Easton Cowan saw Canada's chances crumble in an instant.
Posted at 12:51 p.m.
Joshua Clipperton
The Canadian Press
The winger sat on the bench when the Czech Republic scored the winning goal on a late rebound in a 3-2 loss in the quarterfinals of the World Junior Hockey Championship last year. The maple leaf settled for fifth place.
Cowen, a Toronto Maple Leafs prospect, is one of five players returning this year to a team looking for a different outcome in Ottawa.
Second chances are not always possible. The quest will begin on Thursday, against Finland.
“Everyone in the locker room dreamed of it growing up,” Cowan said. We want our dreams to come true. »
To achieve this, the local favorites will have to perform much better than 12 months ago in Sweden.
Despite a roster filled with very talented players and first-round picks in the National Hockey League (NHL) draft, including Macklin Celebrini, selected first overall by the San Jose Sharks a few months later, Canada is not never managed to get going.
Expectations were much higher.
« [On a] something to prove, said defender Oliver Bonk, also back. We can't expect to be given anything, even if we play for Canada. »
Despite the setback, there were significant issues leading up to last year's World Juniors that hurt the men's under-20 program.
Hockey Canada did not hold its usual summer camp and was unable to hire a head scout due to financial constraints stemming from a series of scandals that led to funding cuts and canceled sponsorships .
The COVID-19 pandemic also had an impact on the Canadian team, since several players did not have the same experience on the international scene due to canceled events.
But these excuses no longer hold in 2025.
“Things fell into place,” said Peter Anholt, who heads Hockey Canada’s under-20 program. It's not about picking players based on points or draft picks. It's about who is going to give us a chance to win. »
The word “competitive” has been on the lips of players, coaches and management since the start of selection camp. This is a clear point of emphasis.
“We want a real Canadian team,” said Scott Salmond, vice-president, high performance of Hockey Canada. We want a Canadian identity. »
The bar will be set by head coach Dave Cameron, returning for a third edition after winning silver in 2011 and gold in 2022. He was also an assistant coach when Canada triumphed in 2009 in Ottawa.
“Two or three plays will make the difference,” he said. You need luck. It's a tough tournament. »
Canada and Finland are in Group A with the United States, Latvia and Germany. Group B includes Sweden, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Switzerland and Kazakhstan. Russia remains sidelined by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) due to the invasion of Ukraine.
The quarter-finals will take place on January 2, the semi-finals on January 4, and the final on January 5.
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