Gavin McKenna used to gather around the television with his family on Boxing Day. Carter George did the same thousands of kilometres away.
Both dreamt of pulling on the red Maple Leaf at the world junior hockey championship.
The real thing was even better.
McKenna scored late in the first period and George made 31 saves for the shutout as Canada blanked Finland 4-0 in the host country’s opener in the annual under-20 tournament Thursday.
“Definitely a little bit of nerves,” said McKenna, the just-turned-17-year-old phenom from Whitehorse. “Tried to look at it just like it was another game, but seeing the crowd, it’s something I’ll remember forever.”
George didn’t have a lot to do early, but was lights out in a 20-shot third period when the Finns poured on the pressure before fans at Canadian Tire Centre honoured the netminder’s performance in full voice.
“Unbelievable,” said George, an 18-year-old from Thunder Bay, Ont. “It’s definitely a cool experience. To hear a crowd like that cheer your name, it was just incredible.
“Definitely soaked it all in.”
Easton Cowan, Luca Pinelli and Matthew Schaefer, into the empty net to go along with an assist, had the other goals for the Canadians, who are looking to build on a record 20 gold medals after finishing a disastrous fifth at last year’s event in Sweden.
“We were real solid,” said head coach Dave Cameron. “You get ahead in this tournament against good teams, there’s gonna be push back.”
Petteri Rimpinen stopped 37 shots in taking the loss.
Canada in Group A
Canada and Finland are in Group A along with the United States, Germany and Latvia. The Americans thumped the Germans 10-4 earlier Thursday. Sweden, Czechia, Slovakia, Switzerland and Kazakhstan make up Group B.
Canada was bounced in the quarterfinals some 12 months ago when the hockey powerhouse was stunningly unable to raise its level on the big stage despite fervent support from 3,000-plus travelling fans.
The program’s brain trust went back to the drawing board for the 2025 showcase, intent on building a different type of roster on home soil. The word “competitive” has been top of mind since the group first got together in the nation’s capital earlier this month.
While far from perfect, there was plenty to like in a professional, curtain-raising performance.
McKenna opened the scoring with 51.4 seconds remaining in an opening period that saw Canada carry a decided territorial edge.
The youngest player on his country’s roster — and the projected No. 1 pick at the 2026 NHL draft — took a pass from Schaefer and roofed his own rebound with a defender desperately trying to play goal inside the raucous rink that last hosted the world juniors in 2009 when Canada won a fifth straight title.
“You get goosebumps,” said Schaefer, a 17-year-old defenceman from Hamilton in the mix to go No. 1 at June’s NHL draft. “Can’t wait to keep playing in front of such a great crowd.”
Cowan increases Canada’s lead
Cowan doubled the lead at 5:22 of the second off a turnover when the Toronto Maple Leafs prospect from Mount Brydges, Ont., ripped a shot past Rimpinen after Ethan Gauthier and Caden Price were both denied on earlier chances as Canada upped its forecheck and physical play.
George didn’t have a ton to do at the other end to that point, but had to be sharp on a few Finnish efforts, including one from Emil Pieniniemi late in the period.
“He’s so calm,” said McKenna, who helped Canada win gold with George and Schaefer at the under-18 worlds and the Hlinka Gretzky Cup earlier this year.
“A special talent.”
The Los Angeles Kings prospect then held the fort on a penalty kill early in third with a great save off Benjamin Rautiainen.
“I don’t like playing against him,” said Cowan, who faces George in the Ontario Hockey League. “And I don’t think Finland does either now.”
Pinelli, also from Hamilton, put the game out of reach with 4:46 left after some terrific work by Price. George then stopped all seven shots on a late Finnish power play with their goaltender on the bench.
Schaefer added the empty netter in the final minute of a night these young hockey players won’t soon forget.
“You have to experience it,” Cameron, in charge at the world juniors for a third time, said of playing on home soil. “I’m sure they’ll be memories forever.”
U.S. 10, Germany 4
Defenceman Cole Hutson had five assists as the United States opened defence of its gold medal with a resounding 10-4 win over Germany.
James Hagens had two goals and two assists, while Gabe Perreault and Brodie Ziemer also scored twice for the Americans, who are considered among the favourites in Ottawa.
Trevor Connelly, Brandon Svoboda, Carey Terrance and Cole Eiserman also scored for the Americans.
Julius Sumpf, David Lewandowski, Lenny Boos and Timo Ruckdaschel scored for Germany.
Trey Augustine made 18 saves for the U.S., while a busy Nico Pertuch stopped 46 shots.
Germany plays Finland on Friday, while the U.S. has a day off before facing Latvia on Saturday.
Sweden 5, Slovakia 2
Earlier, defenceman Axel Sandin Pellikka scored a natural hat trick as Sweden kicked off the tournament with a 5-2 rout of Slovakia.
Sandin Pellikka, a Detroit Red Wings prospect playing in his third world juniors, added an assist for Sweden, which is looking for its first title since 2012.
Rasmus Bergqvist and Linus Eriksson had the other goals for Sweden.
Dalibor Dvorsky had a goal just under 12 minutes into the game to open the scoring for Slovakia, which was then held without a goal until Daniel Jencko scored on a power play with 85 seconds left in regulation.
Sweden plays Kazakhstan and Slovakia meets Switzerland on Friday.
Czech Republic 5, Switzerland 1
Hoping to improve on last year’s bronze medal, the Czech Republic jumped out to a promising start with a 5-1 win over Switzerland.
Miroslav Holinka, Eduard Sale, Ondrej Kos, Jakub Stancl and Petr Sikora scored for the winners, who received a two-assist effort from Tomas Galvas.
Leo Braillard scored a third-period goal for Switzerland, which was outshot 35-26.
The Czechs led 1-0 after the first period and took a 3-0 lead into the third.
The Czech Republic has the day off Friday then faces Kazakhstan on Saturday. Switzerland plays Slovakia on Friday.
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