MINNEAPOLIS — If Canada didn’t know before, it certainly does now. Read MoreMINNEAPOLIS — If Canada didn’t know before, it certainly does now. There are no easy opponents at the world junior championship anymore. Canada may have beaten Denmark 13-2 in pre-tournament play, but coming off a narrow 2-1 overtime win over Latvia on Saturday, players insist they’re taking nothing for granted as they prepare for the
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MINNEAPOLIS — If Canada didn’t know before, it certainly does now.
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There are no easy opponents at the world junior championship anymore.
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Canada may have beaten Denmark 13-2 in pre-tournament play, but coming off a narrow 2-1 overtime win over Latvia on Saturday, players insist they’re taking nothing for granted as they prepare for the more important rematch on Monday night.
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“We’re looking to play a hard game tonight,” McKenna said. “(We) don’t want to take anyone lightly, (we) don’t want to give up a whole lot, and (we) just want to play the right way all game.”
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Canada is undefeated through two games against Czechia and Latvia, but neither win displayed the dominant version of Team Canada many expected.
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For defenceman Kashawn Aitcheson, reaching those expectations comes down to hard work.
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“We’re probably the most skilled team here,” defenceman Kashawn Aitcheson said. “(But) hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. We obviously got the outcome that we wanted (the last two games), but we definitely have another level.”
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McKenna echoed that sentiment, saying that his team needs to simplify its game and get more rubber on net.
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“We’ve got two wins, so can’t complain, but there’s little things that we got to work on,” he said. “Sometimes guys would be trying to be a little too pretty. I think sometimes we got to be a little bit more selfish here and put the puck in the back of the net.”
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McKenna said he’s always been more of a passer — he dished two primary power-play assists against Latvia — but admitted he too could stand to shoot the puck more. Canada’s even-strength offence was invisible against the Latvians after scoring six times at five-on-five against Czechia.
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In search of a spark, it appears that Canada’s coaching staff will be experimenting with the lineup Monday night. Hockey Canada officially registered 17-year-old defenceman Keaton Verhoeff and forward Carter Bear ahead of the game, bringing the roster to its 25-man limit.
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Verhoeff, a hulking 6-foot-4 freshman at the University of North Dakota and a top prospect for the 2026 NHL Draft, has the confidence of his teammates as he likely prepares his world juniors debut.
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“He doesn’t look like a 17-year-old, so I think he’ll do great out there,” said McKenna, a fellow top draft prospect. “He’s a very smart hockey player, he can shoot the puck, skates (well). He’ll be good.”
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