Yahoo Sports Easton Cowan and Miroslav Holinka Represent Maple Leafs at 2025 World Juniors for Canada and Czechia
Easton Cowan and Miroslav Holinka will be the lone two Toronto Maple Leafs prospects at the 2025 World Juniors in Ottawa during the holidays.
Cowan (Canada) and Holinka (Czechia) were considered locks to make the tournament, particularly Cowan who was part of the Canada's 2024 contingent. Both nations revealed their final roster on Friday.
Check out the 2⃣5⃣ players who will wear the 🍁 at the #WorldJuniors in Ottawa! 🇨🇦
Voici les 2⃣5⃣ joueurs qui arboreront la 🍁 au #MondialJunior à Ottawa! 🇨🇦
ROSTER: https://t.co/rkEYGrNFYr
FORMATION : https://t.co/aaliYCMONH pic.twitter.com/JFDvmr9tYG— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) December 13, 2024
The forward did not participate in any of Canada's selection camp due to an injury sustained on December 6 in a game against the Oshawa Generals. The London Knights forward was injured when he was hit by Generals defenceman Zack Sandhu.
During that game, Cowan set an unofficial OHL record by recording a point in his 56th consecutive game. Even though previous record holder Doug Gilmour congratulated Cowan for passing the record, the league is not officially recognizing the streak because it spanned over two separate seasons.
Cowan has been on the ice on Dec. 11 doing individual drills.
Toronto first-round pick (28th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft, Cowan joined Maple Leafs teammate Fraser Minten at the 2024 World Juniors tournament for Canada where mustered just a goal and one assist as the nation failed to make the semifinal round. Cowan is expected to play a larger role this year as a returning player, given his production in Junior this season.
Holinka has been shortlisted for Czechia's roster after making a strong impression in his North American debut with the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL, recording 10 goals and 11 assists in 23 games. Toronto's fifth-round pick (151st overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft, the 6-foot-2 center is expected to have a big role with a nation that has turned over a lot of talent from year to year.
Do Ottawy vyrazí k obhajobě bronzu tato sestava vyvolených! 💥
Do boje jde několik 🥉 medailistů z minulého šampionátu, v 🇨🇦 Kanadě se ale představí také Adam Jiříček nebo Adam Novotný. ✊#narodnitym #ceskyhokej #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/CsN4iaPeWs— Český hokej (@czehockey) December 10, 2024
World Juniors Schedule
The 2025 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship is scheduled to take place in Ottawa, Ontario, from December 26, 2024, to January 5, 2025. The tournament will feature ten national teams divided into two groups:
Group A: Canada, United States, Finland, Latvia, Germany
Group B: Sweden, Czechia, Slovakia, Switzerland, Kazakhstan
Where to watch
Hockey fans in Canada will be able to watch every game on TSN in Canada and NHL Network in the United States.
