Canada not looking past Denmark despite comfortable pre-tournament win

Six days ago, Canada thumped Denmark 13-2 in their final pre-tournament game ahead of the 2026 World Juniors.

Post-game, the Kelowna Rockets’ Tij Iginla (UTA) spoke about using that game to get guys some confidence heading into the tournament.

“We talked a little bit this morning about scoring goals and getting guys feeling good so that’s a big positive from a game like that,” Iginla said post-game.

Fast-forward to today, and Canada could perhaps do with a similar approach tonight.

The 20-time gold medallists are 2-0-0 thus far; they beat Czechia 7-5 on Boxing Day in a back-and-forth affair before they eeked out a 2-1 overtime victory against Latvia 24 hours later. Now, they face a Danish side that is playing its first World Juniors in seven years yet despite a dominant result a week ago, Canada aren’t taking tonight lightly.

“We can’t look at our pre-tournament game and think it’s going to be easy,” said the Saginaw Spirit and San Jose Sharks’ Michael Misa. “We can’t underestimate anyone. We have to go in there with a fresh mindset and find a way to win.”

Despite a 6-2 loss to Finland and 7-2 defeat to Czechia, Denmark have looked dangerous at moments. The team’s two CHLers in the Chicoutimi Saguneneens’ Anton Linde and the Penticton Vees’ Tristan Petersen each have a goal thus far.

“We’re expecting a hard opponent,” said captain and former Brampton Steelhead Porter Martone (PHI). “I feel like whenever anyone matches up against Canada we’re going to get their best. The pre-tournament is in the past and it’s a new game. We’re going to come out and really focus on us and play our game.”

But tonight is about Canada gaining momentum and renewed confidence. Misa, the Seattle Thunderbirds’ Braeden Cootes (VAN), Brantford Bulldogs’ Jett Luchanko (PHI), London Knights’ Sam O’Reilly (TB), Moncton Wildcats’ Caleb Desnoyers (UTA) and former Medicine Hat Tiger Gavin McKenna (2026) are just some of the Canadian players who have yet to find the back of the net thus far.

“We’re being a little bit too fancy,” Misa said. “Me, in particular, I got to shoot more.”

“I think sometimes guy’s are trying to be too pretty so sometimes we’ve got to be more selfish and put the puck in the back of the net,” McKenna added.

But a win this evening will mean come New Year’s Eve, Canada’s contest with Finland will be for Group A supremacy.

“We’re 2-0 to start the tournament and we can’t complain about that,” Martone told TSN. “We all think there’s another level and that’s going to come. The big thing for us is getting better every single day. We talked about it as a group yesterday … we expect more from ourselves. We’re happy but we’re going to keep on going.”

LIST OF PAST AND PRESENT CHL PLAYERS & STAFF ON CANADA’S 2026 NATIONAL JUNIOR TEAM

Goalies (3)
(G) Carter George (Owen Sound Attack / OHL)
(G) Jack Ivankovic (Brampton Steelheads / OHL; University of Michigan / NCAA)
(G) Joshua Ravensbergen (Prince George Cougars / WHL)

Defencemen (8)
(D) Kashawn Aitcheson (Barrie Colts / OHL)
(D) Harrison Brunicke (Kamloops Blazers / WHL)
(D) Carson Carels (Prince George Cougars / WHL)
(D) Ben Danford (Brantford Bulldogs / OHL)
(D) Ethan MacKenzie (Edmonton Oil Kings / WHL)
(D) Zayne Parekh (Saginaw Spirit / OHL)
(D) Cameron Reid (Kitchener Rangers / OHL)
(D) Keaton Verhoeff (Victoria Royals / WHL; University of North Dakota / NCAA)

Forwards (13)
(F) Carter Bear (Everett Silvertips / WHL)
(F) Cole Beaudoin (Barrie Colts / OHL)
(F) Braeden Cootes (Seattle Thunderbirds / WHL)
(F) Caleb Desnoyers (Moncton Wildcats / QMJHL)
(F) Liam Greentree (Windsor Spitfires / OHL)
(F) Tij Iginla (Kelowna Rockets / WHL)
(F) Jett Luchanko (Brantford Bulldogs / OHL)
(F) Brady Martin (Soo Greyhounds / OHL)
(F) Porter Martone (Brampton Steelheads / OHL; Michigan State University / NCAA)
(F) Gavin McKenna (Medicine Hat Tigers / WHL; Penn State University / NCAA)
(F) Michael Misa (Saginaw Spirit / OHL)
(F) Sam O’Reilly (London Knights / OHL)
(F) Cole Reschny (Victoria Royals / WHL; University of North Dakota / NCAA)

Head Coach – Dale Hunter (London Knights / OHL)
Assistant Coach – Brad Lauer (Spokane Chiefs / WHL)
Assistant Coach – Gardiner MacDougall (Moncton Wildcats / QMJHL)
Goaltending Consultant – Dan De Palma (Kamloops Blazers / WHL)
Video Coach – Ethan O’Rourke (Kingston Frontenacs / OHL)
Management Group – Mark Hunter (London Knights / OHL)
Athletic Therapist – Terence Robertson (Red Deer Rebels / WHL)
Team Physician – Michael Conrad (Victoria Royals / WHL)
Equipment Manager – Chris Cook (Brantford Bulldogs / OHL) 
Equipment Manager – Chris Maton (London Knights / OHL)
Strength and Conditioning Coach – Sean Young (Ottawa 67’s / OHL)