Easton Cowan was involved in Team Canada's final practice before the tournament gets underway today, and he injured himself and went down on the ice. Team Canada's world junior team key player and Maple Leafs top prospect Easton <a href='https://www.tsn.ca/hockey-canada/masters-easton-cowan-shakes-off-injury-scare-as-canada-prepares-for-finland-1.2225433' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Cowan averted an injury scare in the last practice of Team Canada</a> in preparation for the tournament. Easton Cowen initially appeared to be in some distress but remained on the ice straight afterwards, showing the issue was minor and unlikely to impact his availability. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/alexadamsBTP_/status/1871980973623230818'> </a></blockquote></div> Speaking with reporters afterward, Cowan joked, I guess I need to learn how to skate. TSN's Mark Masters said Cowan was okay after the goal and reported on the forward's reaction to the close call. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/markhmasters/status/1872030706047824106'> </a></blockquote></div> <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl-team/toronto-maple-leafs/maple-leafs-top-prospect-suffers-serious-injury-and-has-been-taken-off-team-canada-wjc-roster' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Cowan's already had to fight through some injury woes in the lead-up to the tournament</a>, missing Hockey Canada's selection camp due to an injury suffered in an OHL game with the London Knights. Anaheim Ducks' 2024 first-round pick Beckett Sennecke filled in on a temporary basis, but Cowan's healthy return all but sealed his place on the roster. Now fully healthy, Cowan's hoping to help Team Canada bounce back from last year's quarterfinal exit to Czechia. That redemption could come in Ottawa. Having scored two points in five games at the 2024 World Juniors, <a href='https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/player/easton-cowan-8484158' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Cowan</a> projects to play a major role. He's one of two Leafs prospects on the Canadian roster, with 2024 fifth-round pick Miroslav Holinka set to represent Czechia. Canada opens the tournament against Finland at 7:30 p.m. ET while Miroslav Holinka and the Czechs take to the ice earlier in the day, at 5 p.m. ET.