Minneapolis, Minn.- Vancouver Canucks prospect Braeden Cootes (Seattle Thunderbirds / Sherwood Park, Alta.) bagged the game-winner and 2025 WHL Player of the Year Gavin McKenna potted a hat trick as Canada routed Denmark 9-1 in group stage action at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship on Monday night.
McKenna, who spent parts of three seasons with the Medicine Hat Tigers, was named Player of the Game for Canada, while players developed in the WHL combined for eight points.
For a third straight game, 2025 WHL Champion McKenna (Whitehorse, Yukon) was in on Canada’s first goal- but this time, he lit the lamp himself by finishing off a long cycle with a crisp shot from the left faceoff dot just over three minutes into the match.
https://twitter.com/TheWHL/status/2005818766462984295
Shortly afterwards, a trio of current and former WHLers linked up to double the lead.
Former Victoria Royal and top 2026 NHL Draft pick Keaton Verhoeff (Fort Saskatchewan, Alta.) wired a long breakout pass to Utah Mammoth prospect Tij Iginla (Kelowna Rockets / Lake Country, B.C.), who hit Cootes with a backhand cross-ice dish.
Cootes, who became the third-youngest player in Canucks history to make his NHL debut earlier this season, picked the corner for his first World Juniors goal, which would stand as the eventual game-winner.
https://twitter.com/TheWHL/status/2005821505146597729
Calgary Flames defenceman and former CHL Defenceman of the Year Zayne Parekh (Saginaw Spirit / OHL) lifted Canada to a 3-0 advantage heading into the first intermission, and helped the Canadians quickly answer to make it 4-1 shortly after Mads Klyvo got Latvia on the board 28 seconds into the second frame.
Parekh earned his second point of the night with a primary assist on a Porter Martone strike.
Canada began to pull away as Ethan MacKenzie (Edmonton Oil Kings / Peachland, B.C.) served up his fourth point of the tournament with a secondary helper on McKenna’s second tally of the night.
https://twitter.com/TheWHL/status/2005838482787426472
With Canada cruising with a 5-1 lead heading into the final 20 minutes of play, the onslaught continued with 2024 Memorial Cup Champion Michael Misa (Saginaw Spirit / OHL) extending the squad’s lead to six.
McKenna capped off his night with a hat trick on a silky breakaway effort.
Kashawn Aitcheson and Porter Martone rounded out the scoring with late goals. Iginla gained another secondary assist on Martone’s game-closer.
With a 7-5 win over Czechia, a 3-2 overtime victory against Latvia, and Monday’s 9-1 demolition of the Danes, Canada has already surpassed its total scoring from the 2025 tournament, which saw the squad score 13 goals.
Canada (2-1-0-0) wraps up round-robin play against Finland (1-0-0-1) on December 31 at 6:30 p.m. PST.
NOTES
Incoming Kelowna Rocket Vojtech Cihar picked up two assists in a wild 2-1 overtime victory against Finland… The Los Angeles Kings prospect has six points (2G-4A) in three games, tying for first in tournament scoring at the conclusion of the game… Spokane Chiefs forward Elias Pul netted a helper for Germany in an 8-1 loss to powerhouse Sweden… Vancouver Giants forward Tobias Tomik assisted the game-opening goal and former Brandon Wheat Kings rearguard Adam Belusko scored in a razor-sharp 5-6 loss for Slovakia against the defending champion showdown United States.
