McKenna headlines Canada’s roster for world junior hockey championship
Written by The Canadian Press on December 8, 2025
TORONTO — Gavin McKenna headlines the 27 players Hockey Canada has invited to its world junior training camp ahead of the 2026 tournament in Minnesota.
The Penn State freshman is one of six returnees from last year’s roster, joining Cole Beaudoin, Carter George, Jack Ivankovic, Jett Luchanko and Porter Martone.
Five players who have already appeared in the NHL — Braeden Cootes, Luchanko, Brady Martin, Michael Misa and Zayne Parekh — are also on the camp list.
Dale Hunter, the longtime London Knights coach, will lead Canada behind the bench.
Camp runs Dec. 12-22 in Niagara Falls and includes pre-tournament games against Sweden in Kitchener and London, and Denmark in Minnesota.
Canada, which lost in the quarterfinal at last year’s tournament in Ottawa, opens the world junior hockey championship on Dec. 26 against Czechia at 3M Arena in Minneapolis.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 8, 2025.
The Canadian Press