Easton Cowan Scores, Canada Tops Finland in World Juniors Opener

For the second consecutive year, Team Canada, featuring Maple Leafs top prospect Easton Cowan, has opened the World Junior Hockey Championship against the Finnish squad - and for the second consecutive year, Canada has taken down Finland in their World Juniors Opener.

Canada topped Finland 4-0 in their tournament opener with the goalscorers being 17-year-old phenom Gavin McKenna, Maple Leafs top prospect Easton Cowan, Ottawa 67's captain Luca Pinelli, and 2025 NHL Draft eligible Matthew Schaefer.

McKenna opened the scoring with less than a minute left in the first frame, Cowan added one in the second period after intercepting the Finnish pass and ripping it past Petteri Rimpinenm, Luca Pinelli potted one late in the third off a beautiful pass from Caden Price, and Schaefer later iced the game with an empty netter.

Likely the best player on the ice all night was Canada's goaltender, Carter George. Finland put 31 shots Canada's way but the Los Angeles Kings 2024 second rounder was equal to the task on every single one and earned himself a shutout and player of the game honours following the game.

Looking to Bounce Back From Poor 2024 Finish

Canada's 2024 World Juniors performance was one of their worst in recent memory as they were bounced in the quarter finals by Czechia and finished fifth overall in the tournament - their worst finish since 2019 when they finished sixth after Noah Dobson's stick exploded on him in the quarter finals against Finland.

Coming into this tournament, in a group with the United States, Finland, Latvia, and Germany, Canada will be looking to make up for last years disappointing finish.

Players to Watch Going Forward

As they do every year, fans took to social media to air out their grievances and disagreements with Hockey Canada's brass during the selection process of this roster. Players that were on majority of mock rosters, like Oshawa Generals standout and 2024 3rd overall pick Beckett Sennecke, as well as Calgary Flames prospect Zayne Parekh, were curiously left off the team. Despite this, this team is still loaded with talent.

If you don't know the name Gavin McKenna, I assure you that you will be the end of this tournament. McKenna, who just turned 17 years of age on December 20th, is in the midst of lighting up the Western Hockey League. The young phenom, who is cousins with Blackhawks star Connor Bedard, has a ridiculous 60 points in just 30 games this season with Medicine Hat. McKenna isn't eligible to be drafted until 2026, but he is the presumptive first overall pick in that draft.

Matthew Schaefer, another 17-year-old, is a defencemen for the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League. Schaefer is one of a handful of guys that have a legitimate shot at going No. 1 overall in the 2025 NHL Draft. He will play on the powerplay, kill penalties, and be put up against the opposing teams top players this tournament.

Carter George, who got the start in net for Canada against Finland and played spectacular, is shaping up to be Canada's goalie for the duration of this tournament. George is no stranger to wearing the maple leaf on his chest, either, as he he's already won a gold medal at the U-18 championships and the Hlinka Gretzky cup. A World Juniors gold medal would make George the first Canadian goalie to ever win gold at all three events.

Canada's next game is tonight against Latvia. It is their second of four preliminary round games.