Martin and McKenna Spark Early Hope for Canada at World Juniors 2026
If this pre-tournament game is any indication, Canada’s journey toward the World Juniors 2026 has gotten off to an encouraging start. In front of a lively crowd in Kitchener, a new-look Canadian squad edged Sweden 2–1, and it was Brady Martin and Gavin McKenna who immediately stole the spotlight. Even though this was just an exhibition, the performance felt meaningful, especially for a team eager to reset its identity after recent disappointments.
The story of the night was chemistry. It was clearly seen between Martin and McKenna, who connected on both Canadian goals and looked comfortable together almost instantly. Martin, who was drafted fifth overall by the Nashville Predators, was the finisher. McKenna, projected to be the top pick in next summer’s NHL draft, was the creator. Two assists were quietly piled up by McKenna, while Martin did the rest, beating Sweden’s goaltender Herman Liv twice with confidence and poise.
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The opening goal came early in the second period, just 39 seconds in, when a crisp cross-ice pass from McKenna was hammered home by Martin with a one-timer from distance. It set the tone for a game that was tight, physical, and often cautious. Sweden responded midway through the period on a 5-on-3 power play, capitalizing after Canada was caught with too many men and then called for holding. Viggo Bjorck made sure the pressure counted, tying the game and reminding Canada how costly discipline issues can be.
Still, Canada stayed patient. That patience paid off in the third period, when McKenna helped drive play through the neutral zone, completed a give-and-go, and slipped a clever backhand pass to the front of the net. Martin finished the play with a smooth deke, scoring his second of the night and restoring the lead for good.
Behind them, goaltender Carter George was solid, stopping 19 shots and providing calm support as Canada leaned into a more defensive approach. Head coach Dale Hunter later described the game as a “cat-and-mouse” battle, noting that responsibility without the puck was emphasized, especially with this being the team’s first real test together.
The win matters beyond the scoreline. Canada is still searching for redemption after finishing fifth last year and exiting in the quarterfinals for the second straight tournament. This group knows discipline, structure, and chemistry will define its success when the World Juniors begin on December 26 in Minneapolis and Saint Paul.
For now, this early victory over Sweden has offered a glimpse of what might be possible. It was not perfect, but it was promising, and for a Canadian team trying to turn the page, that alone felt like a strong place to start.
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