Team Canada wrapped up the World Junior Summer Showcase with a 6-2 win over the United States on Saturday in Minneapolis.

"It's always great beating the Americans," Barrie Colts defenceman and New York Islanders first-round pick Kashawn Aitcheson said with a smile. "So, yeah, it felt good."

The result allowed Canada to end its summer camp on a high note after lopsided losses to Sweden (8-4) and Finland (6-3) earlier in the week. Canada also held a Red vs. White intrasquad scrimmage at the event, which provided four national federations an opportunity to evaluate the talent available for the upcoming under-20 World Championship.

Hockey Canada invited 44 players to the camp with 36 ultimately making the trip to Minnesota, including eight returnees from last year's team. Those players departed after the first two games, which allowed management and the coaching staff to get a better look at the other contenders for roster spots.

After failing to make the medal round in the last two years, the pressure is on Canada to deliver a gold medal this year. And, per usual, Hockey Canada has an incredibly deep pool of candidates from which to construct a roster.

At the end of the week, TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button projected Canada's roster for the 2026 World Juniors, which will be played in Minnesota. Canada is often missing players, who are in the NHL, but for the purposes of this exercise everyone is considered available.

The following is a breakdown of Button's picks and how they performed at the World Junior Summer Showcase. NHL team affiliations are in brackets.

FORWARDS

First line

Gavin McKenna (2026 draft eligible) - Roger McQueen (ANA) - Porter Martone (PHI)

McKenna and Martone are both returning players from last year's team, which lost in the quarterfinals and finished fifth in Ottawa. It was Canada's second consecutive quarterfinal defeat at the tournament.

"There’s a lot of fire built up in our hearts," said McKenna, who is on course to be the first overall pick in the 2026 NHL draft. "We know Canada should never finish fifth, especially two years in a row. Seeing the group we got out here, we're all pretty excited. We know we got to do it this year."

After being named the Canadian Hockey League player of the year, McKenna is taking his talents to Penn State this fall.

"I honestly don't want to look at it like my draft year," the 17-year-old from Whitehorse said. "When you look in the big picture, it brings a little bit of nerves and whatnot. I want to just take it as another year. A fresh start in Penn State for me. It's going to be a big change, but I'm excited. A lot of eyes on me, so I want to make a good impression on everyone and, on top of that, be a good person whenever I get a chance to talk to [NHL] teams."

McKenna, who picked up one assist in two games at the summer camp, and Martone were a dynamic duo with Team Canada at the under-18 World Championship.

"Sometimes you're like, what did he just do?" Martone said with a grin. "He's kind of got eyes in the back of his head. We built some pretty good chemistry at the U18s. If we do get a shot to play together in the World Juniors, we both got a little chip on our shoulders to help Canada, you know, get over the edge here and win a gold medal."

Martone, who picked up a goal and an assist in two games at the World Junior Summer Showcase, is also off to the NCAA. The sixth overall pick in June's NHL draft is committed to Michigan State.

Both McKenna and Martone highlighted the lighter game schedule in college hockey as a plus, because it will allow them to spend more time in the gym and get stronger while measuring themselves against older competition.

"I've never experienced the college lifestyle, but it is going to be different for sure," said Martone, an 18-year-old from Peterborough, Ont. "I'm going to grow up a little bit, you know, live by myself and manage classes, practices, games, you know, making dinner for myself. I think it's a great stepping stone for me."

McQueen, who was selected 10th overall by the Anaheim Ducks in June, was unable to participate in Canada's summer camp.

McQueen only played 17 games last season with the Brandon Wheat Kings due to a back injury, but Button believes he'll take on a big role with Team Canada.

"He just fits the description of a No. 1 centre," Button explained. "He's exceptionally smart. He's exceptionally talented, and he can make plays. He can get the puck to McKenna and Martone and finish plays. Roger McQueen can score goals and he's imposing [at 6-foot-5, 197 pounds]. He's a big guy in the........

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