McKenna to stick with cage at World Juniors
Yeah, Gavin McKenna (2026) is going to stick with the cage at the 2025 World Juniors.
After he dominated the U18 World Championships with a cage, McKenna went to a fishbowl for the summer’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup. While he again won gold, he didn’t have the tournament he hoped for from a production point of view.
Back on the international stage again at the World Juniors, the Medicine Hat Tigers star is back to a cage permanently.
“I didn’t think I had a great tournament at Hlinka and obviously I had a pretty good one at the U18’s so I wanted to switch back,” McKenna said. “Honestly, I think the vision in the cage is better. I grew up using it so I’m use to it.”
McKenna scored in Canada’s 4-0 win over Finland on Boxing Day in their tournament opener. They will face-off against Latvia (Dec. 27), Germany (Dec. 29) and USA (Dec. 31) to complete the round-robin. All four games will be played at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa.
The final is set for Jan. 5. The full schedule can be found here.
List of CHL players and staff on Canada’s 2025 World Juniors roster
Goalies (3)
(G) Carson Bjarnason (Brandon Wheat Kings / WHL)
(G) Carter George (Owen Sound Attack / OHL)
(G) Jack Ivankovic (Brampton Steelheads / OHL)
Defencemen (8)
(D) Beau Akey (Barrie Colts / OHL)
(D) Oliver Bonk (London Knights / OHL)
(D) Sam Dickinson (London Knights / OHL)
(D) Andrew Gibson (Soo Greyhounds / OHL)
(D) Tanner Molendyk (Saskatoon Blades / WHL)
(D) Sawyer Mynio (Seattle Thunderbirds / WHL)
(D) Caden Price (Kelowna Rockets / WHL)
(D) Matthew Schaefer (Erie Otters / OHL)
Forwards (13)
(F) Cole Beaudoin (Barrie Colts / OHL)
(F) Mathieu Cataford (Rimouski Océanic / QMJHL)
(F) Berkly Catton (Spokane Chiefs / WHL)
(F) Easton Cowan (London Knights / OHL)
(F) Ethan Gauthier (Drummondville Voltigeurs / QMJHL)
(F) Tanner Howe (Calgary Hitmen / WHL)
(F) Jett Luchanko (Guelph Storm / OHL)
(F) Porter Martone (Brampton Steelheads / OHL)
(F) Gavin McKenna (Medicine Hat Tigers / WHL)
(F) Luca Pinelli (Ottawa 67’s / OHL)
(F) Carson Rehkopf (Brampton Steelheads / OHL)
(F) Calum Ritchie (Oshawa Generals / OHL)
(F) Brayden Yager (Lethbridge Hurricanes / WHL)
Head Coach – Dave Cameron (Ottawa 67’s / OHL)
Assistant Coach – Sylvain Favreau (Drummondville Voltigeurs / QMJHL)
Assistant Coach – Mike Johnston (Portland Winterhawks / WHL)
Assistant Coach – Chris Lazary (Saginaw Spirit / OHL)
Goaltending Consultant – Dan De Palma (Kamloops Blazers / WHL),
Management Group – Peter Anholt (Lethbridge Hurricanes / WHL)
Management Group – Brent Seabrooke (Lethbridge Hurricanes / WHL alumnus)
Athletic Therapist – Andy Brown (Owen Sound Attack / OHL)
Team Physician – Dr. R.J. MacKenzie (Cape Breton Eagles / QMJHL)
Equipment Manager – Chris Cook (Brantford Bulldogs / OHL)
Equipment Manager – Chris Hamilton (Ottawa 67’s / OHL)
Strength and Conditioning Coach – Sean Young (Ottawa 67’s / OHL)
