Canada set for world junior quest on home soil: 'Make dreams become reality'

Easton Cowan watched Canada's chances crumble in an instant.

The winger was seated on the bench at last year's world junior hockey championship when the Czech Republic scored a late winner off a lucky bounce to secure a stunning 3-2 quarterfinal upset that resigned the scuffling North Americans to an ugly fifth-place finish in Sweden.

Cowan, a prized Toronto Maple Leafs prospect, is among five returnees from that underachieving squad eager to write a different script in Ottawa.

Second chances aren't always in the cards. The quest begins Thursday against Finland at 7:30 p.m. ET in Ottawa.

"Everyone in this room dreamt of this growing up," Cowan said. "We're looking to make dreams become reality."

For that to happen, the hosts will need a much better performance than the shift put in 12 months ago.

Despite a roster comprised of top-end talent, high draft picks and elite-level prospects - including Macklin Celebrini, who went on to be selected first overall at June's NHL draft - Canada never got going.

Expectations didn't come close to being met.

"Something to prove," said defenceman Oliver Bonk, another player back from that grim Gothenburg showing. "You can't expect things to be given to you, even if you're playing for Canada."

Despite the failure, there were significant issues heading into last year's world juniors that worked against the men's under-20 program.

Hockey Canada didn't hold its usual summer camp and wasn't able to hire a head scout due to financial constraints following the string of scandals that resulted in funding cuts and cancelled sponsorships.

The COVID-19 pandemic also further damaged the organization's bottom line, while many players didn't have the same level of national team experience because of