Masters: Gavin McKenna determined to work his way up into Canada’s lineup

Team Canada skated at TD Place in Ottawa on Thursday.

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Medicine Hat Tigers phenom Gavin McKenna will start as the 13th forward when Team Canada faces Switzerland in their pre-tournament opener on Thursday.

“Definitely not something I’m used to, but it’s something I have to adapt to,” he said. “I just have to find my way and work my way up the lineup. I kind of expected that. I just have to show what I can do.”

The message from Dave Cameron to his youngest player?

“It’s a good team,” said the Team Canada head coach. “There’s a lot of guys in depth roles. Just play with and without the puck.”

“My game is an offensive threat, so that will be my role here,” McKenna said. “Obviously I want to work on both sides of the puck, but my role is definitely an offensive threat.”

McKenna, who celebrates his 17th birthday on Friday, leads the Western Hockey League in scoring with 60 points in 30 games. He set a national scoring record (20 points in seven games) while helping Canada win gold at the 2024 U18 World Cup.

“Such a talented player and he’s going to work his way up the ranks,” said Lethbridge Hurricanes center Brayden Yager, who roommates with McKenna. “It’s just kind of inevitable. Every time he steps on the ice, it’s scary for the opposition, and I think he’ll show it.”

When the tournament opens on Boxing Day, McKenna will become the eighth-youngest player to suit up for Canada at the World Juniors.

“It will sort itself out,” Cameron said. “Boys will rise and reach any level.”

ContentId(1.2222751): ‘I just have to show what I can do’: Talented McKenna takes on new role with Team Canada

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Team Canada named its leadership group at a meeting Tuesday night. Yager will wear the ‘C’ with Oshawa Generals center Cal Ritchie and Saskatoon Blades defenseman Tanner Molendyk as alternates.

“I was kind of speechless,” Yager said. “I went up there and obviously shook the coaches’ hand and shook Moly and Ritch’s hand and congratulated them as well. It’s pretty cool to see the players come up and everyone was genuinely happy for the three of us. Yeah, it was a really special moment.”

Yager is one of four returning players from last year’s event in Sweden, where Canada finished a disappointing fifth.

“I didn’t really know him coming into this tournament and he’s such an outgoing guy,” McKenna said. “Everybody on this team likes him. … He leads by example and he kind of pulls guys in.”

ContentId(1.2222755): Captain Yager ‘speechless’ after being named Team Canada captain

Ritchie started the season in the NHL and played seven games with the Colorado Avalanche.

Molendyk made Team Canada last year, but suffered a wrist injury in a pre-tournament match and missed the event. He cites his mother as his leadership role model.

“She always calls me and tells me how to be a better person,” he said.

How did she react to the news Wednesday night?

“I texted her because we were still in the meeting and I was like, ‘Mom, I got an ‘A.’ She FaceTimed me four times while we were in the meeting, and then she texted me, ‘Can you FaceTime me?’ Yes, she’s excited.”

ContentId(1.2222749): Assistant Captain Molendyk credits mom with helping him realize a ‘dream come true’

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As part of a team-bonding trip to the Canadian Forces Base in Petawawa this week, the players and Hockey Canada staff got a chance to ride in Chinook helicopters.

“That helicopter ride was incredible,” Molendyk said. “They were flying through the trees about 50 feet above the ground and you’re sitting there trying not to throw up because it’s so scary. The plane is completely sideways and everybody’s laughing. All the military guys are just laughing because they know we’re all coming to throw up.”

Did anyone actually throw up?

“We had a guy throw up,” confirmed London Knights defender Oliver Bonk.

Bonk declined to say which of his teammates lost their lunch.

“It was so crazy,” Bonk added. “They opened the back door and I had the first seat and I was looking out. They’re flying and doing these hard bank turns and stuff. It was just an airplane seat belt and you’re sitting on this long bench with 15 guys. You’re just strapped in and enjoying the ride.”

ContentId(1.2222750): ‘We had a guy throw up!’: Canadian players still buzzing from Chinook helicopter ride

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Owen Sound Attack goalie Carter George and Brandon Wheat Kings netminder Carson Bjarnason will see action between the pipes on Thursday as Canada’s curling competition heats up.

Cameron describes the race to be the Boxing Day starter as “open”.

George was the first goaltender off the ice and appears to be in line to start the game. He stopped Canada to gold at the 2024 World Under-18 Championship.

“He’s so calm in high-pressure situations,” McKenna said. “He’s the reason we won that game in Finland. He was unbelievable.”

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After sticking with the same defense pairings all week in practice, Team Canada made a change Thursday morning. Vancouver Canucks prospect Sawyer Mynio moves up to the second pair next to Bonk.

“Just a smart D,” Bonk said. “Kind of the same, plays like me. We get each other. We hang out. In Petawawa, we hung out a lot and got to know him. I think we’re going to get along well.”

Erie Otter Matthew Schaefer moved down to the third pair alongside Barrie Colt Beau Akey.

Caden Price of the Kelowna Rockets will be the seventh defenseman.

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Ottawa 67’s forward Luca Pinelli, London Knights defenseman Sam Dickinson and Brampton Steelheads goaltender Jack Ivankovic will sit like healthy claws on Thursday. Cameron indicated that all three guys will see action at some point in the pre-tournament matches and also in the actual tournament.

“We expect to use everyone throughout the tournament at different times,” the coach said.

ContentId(1.2222782): Team Canada Ice Chips: George starts the first pre-competition game; Mynio moves up

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Lines at Thursday’s skate:

Nadeau – Ritchie – Cowan
Rehkopf – Catton – Martone
Howe – Luchanko – Cataford
Beaudoin-Yager-Gauthier

McKenna, Pinelli
Molendyk – Gibson
Mynio – Bonk
Schaefer – Akey
Price – Dickinson

George starts
Bjarnason
Ivankovic

Power-play units on Thursday’s skate:

QB: Schaefer
Flanks: Cowan, Nadeau
Middle: Ritchie
Right in front: Howe

QB: Molendyk
Flanks: Catton, McKenna
Middle: Rehkopf
Right in front: Luchanko