Team Canada determined to snag gold medal, starts IIHF World Juniors 3-0

Team Canada has started its the world junior hockey championship strong, with a 3-0 record.

The Red and White is looking for a record 21st gold medal at the IIHF World Juniors, and to rebound from a pair of disastrous showings the last two years, finishing fifth while the United States claimed the gold medal.

Read more:

• Listen to all Team Canada’s games at the World Juniors on 980 CJME and 650 CKOM
• World Juniors ads spotlight talented Calgary goalie mask artist
• Macklin’s Cole Reschny excited to play in World Juniors

The Canadians powered past Denmark on Monday night, winning 9-1 at the University of Minnesota’s 3M Arena. Gavin McKenna, an 18-year-old from Whitehorse who many expect to be the top pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, completed a hat trick for Canada during the game.

Dale Hunter is back as head coach at the World Juniors after leading Canada to the top of the podium in 2020.

“We moved the puck around,” Hunter said after the victory over Denmark. “We scored some nice goals, but for a coach, it’s always the defensive side of it. We played well that way.”

Wild Boxing Day win

Canada opened the tournament with a 7-5 win against Czechia on Boxing Day.

The Red and White put points on the board first, leading 2-1 into the second period.

But Czechia wasted no time responding, tying the game up at 3-3 into the third.

Six more goals were scored in the third period between the two teams, but Canada landed on top. Team captain Porter Martone sealed the deal with an empty-netter.

Zayne Parekh scored twice in the opening game. The Calgary Flames defenceman said the performance gave him a mental boost after a tough start to his rookie campaign in the NHL.

Tij Iginla, the son of Hockey Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla, scored the go-ahead goal for Canada in the third period against Czechia.

Canada was eliminated by the Czechs in the quarterfinals at the last two tournaments.

The team faced a quick turnaround with its second game set for Saturday afternoon against Latvia.

Overtime win vs Latvia

Saturday’s game against Latvia was a bit of a nail biter.

Saskatchewan’s Cole Reschny scored the first goal of the game in the second period, but Latvia’s Rudolfs Berzkalns tied the game in the third period, forcing overtime.

But the extra time was all over in under a minute, with Michael Hage scoring a power-play goal 44 seconds into overtime to give Canada the win.

Martone said his team had to stay patient after suffering a stunning shootout loss to the same underdog opponent 12 months ago in Ottawa.

Canada to face off against Finland next

Now, Team Canada gears up for a New Year’s Eve clash with Finland.

This year, the tournament is being hosted in Minnesota’s twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul for 2026 — at Grand Casino Arena, home of the Minnesota Wild and Minnesota Frost, and the University of Minnesota’s 3M Arena.

All of Team Canada’s games will be broadcast live on 980 CJME and 650 CKOM.

Upcoming games

Dec. 30

1 p.m.: Switzerland vs. Germany
3:30 p.m.: Latvia vs. Denmark

Dec. 31

12 p.m.: Switzerland vs. Slovakia
2:30 p.m.: Czechia vs. Latvia
5 p.m.: – USA vs. Sweden
7:30 p.m.: Canada vs. Finland

Relegation game

One relegation game will be played between the teams that finish at the bottom of each group. The winner will remain in the top division for the 2027 event. The loser will drop down to division IA.

Jan. 2, 2026

11:30 a.m.:  A5 vs. B5

Playoff round

The top seed from Group A plays the fourth seed from Group B, the second seed of Group A plays the third seed from Group B, and so on. These are all single-elimination games, with the losers’ tournament coming to an end and the winners moving on to the semifinals. The winners of the semis play for the gold medal, while the losers battle for bronze.

Jan. 2, 2026

1 p.m.:  Quarterfinals Game 1
3:30 p.m.: Quarterfinals Game 2
5 p.m.: Quarterfinals Game 3
7:30 p.m.: Quarterfinals Game 4

Jan. 4, 2026

3:30 p.m.: Semifinals Game 1
7:30 p.m.: Semifinals Game 2

Jan. 5, 2026

3:30 p.m.: Bronze Medal Game
7:30 p.m.: Gold Medal Game

Read more:

• Listen to all Team Canada’s games at the World Juniors on 980 CJME and 650 CKOM
• World Juniors ads spotlight talented Calgary goalie mask artist
• Macklin’s Cole Reschny excited to play in World Juniors

—with files from the Canadian Press