Today is December 16th. In exactly 10 days, Canada will play its first World Junior Championship match (against the Czechs).
The Canadiens are slowly but surely starting to prepare in earnest for this first game in Minnesota.
Dale Hunter came up with some new trios and pairings this morning. Here they are:
Today new lines of the Canadian team in training:
McKenna–Hage–Martin
Iginla – Beaudoin – Martone
Bear – Reshny – Kuts
Desnoyer – Lucianko – Greentree
Vanaker – O'Brien – O'ReillyMackenzie – Parekh
Karels – Brunicke
Aitcheson – Verhoef
Smith – Reed
Dunford– Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) December 16, 2025
As a Quebec Canadiens fan, two things stand out to me.
1. Michael Hage is in the center of the first line, next to him are Gavin McKenna and Brady Martin. I know this is only training in mid-December, but it's still good to see what Hage has trainer confidence and practice in this place. Moreover, over the past few weeks, many have doubted Hage's ability to play center.
It's worth noting that Michael Misa may be asked to supplant Hage at the top spot when he (presumably) joins the team. He is expected to play through the end of training camp as he deals with a minor injury in San Jose.
2. Caleb Denoyerthe only Quebec player still on the Canadian national team lost his spot at third-line center; He is now training on the left flank of the fourth match.
Desnoyer is described as a responsible center on both ends of the rink. Seeing how he was transferred to the fourth wing line clearly not a good sign for Denoyer.
At least he's being used alongside Jett Lucianko, a player who already has eight NHL games under his belt.
When Misa and possibly Berkley Catton join the Canadiens, what role can Desnoyer play? Good question…
note that According to other sources, the Denoyer line is considered the third..
Oh yeah…remember that the Sharks could also loan Sam Dickinson to the ECJ. To be continued.
In front of the net
Carter George and Jack Ivankovic seem to be fighting each other. Who will get the starting seat? Let's see.
George and Ivankovic were both there last year; Georgiy took part in four games, and Ivankovic only in one. Ivankovic is a year younger than George.
This morning, while researching Ivankovic, I came across article in La Presse in which the father of a young goalkeeper is accused of defrauding Molson Coors of millions of dollars.
It's a good thing Ivankovic isn't a Canadiens prospect; in a few years we will see strange trips between father and son.
Where are the Quebecers?
Caleb Denoyer is the only Quebecer currently playing for the Canadiens' junior team. Justin Carbonneau and Sasha Boisvert are not.
Moreover, we will most likely be rooting for a Canadian team that will not have Quebec players on its roster at the next Olympic Games. And Samuel Montembault was the only Quebec player in the Four Nations tournament!
Firstwe will have to put an end to the anti-Quebec racism that exists in English Canada, and secondQuebec hockey players will have to take a hard look in the mirror: what are we doing? wrong produce so few top-level players? The best Quebecers in the NHL are already quite old!
But that's another matter…
After a while
– One text, two different headings: Dobes deserves to stay in Montreal in the Journal of Montreal and The future of the Habs is the Fowler-Montembeault duo. on the TV channel Sport.
– Another Canadian threesome?
“Another threesome?” — Denis Gautier pic.twitter.com/wO3gTsMohO
– L'Antichambre (@Antichambre) December 16, 2025
– Stuart Skinner will face the Oilers.
According to Dan Muse, tonight's lineup will include Stuart Skinner, Brett Kulak and Jack St. Ivany.
– Jason Mackey (@JMackeyPG) December 16, 2025
– Joseph Wall returns to the game.
Joseph Wall returns to Toronto
– Elliot Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) December 16, 2025
– Enjoy listening!
