WJC Blog: High Praise For Catton In Canada Win

Dec. 27, 11:13 p.m. | Rehkopf Scratched For Canada vs. Latvia

Canada coach Dave Cameron announced on Friday morning that Kraken prospect Carson Rehkopf would be scratched for Canada's second game of the group stage against Latvia.

Rehkopf picked up two goals and two assists for Canada at last year's tournament, in which Canada was ousted by Czechia in the quarterfinals.

Check back throughout the day for updates on other Kraken prospects in action: Zeb Forsfjall (SWE), Julius Miettinen (FIN), Kim Saarinen (FIN), Caden Price (CAN) and Berkly Catton (CAN).

Dec. 26, 7:12 p.m. | High Praise For Catton In Canada Win

Gavin McKenna, who turned 17 just ten days ago and is not draft-eligible until 2026, got the scoring started in Canada's opener against Finland. McKenna first fired a shot low that rebounded back off of goaltender Petteri Rimpinen's pad, then shot high, just under the crossbar, to send the crowd at Canada's capital into a frenzy. McKenna is the 8th-youngest player to ever play for Canada in the tournament.

While McKenna's linemate, Berkly Catton, did not find the scoresheet in Canada's 4-0 opening night win, he was one of Canada's most dangerous players in the offensive zone, both creating scoring chances for teammates and himself. During the second intermission, when asked who the most impressive forward for Canada was to this point in the game, TSN broadcaster and two-time Olympic gold medalist for Canada Cheryl Pounder was quick to mention Catton:

“I’ve been talking about him up here both on and off the puck. He has six shots in this game and the reason why is because he’s so effective off-puck. He sniffs out space on the ice to get to, and he knows when he’s got the dot, and he’s going to take a shot," said Pounder. “It’s what you do without the puck. You drive the back post and open up different lanes. I love that he’s direct.”

In the third period, with Canada up 2-0, Kraken defense prospect Caden Price collected a pass at the point, skated in toward the net, stickhandling past FIN winger Benjamin Rautinen, then threaded a pass through a sea of sticks directly to Luca Pinelli who buried the shot putting Canada up 3-0. The TSN broadcast crew lauded Price for his creativity on the play.

Carter George (2024 2nd Rd, LAK) made 31 saves to earn the shoutout for the Canadians. His toughest test came in the final minutes of the third period with Canada on the penalty killer, plus Finland utilizing the extra attacker for what was effectively a 6-on-4 powerplay. Finland put seven shots on the net during that two-minute span, but George was up to the task and took home player of the game honors for Canada.

Canada takes on Latvia Friday at 4:30 p.m. PT, while Finland squares off with Germany at 12:30 p.m. PT.

Dec. 26, 4:33 p.m. | Sale, Fibigr Impressive In Czechia Win

Eduard Sale extended Czechia’s lead to 2-0 on the powerplay in the second period, setting up down low and connecting on a one-timer off of a seam pass from Miroslav Holinka (2024 5th Rd, TOR). The entire powerplay sequence prior to the goal was a clinic by the newly-named Czech captain. He masterfully stickhandled the puck to safety along the blue line upon entering the zone and then set up a teammate for a prime scoring chance. All of the skills that prompted the Kraken front office to select Sale 20th overall in the 2023 draft were on display.

Just over two minutes after Sale’s strike, Jakub Fibigr, praised for his mobility, sent a point-to-point pass to his defense partner, Vojtech Port, who cycled the puck to Ondrej Kos. Fibigr drifted down low to disrupt the Swiss defense, allowing Kos room to skate in down the left wall and fire the puck net front, deflecting off of Swiss defender Eric Schneller’s stick and into the net to give CZE a 3-0 lead.

Czechia secured the 5-1 win and will next face Kazakhstan on Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m. PT.

Dec. 26, 04:04 p.m. | Canada, Finland Name Rosters For Opener, No Rehkopf

Kraken prospect Carson Rehkopf was not registered in Canada’s lineup for their first action of the tournament against Finland despite being named to Team Canada’s roster two weeks ago.

