McKenna stresses positives after frustrating own goal in Canada’s loss

Team Canada held an off-ice workout and autograph session at the Gale Centre in Niagara Falls, Ont. on Sunday.

As Gavin McKenna stepped off the ice following the pre-game warm-up on Saturday night, fans in London, Ont. serenaded him with the ‘Happy Birthday’ song.

“It’s pretty funny,” Team Canada’s top-line left winger said while gazing up at the crowd.

Asked about the best hockey-related gift he received growing up, McKenna recalled getting a Patrick Kane sweater.

“I was a Patty Kane fan, so that was pretty cool,” the Whitehorse native said. “He plays with swagger. He’s smooth, and he’s a winner.”

McKenna hoped to celebrate his 18th birthday by helping Team Canada pick up a win in the same building where Kane once played for the London Knights. But the Swedes spoiled the party by beating Canada 4-2 in a tune-up game for the World Juniors.

And the usually sure-handed McKenna, who models his game on Kane, was the victim of a brutal bounce.

Late in the first period, Swedish forward Victor Eklund high sticked defenceman Carson Carels behind Canada’s net leading to a delayed penalty call. Goalie Jack Ivankovic raced to the bench and McKenna jumped on as the extra attacker. The Penn State freshman received a pass on his backhand in his own end, but bobbled the puck, which flew into Canada’s net.

“Puck rolled up on my stick,” he said. “Obviously frustrating.”

The gaffe gave Sweden a 1-0 lead.

McKenna did his best to reset.

“It’s tough especially on such a big stage, but it’s the game of hockey and stuff happens,” he said. “I honestly felt that after that I picked it up. I thought our second period was better. It’s tough. Just gotta learn from it.”

“It’s tough,” agreed Team Canada head coach Dale Hunter. “It’s exhibition so you just gotta let it go. That’s a hockey play and sometimes it happens. You don’t see it very often, but it’s a hockey play.”

McKenna’s neutral-zone turnover late in the third period allowed Sweden’s Jack Berglund to score an empty-net goal to seal the win.

“A couple bad bounces for me,” Canada’s youngest forward said. “I just gotta be better.”

Teammates rallied around McKenna, who produced two primary assists in a 2-1 win over Sweden in Wednesday’s pre-tournament opener in Kitchener, Ont.

“We all forgot about it,” Team Canada forward Brady Martin said of the own goal. “It doesn’t matter. It happens to everyone, so you just forget about it and you pump him up and keep him going.”

“I told him in the room, ‘Flush it, it’s pre-tournament,’” said centre Michael Misa. “He’s going to do much bigger things in the future and in this tournament in general. So, he knows and everyone knows how good he is, and I have no doubt he’s going to prove everyone wrong in that tournament.”

McKenna’s start in the NCAA this season – four goals and 14 assists in 16 games – has sparked questions about his status as the projected first overall pick in the 2026 NHL draft. On the first day of Canada’s camp, McKenna noted the “chatter” around his season is serving as motivation heading into the World Juniors.

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Between the bad bounces, there was a lot to like for McKenna and Canada’s top line, which also features Misa and Philadelphia Flyers prospect Porter Martone.

“We played fast,” McKenna said. “I liked the way we were pushing the pace. I thought Mis was flying. Second and third period, I thought our line was great. We were making plays. We could’ve had three or four goals, but as the tournament comes we got to find a way to bury those. With the line we got, I think that will be possible.”

The trio only had one practice together before getting their first taste of game action.

“Second period on we were phenomenal,” said Martone, who is a freshman at Michigan State. “We had a lot of chances. We read off each other really good. The puck just didn’t go in the net and that’s going to come. I’m happy with the way it went and I think there’s more to it definitely. A couple more practices, a couple more games, we’ll have lots of chemistry and really feed off each other.”

Canada will hold a practice on Monday in Niagara Falls, Ont. before flying to Minnesota where they will play a final pre-tournament game on Tuesday against Denmark.

Canada opens the World Juniors against Czechia on Boxing Day.

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Saturday marked Misa’s first game since being loaned to Hockey Canada by the San Jose Sharks.

