Maple Leafs top prospect Easton Cowan returned to game action Thursday night with a statement game in pre-tournament action for Team Canada.

After being held off the ice for during World Junior Championship selection camp due to an injury he suffered after being on the receiving of a huge hit in early December, Easton Cowan returned to game action along with Team Canada on Thursday night.

In their first pre-tournament game ahead of the World Juniors, Canada dominated Switzerland, led by Cowan, who registered a hat-trick. Cowan scored one of Canada’s four goals in the first period before netting his second and third goals in the final frame.

Surprisingly, this is Cowan’s first hat-trick in junior hockey. The 2023 first-round pick of the Maple Leafs has never registered one with the London Knights, but has eight two-goal games.

“I’m pretty sure it’s my first one in juniors (smile) so it’s pretty special,” said Cowan following Canada’s 7-1 drubbing of Switzerland. “But hopefully I can do it in a real game.”

Cowan entered Team Canada’s selection camp on a 56-game point streak with the London Knights, dating back to last season and unofficially broke Doug Gilmour’s record of 55 consecutive games from the 1982-83 season, with a point on December 6th.

The 19-year-old from Mount Brydges, Ontario has recorded 94 points (38 goals, 56 assists) during his 56-game point streak and is currently on a 20-game point streak this season with London.

Cowan and Team Canada will play two more exhibition games, taking on Sweden on Saturday before opening the tournament on Boxing Day against Finland.