Yukon fans celebrate hometown star Gavin McKenna's draft to the Maple Leafs
Gavin McKenna, an 18-year-old from Whitehorse, Yukon, was selected as the first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs. The announcement was made by Canadian music icon Justin Bieber at the KeyBank Arena in Buffalo. McKenna expressed that this moment was a dream come true, acknowledging the significance of being drafted by the Maple Leafs and sharing the experience with his family and Bieber.
The selection marks a notable event for hockey in the Yukon, with Dan Johnson, president of Hockey Yukon, noting the excitement surrounding McKenna. While fellow Whitehorse native Dylan Cozens was drafted seventh overall in 2019, the attention on McKenna has been described as being on another level. Johnson highlighted McKenna’s dynamic playing style, referring to him as a “human highlight machine,” which has inspired many young players in the region.
Draft Day and Maple Leafs Future
The draft ceremony saw fans in blue and white jerseys cheering as McKenna, a winger, walked onto the stage to the sound of Bieber’s song “Yukon.” Before the official announcement, Bieber had a brief conversation with commissioner Gary Bettman. McKenna, a self-proclaimed fan of Bieber, found the moment of his walk-up song to be particularly memorable.
General Manager John Chayka contacted McKenna shortly before his name was called. Chayka described McKenna as an exceptional young man with significant talent and character, noting that interactions with McKenna and his family reinforced their belief in him as both a player and a person. McKenna’s selection is the third time the Maple Leafs have had the top pick in a draft, following Wendel Clark in 1985 and Auston Matthews in 2016.
The Maple Leafs are looking to rebuild after a challenging 2025-26 season, which concluded with a 28th-place finish. The team secured the first overall pick despite having 8.5 per cent odds in the draft lottery. McKenna will join a forward group that includes captain Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares, and Matthew Knies. McKenna sees himself as a playmaker and believes his style could be effective when paired with a shooter.
McKenna, who is five feet 11 inches tall and weighs 170 pounds, is the top-ranked North American skater according to NHL Central Scouting. He is also a member of the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation, making him the first Indigenous player since Dale McCourt in 1977 to be drafted first overall.
McKenna’s Journey to the Draft
McKenna’s hockey journey began in Whitehorse, where he spent his childhood outdoors, including dirt biking. He shared this aspect of his upbringing with Chayka during a recent visit to his hometown, where they rode quads. According to his former coach, Mike Tuton, McKenna’s talent was evident from a young age, even when playing with older children for the Whitehorse Mustangs. Tuton noted McKenna’s strong work ethic and dedication to hockey, often practicing shooting and stick handling whenever ice was available.
McKenna burst onto the scene in 2022 at age 14 with a four-assist debut in the Western Hockey League (WHL) for the Medicine Hat Tigers. He went on to record 34 goals and 97 points in the following campaign. In the 2024-25 season, he led the entire Canadian Hockey League with 129 points, including 41 goals and 88 assists.
Instead of remaining in major junior hockey for his draft year, McKenna chose to play in the NCAA with Penn State to face more challenging competition. He finished his freshman season at Penn State with 15 goals and 36 assists for a total of 51 points across 35 games. He was also a member of Canada’s bronze-medal winning squad at this year’s world junior hockey championship.
McKenna faced legal challenges during his time at Penn State. In February, an altercation allegedly resulted in a man’s broken jaw. While prosecutors dropped the most serious charge of aggravated assault, McKenna still faces charges of misdemeanour simple assault, harassment, and disorderly conduct. He was not suspended by Penn State and has not publicly shared his account of the events. McKenna reflected on the “ups and downs” of his year, expressing pride in navigating through those challenges and staying positive.
With his draft now complete, McKenna anticipates his next chapter will lead to Scotiabank Arena, expressing enthusiasm for the Maple Leafs’ fan base. He looks forward to what the future holds with the team.
The Maple Leafs, under Chayka and new bench boss Jim Hiller, along with senior executive adviser of hockey operations Mats Sundin, will aim to reload their team with McKenna. The team has the NHL’s longest Stanley Cup drought.
Source: kitchener.citynews.ca
