MINNEAPOLIS, December 26, 2025 — Carter George, Canada’s projected starting goaltender, stopped all but three of his teammates during a shootout drill in mid-December, a promising sign as the team prepares for the 2026 World Junior Championship. The impressive performance underscores the importance of goaltending as Canada seeks to break a two-year quarterfinal losing streak.
The practice, held in Niagara Falls, Ontario, involved every player taking penalty shots against George, Jack Ivankovic, and Joshua Ravensbergen. The rules were simple: score, and you get another attempt; miss, and you’re done. Goalies remained in the net as long as they made saves. George was the first to be beaten, but quickly recovered, showcasing the mental fortitude that could be crucial in the high-pressure tournament.
As skaters cycled through, roughly a third hadn’t yet taken their shot. Michael Hage, Gavin McKenna, and Marek Vanacker were the only ones to score on their initial attempts. Hage and McKenna couldn’t find the back of the net on subsequent tries, setting the stage for Vanacker. He executed a slick backhand-forehand move, but George reacted with a lightning-fast blocker save, denying the goal and earning bragging rights.
“He made a nice move,” George said with a chuckle after practice. “I just got lucky on it.”
Luck hasn’t been a consistent companion for Canada at the WJC recently, with the team falling in the quarterfinals in both 2024 and 2025—a result almost unthinkable for a hockey powerhouse.
However, a roster brimming with first-round NHL draft picks and players with professional experience offers renewed optimism for the 2026 tournament, which begins Friday in Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Canada’s strength in net could be a deciding factor. Of the six players returning from last year’s squad, George and Ivankovic are the goaltenders. George, who posted a .936 save percentage in four appearances last year, is favored to start in key games. This tournament presents a significant opportunity for the 19-year-old to restore national pride and address what he considers a frustrating narrative surrounding Canadian goaltending.
“It’s incredible,” George said of the skill level during camp at Gale Centre Arena. “I think all the forwards are first-round picks except for McKenna, who…”
George trailed off, acknowledging that Gavin McKenna is widely projected to be a top-three selection in the 2026 NHL Draft. Indeed, every other Canadian forward is also a first-round pick. Canada boasts six players selected in the top 10 and six with NHL experience. While the team lacks returning defensemen, Zayne Parekh—a previous snub alongside teammate Michael Misa—is a dynamic offensive talent, and Keaton Verhoeff is a potential No. 1 overall pick in June.
The returning forwards include McKenna, Jett Luchanko, Cole Beaudoin, and Porter Martone. They were part of the 2025 team in Ottawa where a promising tournament was derailed when projected No. 1 NHL pick Matthew Schaefer suffered a broken collarbone in the second game. Canada struggled with scoring and discipline, ultimately losing to Czechia in the quarterfinals after a late power-play goal by the underdog with just 39 seconds remaining.
“There’s a bunch of learning experiences we all gained from last year that we can bring to this year and make sure that doesn’t happen again,” said Martone, a power forward drafted sixth overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2025. “Adversity, how to battle adversity; that’s something we can do better with this year. You should have humility. Being humble, being a humble team, always be prepared to go against anyone.”
The sting of past defeats has clearly fueled the current team. Parekh and Misa, both overlooked last year despite dominant performances in the OHL, are now key players. McKenna, long considered a top draft prospect, faces increased competition from players like Verhoeff and Sweden’s Ivar Stenberg, adding another layer of motivation.
“I think we all have an extra level of motivation after last year,” George said.
George is also motivated to challenge the narrative surrounding Canadian goaltending, particularly with a best-on-best Olympic tournament following the WJC. “It kind of pisses me off whenever I hear that,” he said, referring to the suggestion that Canada has stopped producing elite goalies. “There are a lot of good goalies here in Canada and I think that’s kind of… (expletive). For me, I just personally hate when people say that and I think there are lots of good guys out there in Canada and I think we do a pretty good job of developing goalies.”
George’s development has been impressive. He faced frequent challenges as a U-16 player in Thunder Bay, Ontario, but his hockey IQ quickly caught the eye of scouts. Owen Sound selected him in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection, and general manager Dale DeGray immediately recognized his potential.
“When we played him that year (2022-23), in the 10 games we were allowed to, you could see he had an uncanny ability to really read (the play),” DeGray said. “Some goalies are really good puck-stoppers. But if you watch Carter, his hockey I.Q. on reading plays and where pucks are coming from or where they’re going to go to, that’s one of his biggest assets. He has the ability to read and react because he knows where pucks are going as the play is coming at him. He can really access what the situation is and that makes him a real strong goalie.”
George’s success extends to the international stage, where he helped Canada win gold at the 2024 IIHF U-18 World Championship. Despite a strong showing at the 2025 WJC, the quarterfinal loss to Czechia left a lasting impression.
“I want to be the guy who is the backbone of this team,” he said. “And I want to make big saves for this team when they need it most and make that save with [40] seconds left this year and I want to be that guy who excels come elimination games.”
George’s quiet confidence and steady style, as described by DeGray, instill calm throughout the team. “That’s what he brings, a calmness that goes through the team,” DeGray said. “Steady the ship. ‘It’s OK, guys.’”
With George anchoring a motivated Canadian squad, 2026 could be their year.
