McKenna scores twice to lift Canada to final pretournament win over Czechia at 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship

Ottawa, Ont.- Gavin McKenna has arrived.

The reigning WHL and CHL Rookie of the Year scored twice- including the game-winner- to carry Canada to a 3-2 win over Czechia in its final pretournament match ahead of Game One of the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship.

McKenna (Medicine Hat Tigers / Whitehorse, Yukon) was named Player of the Game in the win, which saw Canada outshoot Czechia 39-23.

Three WHLers found the scoresheet in the win, with import standouts Dominik Petr (Brandon Wheat Kings) and Vojtech Port (Lethbridge Hurricanes) netting a goal and an assist for Czechia, respectively.

Bradly Nadeau gave Canada an early lead, but the hosts wouldn’t hang onto the lead for long.

Canada and Czechia have been at the centre of several close, intense matches at World Juniors in recent years.

Petr, who recently scored his 25th WHL goal, ensured fans would see another close tilt as he tied the game with a deceptive shot from the slot with under five minutes remaining in the first period.

Dominik Petr evens the game for Czechia! pic.twitter.com/SlZ9tRlO97

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 24, 2024

But McKenna made his mark in the middle frame with his first goal of the pre-tournament.

The youngest member of Team Canada shoveled a loose puck past the Czech netminder after a pair of attempts from Luca Pinelli (Ottawa 67s / Stoney Creek, Ont.) and his 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup teammate, Matthew Schaefer (Eerie Otters / Hamilton, Ont.).

Gavin McKenna cleans up the loose puck in front to give Canada the lead! pic.twitter.com/Sfkes6kFKT

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 24, 2024

But Canada wouldn’t escape the second period unscathed.

2024 WHL Champion Vojtech Port hammered a shot onto the pads of Carter George and Jiri Felcman was wide open to tie the game once again.

McKenna came agonizingly close to putting Canada on top once more but rang a strong shot off the iron.

He’d finish it off for real with a fortuitous redirect off of an Ethan Gauthier (Drummondville Voltigeurs / Drummondville, Que.) bomb from the point.

GAVIN MCKENNA SCORES LATE IN THE 3RD FOR CANADA! pic.twitter.com/3udNhF1ClB

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 24, 2024

From here on out, they’re playing for keeps.

Canada’s quest to return to the podium starts on boxing day as the host country faces Seattle Kraken prospect Julius Miettinen (Everett Silvertips) and Finland at 5:30 p.m. MST.

Notes: Calgary Flames prospect Axel Hurtig (Calgary Hitmen) netted an assist in Sweden’s 11-1 defeat of Germany in the defending silver medalists’ final pretournament match.