Team Canada held a skate at the Gale Centre in Niagara Falls, Ont. on Wednesday morning.

—

Team Canada will play the first of three pre-tournament games on Wednesday when they host Sweden in Kitchener, Ont.

“It all starts here,” said top-line winger Gavin McKenna. “We got to make sure we’re setting the tone and be willing to do whatever it takes. Obviously, Sweden’s a great team and we want to show that we’re the best team here.”

McKenna is one of six Canadian players returning from last year’s disappointing fifth-place finish at the World Juniors. The Penn State freshman will be suiting up in a game for the first time since Nov. 22.

“I feel good,” McKenna said. “It’s fun to be back with these players. Obviously, a lot of talent out here, so it’s pretty easy to make plays when you’re out here with these guys. Yeah, I feel really good.”

Head coach Dale Hunter liked the way McKenna looked at Tuesday’s practice.

“He made a couple of good snipes,” Hunter said. “He hasn’t played in a long time, so you’re going to be a little rusty. [We’ve had] three practices and he keeps getting better.”

Hunter said the plan is for McKenna to play in all three exhibition games.

McKenna will start on a line with Montreal Canadiens prospect Michael Hage and Brady Martin, who was the fifth-overall pick by the Nashville Predators in last June’s draft.

Early in camp, McKenna made it clear he’s fired up to silence his draft-year critics, who have criticized his performance so far in the NCAA.

“I think there’s a lot of negativity around how he’s playing, but I think he’s playing really well,” said Hockey Canada head scout Byron Bonora. “He’s coming here to make a statement about what he can do and what he can show. The things that he’s done in practice the last couple days have really shown his skill set, his high-end ability to put the puck in the net and make plays, and I’m really excited at what he can do here.”

McKenna has produced 41 goals and 129 points in 56 games with the Medicine Hat Tigers in the Western Hockey League last season. He has generated four goals and 18 points in 16 games this season.

“Going from the WHL to the NCAA is a big adjustment,” said Bonora. “He’s playing against guys that are, you know, five years older than him. But Gavin is a very complete hockey player. It’s an adjustment for him, and I think he knows that. He wanted to challenge himself.”

McKenna can make statement as Canada opens against Stenberg, Sweden It’s been a bit of a break for Gavin McKenna since seeing game action but he’ll be back in the fight tonight, when Canada plays their first pre-tournament game against Sweden.

—

McKenna, who is projected to be the top pick in the 2026 NHL draft, will likely be going up against Ivar Stenberg on Wednesday night. The Swedish forward is No. 2 on the latest list of top prospects compiled by TSN director of scouting Craig Button.

“I think Gavin’s gonna challenge himself to put himself ahead of him,” said Bonora.

“I’m not too worried about that,” McKenna stressed. “Obviously he’s a great player, but I don’t want to look at it too much like that. It’s just another game and don’t think about it too much.”

Stenberg has six goals and 24 points in 25 games with Frolunda in the Swedish Hockey League this season.

“I haven’t seen a whole lot on him, to be honest,” McKenna said. “But I hear things like he’s a really smart player and a good 200-foot player.”

I’d just like to point out that Ivar Stenberg has already produced one of the ten best draft-eligible seasons in SHL history.

And we’re not even at the midway point. pic.twitter.com/vDvurs8Mqe

— Cam Robinson (@Hockey_Robinson) November 24, 2025

—

Team Canada plans to unveil its goal song for the World Juniors on Wednesday night.

“I like it,” said McKenna. “I think it fits us really well, so I’m excited. I think the fans will like it too.”

The team usually waits until Boxing Day to reveal the choice, but the decision was made to let the home fans in Canada hear it first prior to the trip to Minnesota.

“It’ll be a cool way for us to connect with the fans,” said centre Jett Luchanko with a smile. “I’m not sure if I’m allowed there to give any details but, yeah, I’m sure everyone will like it.”

Hockey Canada staff made the pick this year and informed the players about it at a meeting on Tuesday.

Canada Ice Chips: Goal song will be revealed tonight! World Junior pre-tournament action gets underway tonight for Team Canada as they host Sweden in Kitchener, Ontario. Mark Masters has more on their preparation and the goal song getting revealed tonight.

—

The players reviewed video of the penalties Canada took at last year’s World Juniors ahead of Wednesday’s game.

“It was definitely a big issue for us last year, so trying to learn from that,” said Luchanko.

Canada was actually the most penalized team at last year’s event. Czechia scored the winning goal in the quarter-final on a power play.

“We just got to be more responsible with our sticks and elbows and with the big hits in open ice,” Hunter said. “We go through it all, all the different penalties in the past, and show them that you got to play by the rules. The way they call it, you just got to play by the rules or you’re going to be in trouble.”

—

Sharks forward Michael Misa has joined Team Canada and will be in Kitchener to watch Wednesday’s game. He missed the start of camp to continue rehabbing an injury in San Jose.

Misa, who last played on Nov. 1, was named to the initial training camp roster and the plan was always for the second-overall pick in last June’s draft to join the team around this time.

—

Carter George will start on Wednesday, and the plan is for the Owen Sound Attack goalie to play the full game, per Hunter.

—

Projected Team Canada lineup for Wednesday’s game:

McKenna – Hage – Martin

Bear – Reschny – Cootes

Desnoyers – Luchanko – Greentree

Vanacker – O’Brien – O’Reilly

MacKenzie – Parekh

Aitcheson – Verhoeff

Reid – Smith

Carels

George starts

Ivankovic

Related Stories