Pushback On Team Canada Roster Construction Taking Ugly Turn

Many people were already dissatisfied with the 2025 Team Canada World Junior roster. Now, following Canada’s elimination in the WJC Quarterfinal for the second straight year, the criticism has only intensified. Frustrated fans have made their displeasure known. Despite the disappointing outcome, head coach Dave Cameron stated he “has no regrets” about the tournament. This raises questions about how much he and the management truly value the World Junior Championship.

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Elliotte Friedman noted, “There was something about this year’s event I have never seen before. It was outright dislike, if not hatred of the team that was put together.” He added it wasn’t about the kids, but about the roster and how it was assembled. “From the minute it was put together, they hated this team.” Now, there are calls for sweeping changes, and while the players shouldn’t be taking the brunt of the criticism, some are.

Key Names Left Off The Roster

Forwards

From the day of the roster release, questions poured in about why certain players were left off the Canadian roster. Forward Michael Misa was one of the players Canadian fans wanted on the team. He is a top prospect for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft and has arguably been the best player in the CHL this season. Why was he left off the team?

Misa has scored 30 goals in just 33 games this season, making him a prime candidate for a team that struggled offensively. Age cannot be used as an excuse for his omission, especially since Gavin McKenna—who is nearly a year younger—made the roster. McKenna was expected to be one of the team’s top offensive contributors but managed just one goal and one point in five games. Misa could have been an excellent linemate for a playmaker like McKenna, further highlighting questionable decisions in roster selection. It also raises concerns about the role politics may have played in the process.

Another notable omission was Beckett Sennecke, the third overall pick in last year’s NHL Entry Draft. Despite being a late addition to the selection camp, Sennecke was cut just days later. This decision is even more puzzling considering he was recently named OHL Player of the Month and would have been the highest-drafted player on Team Canada.

Why did Team Canada’s management overlook its top-rated players? The selection process for this roster continues to leave fans scratching their heads.

Defensemen

There were also two key defensemen left off the roster. Carter Yakemchuk and Zayne Parekh were not selected for the team, even though they are two of the best offensive defensemen in the CHL. In fact, Parekh won CHL Defenseman of the Year last season and helped capture the Memorial Cup for the Saginaw Spirit.

A winning mentality like that is needed in a short tournament like the World Juniors. Yakemchuk scored thirty goals last season as a defenseman and would have made a perfect quarterback for the Canada powerplay. Instead, Canada’s special teams struggled and was a key factor in their elimination.

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“It was outright dislike, if not hatred, of the team that was put together.”

In the latest 32 Thoughts, @sportsnetkyle and @FriedgeHNIC unpack Canada’s disastrous World Juniors showing, the public sentiment, and more!

?: https://t.co/JekeKj0sNN

Presented by @GMCcanada pic.twitter.com/LkzXUGJZwy

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 3, 2025

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Fans were vocal on social media, criticizing the inclusion of defensemen like Andrew Gibson and Beau Akey, arguing they did not deserve spots on the roster—especially with better options available, such as Parekh and Yakemchuk. It appeared that Team Canada’s management prioritized assembling a lineup based on specific roles rather than selecting the most talented players. For instance, Gibson was slotted as a third-pairing defenseman, while Mathieu Cataford filled a fourth-line forward role. This approach ultimately backfired, as leaving out higher-caliber players contributed to Team Canada’s disappointing performance.

Disappointing Performances

Team Canada had an upsetting tournament as a whole, but certain players did not perform as well as expected. Easton Cowan seemed out of sorts for the majority of the World Juniors. It looked as though he was lacking motivation and made the wrong plays at the wrong times. This blame also falls onto the shoulders of Head Coach Dave Cameron, who helped select a defensive-minded roster.

Cowan, known for his offensive abilities, didn’t receive much support from his linemates. The team as a whole lacked offensive firepower, making it difficult to place too much blame on the players. Despite leading the team with three points in five games, Cowan’s production fell far short of the standard set by Canada’s top performers in previous tournaments. For example, Connor Bedard recorded 23 points in just seven games during his last World Junior appearance. A game-changing talent of that caliber was sorely missing from this roster.

Gavin McKenna’s performance throughout the tournament was largely disappointing. He fell well short of expectations for a player touted as a generational talent. While he got Canada off to a strong start by scoring their first goal of the tournament, he quickly faded from the spotlight. Granted, he wasn’t given top-line minutes, so not all the blame falls on him. However, he often lacked offensive urgency and became too predictable by overpassing the puck. When a player repeatedly makes the same plays, it becomes easier for goalies and defensemen to anticipate and shut them down.

Team Canada’s struggles were further compounded by their undisciplined play, as they led the World Juniors in penalty minutes. This limited offensive opportunities for players like Cowan and McKenna, who could not generate consistent pressure while the team was constantly shorthanded.

Team Canada’s roster will need a massive change. Back-to-back losses in the quarterfinals are unacceptable, and someone needs to be held accountable for this.

Next Up: Maple Leafs Chris Tanev: From Undrafted to Quietly Essential