Oh Canada: Photo report from Hockey Canada’s World Juniors Pre-Tournament games

Last year, I was fortunate enough to travel to Ottawa to shoot the IIHF World Juniors. With the event moving to the US this year, I wasn’t planning to go, but with the Owen Sound Attack’s Carter George battling for a spot in net, the FOMO was at an all time high. Cue Hockey Canada’s wise decision to host two pre-tournament games in Ontario so that Canadian hockey fans could get a good look at this year’s potential junior squad and I could get my photo fix. The games in Kitchener and London were sold out crowds and felt a bit like Ottawa last year. The goal of this year’s training camp and pre-tournament games was to help build chemistry in the group that many felt was lacking last year.

In the day I shot training camp in Niagara and both pre-tournament games, I had great behind the scenes access. I saw lots of laughs (at camp largely), lots of focus on the ice, lots of moments between staff and players pre-game and recognition that playing for your country is a privilege these players take seriously.

I want to thank Hockey Canada (particularly Branden Crowe), The Hockey News, and my local blog sponsors Watson’s Construction, Burke’s Brick Work and CCL Customs. Your investment in me this season makes trips like this one possible.

Like all of you, I will be tuning into the World Juniors over the holiday season and rooting for Canada, and our Georgie, to bring home the gold. I will still have some FOMO but this experience was worth the drives across Southwestern Ontario in blinding snowstorms and I will be happy to be at The Bayshore when the OHL season resumes.

To the players and their families, World Juniors means an interrupted and unusual Christmas season with the weight of a nation on your shoulders. Enjoy the moment, give it your all and remember that pressure is a privilege. You’ve all worked hard to wear the Maple Leaf and chase this dream.

What you can’t see in this photo are the 50 kids surrounding Carter as he tries to find a moment of focus.
Finding a quiet moment before warm up means retreating to the underbelly of the Aud.
Different tourney, same rituals.
Cameron Reid in the player’s tunnel.
Swedish goalie Herman Liv.
Gavin McKenna in the Kitchener game.
Hometown boy Brady Martin scored twice at the Aud.
Thanks to whoever replaced the glass behind the net in Kitchener recently.
Georgie finding his feet. He’s looking for redemption this year.
LA Kings draft mates Liam Greentree and Carter George after the win.
Team building before the London game.
London hair, Canada flag.
Gavin McKenna on his 18th birthday.
Kashawn Aitcheson gets hyped pre-game.
Braeden Cootes celebrates a goal at Canada Life Place.
The team is a blend of WHL, OHL, QMHL, NCAA and NHL players.
Cameron Reid between periods.
The London game was a weird one for Gavin McKenna but here he is leaping Ethan MacKenzie while trying to stop a breakaway for Sweden.
There’s some great competition between the three goalies for the top spot. Jack Ivancovic got the start in London.
Lots of talk about Iver Stenberg’s draft stock these days.
Porter Martone.
Canada’s goal song has gone over well.
Hockey Canada’s Branden Crowe gives Kashawn Aitcheson a pat on the maple leaf.
Calgary Flames Zayne Parekh should be a factor in this lineup.
More Kash content. He’s everywhere on the ice.
Ivancovic focuses.
Sweden took game 2 and are poised to be a contender in the tournament.
Brady Martin in a post game presser.
The weight of a nation; Gavin McKenna waits for a post-game interview.

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