OTTAWA –
Gavin McKenna used to gather around the television with his family on Boxing Day. Carter George did the same thousands of kilometres away.
Both dreamt of pulling on the red Maple Leaf at the world junior hockey championship.
The real thing was even better.
McKenna scored late in the first period and George made 31 saves for the shutout as Canada blanked Finland 4-0 in the host country’s opener in the annual under-20 tournament Thursday.
“Definitely a little bit of nerves,” said McKenna, the just-turned-17-year-old phenom from Whitehorse. “Tried to look at it just like it was another game, but seeing the crowd, it’s something I’ll remember forever.”
George didn’t have a lot to do early, but was lights out in a 20-shot third period when the Finns poured on the pressure before fans at Canadian Tire Centre honoured the netminder’s performance in full voice.
“Unbelievable,” said George, an 18-year-old from Thunder Bay, Ont. “It’s definitely …