McKenna headlines Canada's 25-player WJHC roster
Hockey Canada announced Friday the 25 players it will bring to Ottawa for the 2025 World Junior Championship.
Among them is 16-year-old phenom Gavin McKenna, who leads all WHL skaters with 60 points in 30 games this season. He isn't eligible for the NHL draft until 2026, when he's projected to go No. 1. McKenna turns 17 on Friday, six days before the tournament begins.
McKenna is one of three draft-eligible skaters named to the team along with Porter Martone and Matthew Schaefer, who are projected to be selected in the top five in 2025. Schaefer is considered by many to be the best defenseman in the draft and a candidate to go first overall.
Here's Canada's full roster, along with players who were cut from camp.
Forwards
| Player | Age | Current Team | NHL Rights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cole Beaudoin | 18 | Barrie (OHL) | Utah |
| Mathieu Cataford | 19 | Rimouski (QMJHL) | Golden Knights |
| Berkly Catton | 18 | Spokane (WHL) | Kraken |
| Easton Cowan | 19 | London (OHL) | Maple Leafs |
| Ethan Gauthier | 19 | Drummondville (QMJHL) | Lightning |
| Tanner Howe | 19 | Calgary (WHL) | Penguins |
| Jett Luchanko | 18 | Guelph (OHL) | Flyers |
| Porter Martone | 18 | Brampton (OHL) | 2025 eligible |
| Gavin McKenna | 16 | Medicine Hat (WHL) | 2026 eligible |
| Bradly Nadeau | 19 | Chicago (AHL) | Hurricanes |
| Luca Pinelli | 19 | Ottawa (OHL) | Blue Jackets |
| Carson Rehkopf | 19 | Brampton (OHL) | Kraken |
| Calum Ritchie | 19 | Oshawa (OHL) | Avalanche |
| Brayden Yager | 19 | Moose Jaw (WHL) | Jets |
Cuts: Denver Barkey, Andrew Cristall, Riley Heidt, Beckett Sennecke, Matthew Wood
Sennecke's cut from the roster isn't entirely surprising as the reigning No. 3 pick was a late addition to the camp roster. Wood's inclusion, however, comes as a shock considering he was on the team a year ago and registered four points in five games.
Returnees Cowan, Rehkopf, and Yager will be counted on to provide offense and leadership.
Defense
| Player | Age | Current Team | NHL Rights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beau Akey | 19 | Barrie (OHL) | Oilers |
| Oliver Bonk | 19 | London (OHL) | Flyers |
| Sam Dickinson | 18 | London (OHL) | Sharks |
| Andrew Gibson | 19 | Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) | Predators |
| Tanner Molendyk | 19 | Saskatoon (WHL) | Predators |
| Sawyer Mynio | 19 | Seattle (WHL) | Canucks |
| Caden Price | 19 | Kelowna (WHL) | Kraken |
| Matthew Schaefer | 17 | Erie (OHL) | 2025 eligible |
Cuts: Cameron Allen, Harrison Brunicke, Zayne Parekh
Parekh, the 2024 No. 9 pick, marks another recent high draft pick left off the team. Like Sennecke, he was a late addition to the camp roster.
Bonk is the lone returnee on the back end. He and 2024 No. 11 pick Dickinson could form one of Canada' go-to pairs given their familiarity as OHL teammates.
Goalies
| Player | Age | Current Team | NHL Rights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carson Bjarnason | 19 | Brandon (WHL) | Flyers |
| Carter George | 18 | Owen Sound (OHL) | Kings |
| Jack Ivankovic | 17 | Brampton (WHL) | 2025 eligible |
Cut: Scott Ratzlaff
Ratzlaff was on the 2024 team, though he never appeared in a game.
Bjarnason is the best bet to start given his experience. He was a second-round pick by Philadelphia in 2023.
The tournament will run Dec. 26 through Jan. 5. Czechia knocked Canada out in the quarterfinals of the 2024 tournament.