Team Canada held an optional practice at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis on Tuesday. <\/p>\n
—<\/p>\n
Gavin McKenna arrived at the World Juniors determined to silence his draft-year doubters and lead Team Canada to redemption. And, so far, it\u2019s going to plan. Canada is 3-0 and McKenna is leading the tournament in scoring. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been going pretty well,\u201d the Penn State freshman said. \u201cObviously, there\u2019s a few more bounces that I\u2019d like to go my way, but in terms of playing a full 200-foot game, I think I\u2019ve done a pretty good job with that. People have talked about my compete levels and stuff, so I think I\u2019ve showed that I\u2019ve been competing here. I think I\u2019ve got a little bit more, too. But, overall, I\u2019m satisfied.\u201d<\/p>\n
McKenna scored three goals in Monday\u2019s 9-1 win over Denmark, but is still shaking his head about a couple missed chances. He shot wide with an open net available late in the first period and failed to execute a lacrosse attempt in the second period. <\/p>\n
\u201cThat was pretty close,\u201d the 18-year-old said with a smile. \u201cIt just rolled off my stick.\u201d<\/p>\n
For most of the night, though, McKenna had the puck on a string. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou see the skill,\u201d said Team Canada captain Porter Martone. \u201cHe\u2019s been doing it all night, every game. He\u2019s got all the skill in the world, and he\u2019s putting it all together. I don\u2019t know why there\u2019s a reason people are questioning him.\u201d<\/p>\n
McKenna only building momentum in Minnesota: ‘I’ve got a little bit more’ Gavin McKenna arrived at the World Juniors determined to silence his draft-year doubters and lead Canada to redemption and so far it’s going to plan. McKenna is leading the tournament in scoring but as Mark Masters reports, the projected first overall pick in 2026 is promising bigger things in the biggest games. <\/p>\n
McKenna arrived in Minnesota with his status as the projected first overall pick in the 2026 NHL draft suddenly being debated. The Whitehorse native, who racked up 129 points in 56 games with the Medicine Hat Tigers in the Western Hockey League last season, has produced four goals and 14 assists in 16 games this season while adjusting to life in the NCAA. <\/p>\n
\u201cHis game, it\u2019s improved since the last time I played with him at u18s and World Juniors last year,\u201d said Martone, who is a freshman at Michigan State. \u201cYou see the full 200-foot game really coming into effect, and then when he gets into the offensive zone, he\u2019s always had the brilliance to do what he does.\u201d <\/p>\n
Monday marked McKenna\u2019s first multi-goal performance in a meaningful game this season. Sharing the moment with family made it all the sweeter.<\/p>\n
\u201cI got to see my uncle and auntie,\u201d McKenna said. \u201cI haven\u2019t seen them for probably like four or five years now, so for them to be in the building for that game, it\u2019s pretty cool … They were excited. I think they liked the last goal I had there. Yeah, obviously they were pretty pumped.\u201d<\/p>\n
McKenna\u2019s third goal, a breakaway beauty, still had players buzzing on Tuesday. <\/p>\n
\u201cThat was crazy,\u201d said Team Canada winger Tij Iginla. \u201cJust to do that on a breakaway, I don\u2019t think a lot of players are thinking like him. That was pretty special to see.\u201d<\/p>\n
McKenna just shrugs.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe goalie played it pretty well,\u201d he said. \u201cHe kind of didn\u2019t give me much, so I thought I\u2019d put it around him and tuck it home.\u201d<\/p>\n
Danish goalie Patrick Tiedjen did not stand a chance. Other goalies are sympathetic. <\/p>\n
\u201cJust hope and pray when he\u2019s coming down,\u201d said Canadian starter Carter George. \u201cHe pump fakes like that, his hands are so quick, it\u2019s so tough to read what he\u2019s going to do. He\u2019s so unpredictable. It just kind of makes it a guessing game whenever he comes down.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo sick,\u201d said Finnish goalie Petteri Rimpinen. \u201cHe\u2019s just such a special player. So skilled. You never know what he\u2019s going to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
McKenna is now riding a wave of momentum into the biggest games of the tournament. The belief is the best is yet to come. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s been playing great for us,\u201d Martone said. \u201cWe need him to continue to play like that if we want a good chance of winning a gold medal.\u201d<\/p>\n
Is McKenna a lock to go first overall? Bryan Hayes, Jonas Siegel and Jason Strudwick are joined by OverDrive co-host and TSN Hockey analyst Jeff O’Neill to discuss whether or not Keaton Verhoeff should stay in Canada’s lineup and is Gavin McKenna a guarantee to be the first overall pick at the NHL Draft.\n <\/p>\n
—<\/p>\n
Michael Misa scored his first World Juniors goal on Monday and threw the metaphorical monkey off his back at the bench afterwards. <\/p>\n
Misa benefitted from some talk therapy during Sunday\u2019s day away from the rink.<\/p>\n
