Yukoner Gavin McKenna played for Canada in the World Junior Hockey Championship opener against Finland on Dec. 26, delivering the first period winning goal and helping to secure Canada’s 4-0 victory.
McKenna credited goalie Carter George, who made 31 saves in his World Juniors debut, for the shutout against the Finns. McKenna, Easton Cowan and Luca Pinelli completed the scoring for Canada, who had a 41-31 shot advantage over the Finns.
In the first period, Canada and Finland battled for dominance on the ice, with Canada taking control by out-shooting the Finns 17-6. Finnish goalie Petteri Rimpinen struggled to keep the net clear but was overcome as Canada scored the first goal with 52 seconds left in the period.
In the second period, Finnish goalie Rimpinen stopped Ethan Gauthier’s breakaway dash for the net but couldn’t prevent Cowan’s unassisted goal off a Finnish defensive turnover.
Cowan, 19, one of four returning Canadian players, gained renown for his 56-game point streak with the Ontario Hockey League’s London Knights. Despite a shorthanded breakaway save by George, Canada failed to score on two power plays in the second half.
The Finns improved in the third period, with George stopping Finland’s Benjamin Rautiainen’s power-play one-timer. However, Pinelli made it 3-0 with just under five minutes remaining, celebrating Caden Price’s assist.
During a late penalty kill, the Canadians preserved the shutout with strong shot blocks and effective goal-tending from George. Canada’s Matthew Schaefer added an empty-netter with 19 seconds left.
Team Canada is scheduled to play Latvia on Dec. 27, Germany on Dec. 29 and the U.S.A. on Dec. 31 in the lead up to the quarter and semi-finals from Jan. 2 to 4.
Contact Jake Howarth at jake.howarth@yukon-news.com