“Misa was good,” said Hunter. “He started off slow a bit. He hasn’t played a lot of hockey so I did short shifts with him because of that. But they clicked around, moved the puck around.”

Penalties contributed to Misa’s slow start. He took a slashing penalty on his first shift and was also whistled for embellishment later in the first period.

“As the game went on, I felt better,” said Misa. “Obviously, I haven’t played in three weeks, but yeah, as the game got on I felt better. I thought our line was pretty good for the most part.”

Misa had not played since suiting up in a pair of games with the San Jose Barracuda on Dec. 5-6 as part of an American Hockey League conditioning stint. He missed a month of action after sustaining a right ankle injury in a morning skate on Nov. 5.

“Just got to get my legs going,” he said. “Got to get back to that pace that I was playing in the NHL. And, yeah, it’ll come. I’m not worried, but we’ve got some work to do.”

Misa has produced one goal and two assists in seven games with the Sharks this season.

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Canada carried a 2-1 lead into the third period.

“It’s a skill to close out games,” said Martone. “We got to really figure out how to do that if we want to have a shot at a gold medal. It’s a learning lesson for us and we’ll improve from it.”

Misa, who produced 134 points in 65 games with the Saginaw Spirit last season en route to being named the Ontario Hockey League’s most outstanding player, described the defeat as a “wake-up call.”

“We played a pretty solid game,” he said. “We got to obviously clean some stuff up in practice but, yeah, so much belief in that room that we’re going to still find a way to win gold.”

“Sweden’s a good team,” said Kitchener Rangers defenceman Cameron Reid, who is a Nashville Predators prospect. “We can’t underestimate anyone. I mean, we have to be at the top of our game every single minute. Mistakes are going to happen, but it’s about how many you can limit.”

Sweden tied the game with a shorthanded goal in the first minute of the third period. A puck bounced over the stick of Calgary Flames defenceman Zayne Parekh, which allowed Berglund to score on a nice breakaway snipe.

“It was a bit of a weird game,” said University of North Dakota forward Cole Reschny, who is also a Flames prospect. “A few unlucky bounces. Overall, we had some chances, a little too lackadaisical at times in our end, but it’s pre-tournament.”

The team is drawing confidence from how they played starting in the second period. Canada scored twice in the middle frame while outshooting Sweden 10-2.

“We just were a fast team,” said Martin. “We just ran them down. We quick-upped the puck and then we’d put it in behind them and we just kept working them. We just ran them down and just kept going.”

Sweden didn’t land a shot on goal until there was 6:45 left on the clock in the second.

“We found our game,” McKenna said. “When we were working on the forecheck and stuff like that, every line was rolling, four lines, and they couldn’t handle it. You saw in the second period, even in the third period I think we outplayed them, and we just have to stick to that.”

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After failing to convert on two chances on Wednesday, Canada’s power play wasted five power-play opportunities on Saturday.

“When you have all this skill sometimes you have a tendency to want to make the extra play,” said assistant coach Brad Lauer, who is overseeing the units. “It’s just about simplifying, being more direct with our game, being more predictable with the plays we want to do, and obviously getting pucks to the net a lot more rather than trying to pass it in the net.”

Being predictable is easier said than done with the super-skilled and creative Parekh at the point of the top unit.

“You got to let them be creative,” Lauer acknowledged. “Zayne at the top, he’s got so much ability, he sees the ice so well. You got to give him a little bit of opportunity to make some plays, but I think, early on, we’ve got to be very predictable with what we want to do and then their skill will take over.”

Lauer confirmed he plans on making some changes to the units at Monday’s practice.

“We just got to keep working on it,” said McKenna. “With the guys we got, I’m not too worried.”

“Just need to be a little more crisp,” said Reschny, who plays in the bumper spot on the top unit. “Ice wasn’t great last night, a little bouncy, but just need to be a little more crisp and moving the puck fast. We’ll get it figured out.”

Canada only scored four goals in the first two pre-tournament games. If the power play comes to life, it will take some of the pressure off the team at 5-on-5.

“Just have to try to be more connected,” said Michigan Wolverines centre Michael Hage, who operated on the flank of the second unit. “It wasn’t great last night.”

