Gavin McKenna
Born (2007-12-20) December 20, 2007
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 165 lb (75 kg; 11 st 11 lb)
Position Centre
Shoots Left
WHL team Medicine Hat Tigers
NHL Draft Eligible 2026

Gavin McKenna (born December 20, 2007) is a Canadian junior ice hockey forward for the Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL. McKenna will be eligible for the 2026 NHL Entry Draft and is projected as most likely to be taken first overall.[1][2]

Playing career

McKenna was the top scorer in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League's U18 division with 65 points in 35 games. McKenna was the first Yukon-born player to be drafted first overall in the WHL, being selected in the 2022 bantam draft by the Medicine Hat Tigers and achieving four points playing in his first game.[3] At the age of 14, he was just the third player to be granted exceptional player status by BC Hockey and Hockey Alberta to play in the WHL, after Connor Bedard and Matthew Savoie.[4]

Personal life

McKenna is Indigenous, a member of first nations band Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in.[5] McKenna is cousins through marriage with fellow WHL player Connor Bedard.[6] McKenna's parents both played hockey and his father constructed an outdoor rink for him to practice every winter.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Kierszenblat, Adam. "Medicine Hat Tigers' Gavin McKenna Living Up To The Hype In First Full WHL Season". The Hockey News. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  2. ↑ Burdetskiy, Igor. "The Next Generational Hockey Star Has Already Been Found and Fans are Excited". Hooked on Hockey Magazine. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  3. ↑ Kennedy, Ryan. "2026 NHL DRAFT SNEAK PEEK: GAVIN MCKENNA SHOWS HIS STRIPES IN THE WHL". The Hockey News. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  4. 1 2 Taylor, Juanita ·. "Meet the teen hockey phenom who went from a backyard Yukon rink to the top WHL draft pick". CBC. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  5. ↑ Egwu, Patrick. "Gavin McKenna makes U-17 world tournament all-star team". Yukon News. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  6. ↑ Ewen, Steve. "Rising star Gavin McKenna looks to keep roll going when Medicine Hat visits Vancouver Giants". The Province. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
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