Rehkopf remains available for future games should Canada wish to insert him.

2024 first-rounder Berkly Catton is expected to center 17-year-old Gavin McKenna (draft eligible in 2026) and Luca Pinelli (2023 4th round, CBJ).

On defense, Caden Price will pair with Sam Dickinson, the 11th overall pick by the Sharks in 2024.

For Finland, goaltending prospect Kim Saarinen will serve as the backup to Petteri Rimpinen, while Seattle's 2024 2nd round pick, Julius Miettinen, will center Rasmus Kumpulainen (2024 2nd Rd, MIN) and Emil Hemming (2024 1st Rd, DAL).

Dec. 26, 12:12 p.m. | CVF Rookie, Sale, Named Czechia Captain

Kraken former first-rounder and Coachella Valley Firebirds rookie standout Eduard Sale is returning for his third trip to the World Junior Championships, this time as a captain for his Czechia squad. Sale won a silver in 2023, a bronze last year and is looking to become the 29th player in tournament history to win three medals at the World Juniors.

The only player to ever win three golds? Kraken assistant general manager, Jason Botterill.

Czecha hosts Switzerland at 2:00 p.m. PT this afternoon.

Dec. 26, 12:01 p.m. | Forsfjall, Sweden Pull Away In 3rd For 5-2 Win

Sweden entered the 2025 World Junior Championships having not lost an opening game at the tournament since 2006, and that streak looked shaky for the better part of 20 minutes into their opener against a Slovakia squad that struck first on a goal by St. Louis Blues' first-round prospect Dalibor Dvorsky. Slovakia goaltender Samuel Urban, an Arizona St. University commit (alma mater of Joey Daccord), looked sharp in his own right, stopping all 9 of Sweden's shots on goal in the opening frame.

At the intermission, Sweden found another gear, holding SVK without a shot for 14 minutes and tying the game when Rasmus Bergqvist whipped a wrist shot from the left faceoff circle past Urban at 3:41 into the second. From there, it was all Sweden, highlighted by Detroit Red Wings 2023 1st-rounder Axel Sandin-Pellikka completing the hat trick and leading Sweden to a 5-2 victory.

And give credit to Kraken prospect Zeb Forsfjall, whose work along the boards on three separate shifts near the middle point of the second period kept offensive zone possession alive for the Swedes and factored heavily in the tempo shift that powered Sweden's late push. The best of those shifts was the third, where his work to cycle the puck helped pin SVK in their own zone for nearly a minute, resulting in a tired Slovakia squad committing a holding penalty. On the ensuing powerplay, Sandin-Pellikka accepted a cross-ice pass from linemate Felix Unger-Sorum and unloaded on a one-timer that beat Urban for his first of three goals and Sweden's first lead of the day.

Next up for Sweden is Kazakhstan at 2:00 p.m. PT tomorrow.

Dec. 26, 8:14 a.m. | Sweden Looking To Forsfjall for Leadership, Checking Role

2023 6th-round pick Zeb Forsfjall and his Sweden squad take on Slovakia in the opening game of the tournament (9 a.m., NHL Network) from TD Place in Ottawa in Group B action. The 5'9" shutdown center is expected to center Carolina Hurricanes prospect Oskar Vuollet (2024, 5th round) and New Jersey Devils prospect Herman Träff (2024, 3rd round). Kraken Hockey Network analyst Alison Lukan chatted with Kraken director of player development Jeff Tambellini about what to expect from Forsfjall, who is returning for his second WJC:

“(Forsfjall) is going to be given an elevated role, hopefully, in a third line checking role -something that he does extremely well,” Tambellini said. “Penalty killing has always been a very big part of his game, and we think he'll be asked to be a little bit more part of the leadership group by being a returning player. Zeb is another late-round pick who is showing that he can compete on the world stage and has continued to deliver on the national stage with under-18 teams and World Junior teams; he made Skellefetea and the SHL earlier than we expected, so he's been on a great track, and we think he's should be primed for another good tournament.”