Hockey Canada Invites McKenna and Smith to 2026 WJC Training CampHockey Canada Invites McKenna and Smith to 2026 WJC Training Camp

Hockey Canada Invites McKenna and Smith to 2026 WJC Training Camp

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Author John Hanna

TORONTO, Ontario – With the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship just a few weeks away, Hockey Canada announced its training camp roster for its National Junior Team on Monday morning with Penn State freshman classmates Gavin McKenna (Whitehorse, Yukon) and Jackson Smith (Calgary, Alberta) each receiving invitations.

McKenna and Smith are two of 27 players, and two of seven NCAA players, invited to Hockey Canada’s initial training camp and evaluation process taking place from December 12-22 in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Vying to make the final roster, both players will be able to showcase their skills as Canada plays a pair of pre-tournament games against Sweden on December 17 and 20 in Ontario, as well as a game against Denmark on December 23 at Minnesota State University, Mankato. 

In alignment with the internal selection process, Hockey Canada reserves the right to make roster additions throughout camp—including potential additions from the NHL. Should NHL player(s) be made available after December 8, then corresponding roster moves will be made.

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McKenna donned the Maple Leaf last season in Ottawa as the youngest player on Team Canada when the Canadians fell short of expectations in their home country, missing the medal round and finishing the tournament fifth.

Through 16 games at the NCAA-level this season, the Whitehorse, Yukon native has averaged over a point per game with four goals and 14 assists for 18 points ranking second in the Big Ten and fourth in the nation for rookie scoring. McKenna finished the first half of the season with points in three-straight games including assists on both Nittany Lion goals in a 2-1 victory over Minnesota to close the semester back in November.

Smith, the No. 14 overall selection by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft, is beginning to hit his stride this season after missing the opening games at ASU due to an illness. Smith leads all Penn State defensemen with nine points on three goals and six assists in 14 games including the game-winning score last time out against Minnesota.

Smith has also represented his country in international play most recently winning gold at the 2025 IIHF U18 World Championships last spring. He skated in all seven games during the tournament scoring four goals while adding one assist for five points with a plus-7 rating from the backend. Smith was also part of the gold medal winning team at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

McKenna and Smith became the third and fourth Nittany Lions all-time to represent their country at the WJC, but the first for Team Canada, joining 2019 Gold Medalist Aarne Talvitie (Finland) and 2019 Silver Medalist Evan Barratt (USA).

This year’s World Junior Championship will be held in St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota and run from December 26 through January 5 with the Canadians representing Group B and beginning play against Czechia on Friday, December 26.

The top four teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals held on Friday, January 2. The semifinals will then be held on January 4 with the Championship and third-place game set for Monday, January 5.

FULL WJC TRAINING CAMP ROSTER