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Generating offence is not a problem for Martin so far. The Soo Greyhounds forward is leading the team with two goals and three points in pre-tournament play. The 18-year-old is all over the ice whether it’s throwing hits or making plays on offence. It’s like a hockey sugar high. Perhaps it has something to do with his pre-game snack.

“Usually grab a small double double [coffee] and two chocolate-glazed donuts,” he revealed with a smile. “Probably been a couple years now, ever since I could drive.”

Sometimes he’ll go with an iced cappuccino, but the donuts are always the same.

“I’m a big chocolate guy,” he said.

Superstition?

“Zero superstition,” he said. “I’m just a Canadian kid who loves Tim Hortons.”

Hockey Canada’s strength and conditioning coach Sean Young just shakes his head.

“Nutritionally, I do not approve of this message,” he said with a grin. “You want to make sure you do get carbohydrates, so there are some carbohydrates in there. It’s just the source of the carbohydrates, I might have a few other suggestions for the young players out there growing up.”

Young would prefer Martin munch on a banana, but isn’t about to mess with a winning recipe.

“I don’t want to change a thing,” he said. “The guy’s playing great.”

Martin’s outgoing personality on and off the ice makes him a compelling character for Team Canada.

“He’s definitely different than anyone I’ve ever played with,” said Hage, who has played on a line with Martin in both games so far. “I mean, whatever works for him, I guess. It’s pretty funny to be around and just watch his antics. But, I mean, it works for him, so just got to keep doing what he’s doing.”

Martin enjoys stirring the pot, including engaging verbally with the opposition.

“I love it,” he said. “I love chirping guys and getting under their skin. It’s a big part of my game, so I’m gonna keep doing that.”

What’s his best chirp so far this season?

“Ah, can’t say it on here, but, like, it’s been pretty good. So, like, don’t worry about it, but it was good.”

Teammates standing nearby start laughing.

Martin did reveal that he called a Swedish player “fat” on Saturday.

“He keeps it light,” said Kelowna Rockets forward Tij Iginla. “He’s always joking around, but you know he’s gonna be ready to go come puck drop.”

What makes Martin such a great agitator?

“It might be that haircut he has,” said Reschny with a grin. “Yeah, I don’t know, but whatever he’s doing it’s working.”

In the lead up to the World Juniors, Hockey Canada posted Q&A’s with the players on social media. Among the questions asked, how do you deal with adversity on the ice?

Martin responded, “I don’t know, probably hit somebody.”

On Sunday, he expanded on that thought.

“If I get angry, I’ll go run someone over,” Martin said, “and then grab the puck and go put it in the net.”

“Just the way he plays with his intensity, how hard he plays on pucks, he’s a difference maker,” said Reschny. “That’s what we need.”

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Iginla slotted in beside Martin and Hage on Canada’s second unit on Saturday. It’s a loud line.

“Hager likes to chirp a lot,” Iginla noted. “He’s got a big mouth on him. He’s just like nonstop talking the whole game. Like whenever a guy skates by him.”

The line did some talking on the scoreboard as well with Iginla scoring the opening goal. Hage, who is a Montreal Canadiens prospect, picked up the primary assist.

“I really liked it,” Iginla said of the feel. “I think those are two really good players. They’re fast, smart, and play hard. I think we can kind of work the puck low in the O-zone and get the cycle going. I felt like it was effective.”

Iginla did not score in his final three Western Hockey League games before leaving for Canada’s camp so it was his first goal since Nov. 28.

“Always feels good to score,” the first draft pick in Utah Mammoth history said. “Tournaments like these you want to kind of start hot if possible and try to build from there. So, yeah, I feel good.”

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Team Canada lines in Saturday’s game:

McKenna - Misa - Martone

Iginla - Hage - Martin

Reschny - Beaudoin - Luchanko

Greentree - Cootes - O’Reilly

Desnoyers

Reid - Parekh

Aitcheson - Brunicke

MacKenzie - Danford

Carels

Ivankovic starts

Ravensbergen

Scratches: Bear, Verhoeff, George