OTTAWA — 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 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 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."
NAME THAT TUNE
McKenna's opener revealed Canada's goal song for the 2025 tournament — 1980s hit "Live Is Life" by Austrian pop group Opus.
LOOKING AHEAD
Canada's returnees from last year's team are trying not to dwell on the past.
Yager, Cowan and Oliver Bonk were part of the group that lost to Czechia in the quarters, while Tanner Molendyk made the team before suffering an injury in pre-tournament play.
"We've got a really special group," Yager said. "We've got the team to do something really special."
UP NEXT
Canada plays Latvia on Friday, while Finland meets Germany.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 26, 2024.
Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press
