Top 4 Team Canada standouts from 4-0 shutout win over Finland in the 2025 WJC opener feat. X

Not wanting to be outdone by their hockey peers from the south, Team Canada entered the 2025 World Junior Championships with the opportunity to defend their national pride in Ottawa, the Canadian capital.

While Team USA is the current reigning gold medal winner, Canada is eager to make its case for who deserves to claim the tournament's top prize this year. They kicked off this year's edition of the World Junior Championships with a matchup against Finland, and it proved to be no contest.

Canada secured a 4-0 victory, shutting down every offensive chance from the Finns and starting the tournament with a perfect 1-0 record.

"I thought we were real solid start to finish," Canada coach Dave Cameron said. "You get ahead in this tournament against good teams and there's going to be pushback. I think our blocked shots speaks volumes for our buy-in tonight."

Who were the top four players who stood out the most in Canada's tournament-opening victory?

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Top 4 Team Canada standouts from 4-0 shutout win over Finland in the 2025 WJC opener

#1. Matthew Schaefer

Schaefer, who is eligible to be a pick in the upcoming 2025 NHL Draft, tallied both a goal and an assist for Canada; he assisted on the game's opening goal from Gavin McKenna and also scored his first of the tournament to cap the scoring as part of his team's win from nearly the entire length of the 200-foot rink:

#2. Easton Cowan

A draft selection of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Cowan doubled the lead for Team Canada by intercepting an errant clearing pass from Finland and ripping a shot past the blocker of goaltender Petteri Rimpinen from the left faceoff circle:

#3. Carter George

A future goaltender with the Los Angeles Kings, George had an impressive start to the tournament by stopping all 31 shots that Finland fired at him to pick up the shutout.

#4. Gavin McKenna

Widely projected to be the first overall selection in the 2026 NHL Draft, McKenna made his presence felt with the tournament's first goal for Team Canada late in the first period.

"'Shaef' made a beautiful pass, great seam," McKenna said. "I tried to open the five-hole up a little bit. He didn't open it, shot it and got the rebound and just put it in. Didn't see the defender there, and he almost got it, but luckily it was in the back of the net. But lots of credit to Shaef. That was a beautiful play by him."

Canada will continue its tournament schedule when they face Latvia on Friday evening.