WJC: Gavin McKenna has (finally) arrived | Michael Hage continues to dominate

Marc-Olivier Cook
WJC: Gavin McKenna has (finally) arrived | Michael Hage continues to dominate
Credit: Screenshot / X

It would have been crazy to expect a close match between Canada and Denmark last night.

Because let's face it: on paper, we're talking about a duel that was really in Canada's favor. Denmark has no depth and Canada has a very talented club.

And we saw why Gavin McKenna is talked about as a guy who could go No. 1 in the next draft. Last night, he put on a show.

McKenna scored three goals in his team's victory, and his last two were simply magnificent. The kid showed his skills and really looked like the best player on the ice during the game.

I imagine this will do him good in a way. Not to say he was bad from the start of the tournament… I expected more from him and I know I'm not the only one who thinks so.

McKenna was good—really good, in fact—and the same can be said of Michael Hage, who put in another fine performance.

The Canadiens' prospect was all over the ice: we saw him cut off passes, we saw him be aggressive in forechecking, we saw him create quality plays with his vision…

Two more points for Hage, who is tied for second in tournament scoring. McKenna's three goals put him alone at the top of the scoring charts (with 7).

While we're on the subject of Michael Hage, we really must show off that sequence.

Because if Hage had scored on the play he created, his goal would have been the talk of the town for all the right reasons:

Hage is impressive right now. It just seems like he's brimming with confidence right now, and it shows when you see him make plays like the one above.

The Canadiens' management must be really pleased to see that, we hear you say.

All this to say, then, that Michael Hage and Gavin McKenna stood out last night and were (again) Canada's best forwards. It helps when the best play like the best.

And Canada will need these two players between now and the end of the tournament if it hopes to win the gold medal. And here's what's on the horizon for Canada: yesterday's win means Unifolié finished top of their group.

This means that the Canadiens will face either Slovakia, Switzerland, or Germany in the quarterfinals. We should therefore expect Canada to secure their ticket to the semifinals fairly easily… unless there's a big surprise, of course.


Overtime

– Habs vs Panthers, tonight.

– Yes.

– Well done.

– Today's schedule at the World Junior Championship:

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