\u201cTalking to people close to me, I\u2019ve always scored goals in my life, and I knew it was going to come eventually,\u201d the San Jose Sharks centre said. \u201cI just had to keep shooting and I think our team, in general, did a good job of that. Yeah, it felt good.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was the second goal of the season for Misa and his first since scoring his first NHL goal on Oct. 26. He had gone eight straight games without scoring, including two in the NHL, two in the AHL and four since being loaned to Team Canada. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou gotta give him a break too,\u201d Martone said. \u201cHe just got off injury. He hasn\u2019t played in about two months, so that\u2019s tough coming back for anyone. I think he\u2019s really finding his groove, so going into a big game here against Finland, I think he\u2019s going to be ready to go.\u201d<\/p>\n
Misa confirmed that Monday\u2019s game was the best he\u2019s felt since sustaining a right ankle injury on Nov. 5. He returned from the injury on Dec. 5. <\/p>\n
Misa was flying up and down the rink against Denmark. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s pretty special to watch,\u201d said Canadian defenceman Keaton Verhoeff. \u201cI see him coming down, I\u2019m not smiling. I\u2019m a little scared when he\u2019s coming down with a full steam of speed in practice. Having him coming in on a defenceman is nerve-wracking. He has the speed. He has the hands and he\u2019s got the shot. That\u2019s why he\u2019s in the NHL.\u201d<\/p>\n
Misa, the second overall pick in June\u2019s draft, is facing pressure to be an offensive driver for Team Canada, but had produced just one assist and three shots in the first two games of the World Juniors. <\/p>\n
\u201cI was trying to feed him as much as possible just to get him feeling good,\u201d said defenceman Zayne Parekh, who also played with Misa on the Saginaw Spirit in the Ontario Hockey League. \u201cI was trying to find him all over the ice. He played a really good game. He could\u2019ve had a couple more too. For him, it\u2019s about getting him going into the big games. If we get Misa\u2019s line rolling, we\u2019ll be really good.\u201d<\/p>\n
Misa is skating between Iginla and Martone, who had been limited to one empty-net goal in the first two games. <\/p>\n
\u201cI talked a lot with Marty right after the Latvia game,\u201d Misa revealed. \u201cFor me and him, we want to be producing on this team and we weren\u2019t. We talked about it and tried to find ways to breakthrough and we did a better job of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s starting to come,\u201d said Martone, who had two goals and an assist against Denmark. \u201cYou see it. It takes a bit for that connection to come, but it has and hopefully it can continue on against Finland and the rest of the tournament.\u201d<\/p>\n
With monkey off his back, Misa ‘really finding his groove’ at World Juniors Michael Misa snapped an eight-game drought by scoring only his second goal of the season on Monday. The San Jose Sharks centre appears to be finally up to speed after being slowed by injury. “Tough coming back for anyone and I think he\u2019s really finding his groove,” said linemate Porter Martone. <\/p>\n
—<\/p>\n
Earlier in the preliminary round, Canada avenged losses to Czechia and Latvia at last year\u2019s event in Ottawa. Revenge is also on their minds when it comes to the New Year\u2019s Eve game against Finland. <\/p>\n
Finland defeated Canada 6-3 during a heated game at the World Junior Summer Showcase. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a bit chippy,\u201d Martone recalled. \u201cWe have that in the back of our minds.\u201d<\/p>\n
Finland built a 5-1 lead on July 30 before things got a bit nasty.<\/p>\n
Defenceman Kashawn Aitcheson left the game and did not return after taking a hit from behind by forward Atte Joki, who was ejected. Aitcheson ended up being OK and returning for the next game. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s hockey,\u201d said Aitcheson. \u201cIt happens. I\u2019m a guy that throws some big hits too so they\u2019re going to know they got to keep their heads up next game.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael Hage took a run at Aatos Koivu late in the third period and they started yelling at each other in the penalty box. The pair of Montreal Canadiens prospects made up immediately after the game. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt was summer hockey,\u201d said Koivu, who scored twice in the game. \u201cWe played very well … If I have to guess, I think they\u2019re going to come a little harder than last time for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe got a lot of skill, but we need to be hard skill tomorrow,\u201d Martone said. \u201cWhen the games get tough, you need to be a tough team to play against.\u201d<\/p>\n
With a win over Finland on Wednesday, Canada can clinch top spot in Group B. <\/p>\n
‘In the back of our minds’: Canada remembers chippy summer game with Finland Canada and Finland already met once this year over the summer in a chippy contest that neither team has forgotten about. Both teams are expecting fireworks for their New Year’s Eve clash on Wednesday. <\/p>\n
—<\/p>\n
With Canada and Finland staying at the same hotel, Koivu and Hage have caught up in person ahead of Wednesday\u2019s showdown.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s going to be fun,\u201d Koivu said. \u201cWe\u2019re good buddies. We both like to compete. We want to win a lot and it\u2019s probably going to show out there. We\u2019re going to compete against each other and do whatever it takes to win.\u201d<\/p>\n
\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6Michael Hage on getting into it with his Habs Development Camp roommate \ud83c\uddeb\ud83c\uddeeAatos Koivu:<\/p>\n
“I knew it was going to be fine after the game. It was, honestly, pretty funny.”<\/p>\n
on post-game conversation: “Pretty normal, honestly. It felt like it didn’t even happen”@BarDown<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/PxUHHEAwKQ<\/a><\/p>\n