power play units at Friday’s practice:
QB: Parekh
Flanks: McKenna, Misa
Middle: Reschny
Net front: Martin
QB: MacKenzie
Flanks: Hage, Luchanko
Middle: Iginla
Net front: Martone