THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Lehtikuva, Jussi Nukari
Gavin McKenna celebrates his 3-3 equalizer on power play during the 2024 IIHF ice hockey U18 world championships final match between the United States and Canada in Espoo, Finland, May 5.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Gavin McKenna’s World Junior dream has come true.
The 16-year-old Medicine Hat Tigers forward was one of 25 players named to Hockey Canada’s roster for the 2025 World Junior Hockey Championship. The U20 tournament runs in Ottawa Dec. 26 to Jan. 5.
Hockey Canada announced the roster Friday evening following the conclusion of a selection camp in the nation’s capital.
McKenna, who turns 17 on Dec. 20, leads the Canadian Hockey League in scoring with 19 goals and 60 points in 30 games with the Tigers. He is the first Tiger to be named to Canada’s roster since forward Tyler Ennis played in the 2009 tournament, also hosted in Ottawa.
Associate coach Joe Frazer says they will be cheering on the young star from afar.
“We are so thrilled for him,” Frazer said. “He’s been unbelievable for us, and for him to get to represent Team Canada, in Canada, is going to be an amazing experience.”
The Whitehorse, Yukon product is the youngest player on Canada’s roster, not eligible for the NHL Draft until 2026. He’s joined by two players projected as potential first overall picks in the 2025 NHL Draft, 18-year-old winger Porter Martone and 17-year-old defenceman Matthew Schaefer.
The World Juniors will mark the fourth time McKenna has represented Canada. He was on Team Canada Red at the U17 Hockey Challenge in 2023. He then broke Canada’s scoring record while winning gold at the U18 Hockey Championship in May, and led Canada to a gold at the Hlinka Gretzky in August.
McKenna is one of eight WHLers to make Team Canada, joined by forwards Berkly Catton (Spokane Chiefs), Tanner Howe (Calgary Hitmen), Brayden Yager (Lethbridge Hurricanes), defencemen Caden Price (Andrew Cristall), Sawyer Mynio (Seattle Thunderbirds), Tanner Molendyk (Saskatoon Blades) and goaltender Carson Bjarnason (Brandon Wheat Kings).
Hurricanes general manager Peter Anholt is part of the management group for Canada’s world junior team.
“We are excited to unveil the 25 players who have earned the opportunity to represent Canada at the World Juniors, as we believe we have assembled a competitive and talented roster that will give us the best opportunity to win a gold medal on home ice,” Anholt said in a WHL release. “While there were many difficult decisions to make at selection camp, we want to congratulate our players, and we look forward to them wearing the Maple Leaf with pride in Ottawa.”
Canada’s 25-man roster is made up of 24 CHL players, with the Ontario Hockey League leading the way with 14 players donning the red and white.
Canada’s junior team will now travel to Petawawa, Ont. for a four-day training camp at the Silver Dart Arena, Dec. 15-18. They will play pre-tournament games against Switzerland (Dec. 19), Sweden (Dec. 21) and Czechia (Dec. 23). The 2025 tournament gets underway Dec. 26, when Canada faces Finland to open the event.
With files from The Canadian Press, Western Hockey League
