Every Christmas, John Tavares thinks of Ottawa.
The last days of 2008, to be specific, and the first few of 2009.
It soon will be 16 years since Tavares helped lead Canada to a gold medal at the world junior hockey championship, a triumph that was marked by Jordan Eberle’s stunning tying goal against Russia in the semifinals and Canada’s 5-1 romp over Sweden for gold.
Tavares, whose work along the boards helped led to the goal by Eberle, was second in tournament scoring with 15 points, one behind Canada teammate Cody Hodgson, and was named most valuable player in the event. That came a year after Tavares helped Canada win world-junior gold in the Czech Republic.
“I remember the atmosphere in Ottawa was absolutely tremendous,” Tavares told the Toronto Sun before the Maple Leafs began their three-day Christmas break. “A few games were pretty remarkable in how they unfolded. And that’s what makes the world junior great, is the unpredictability, the type of atmosphere, especially when it’s played in Canada.
“Classics — it’s amazing how many classic hockey games have been played in those circumstances with what’s at stake.”
Canada’s games in Group A at the 2025 world junior in Ottawa get underway on Thursday against Finland. Next comes Latvia on Friday and Germany on Sunday before Canada meets its arch-rival on New Year’s Eve, the United States, at 8 p.m.
Tavares, naturally, will be paying close attention to what Easton Cowan does for Canada.
Cowan and Czech forward Miroslav Holinka, a fifth-round pick by Toronto in 2024, are the lone Leafs prospects taking part in Ottawa. Holinka, a centre, has 21 points in 23 games with the Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League.
Cowan is riding a 56-game point streak with the London Knights and as a returning player on the national team, will be expected to help carry much of the load on offence. It’s his second attempt at world-junior gold, as he was on the Canadian team last year that lost to the Czechs in the quarterfinals in Sweden.
“It’s incredible talent, young players who are going through a lot and taking the next step,” Tavares said. “Wishing him nothing but the best.
“I know my boys (sons Jace and Axton) will be really excited to watch the tournament and excited for him as they got to know him a little bit during the summer. We’re thrilled and really hope they bring home gold.”
The majority of Leafs on the current roster participated in the world junior, and their experiences run a full range.
Max Domi played a major role in Canada’s win in Toronto in 2015 and was named the top forward in the tournament in after he had 10 points in 11 games.
A year later in Helsinki, Auston Matthews tied for the U.S. scoring lead with Matthew Tkachuk with 11 points each and was named to the tournament all-star team. Oddly, Matthews didn’t have a point in the bronze-medal game, despite the Americans’ 8-3 domination against Sweden. William Nylander suffered an upper-body injury for Sweden that year and played in just one game.
Mitch Marner wouldn’t have fond memories of the 2016 event either, as Canada finished sixth after losing to Finland in the quarterfinals. The future Leafs superstar tied with Dylan Strome for the Canada scoring lead with six points each.
Morgan Rielly was on the 2013 team that finished fourth in Ufa, Russia, a disappointing end for Canada considering National Hockey League players were locked out and countries had all junior-aged players available. The outcome was a lot more enjoyable for Jake McCabe, who was the captain of the U.S. team that beat Sweden for the gold medal. McCabe was named to the tournament all-star team.
Joseph Woll was the backup on the 2017 U.S. team that beat Canada in the gold-medal final in a shootout in Montreal; a year later in Buffalo, Conor Timmins was on the ice for all three of Canada’s goals in a 3-1 win against Sweden in the gold-medal game.
For Tavares, the chance to play for Pat Quinn in 2009 in Ottawa was a career highlight.
Quinn, who passed away in 2014, coached Canada’s under-18 team to gold the year before he was named coach of the national junior team.
“I grew up watching him coach the Leafs and then I got to have him as a coach in that stage and that event, and he was fantastic,” Tavares said. “It was amazing the way he kept us all under control, he was level-headed and he had a great sense of humour as well. I always remember that about him.
“At that age, to have someone so accomplished as a player and as a coach, someone you looked up to, I’m very grateful for that experience with him.”
If Tavares gets a chance to send a text of encouragement to Cowan, it sounded like he would know what he would say to the 19-year-old about the opportunity to play in Canada in the world junior.
“Enjoy each and every second of it,” Tavares said. “It’s a great tradition we have in Canada and how much we love the tournament, the way people take to it.
“I can only imagine — well, I know what it’s like — and I’m excited for those guys just because it’s a really special event and to do it on home soil is even better.”
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