Gavin McKenna

Gavin McKenna (born December 20, 2007) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is a forward for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL). McKenna was selected by the Maple Leafs with the first-overall pick in the 2026 NHL entry draft. He played college hockey for the Penn State Nittany Lions. McKenna also played three seasons, from 2022 to 2025, in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Medicine Hat Tigers.

Playing career Junior

McKenna was the first Yukon-born player to be drafted first overall in the Western Hockey League (WHL), being selected in the 2022 bantam draft by the Medicine Hat Tigers. Although he was granted exceptional player status by BC Hockey and Hockey Alberta, the third such player after Connor Bedard and Matthew Savoie, he did not receive exceptional player status with the WHL. He recorded four points in his WHL debut, and finished his first season with 18 points in 16 games. He also appeared in 26 games at the under-18 prep level with the South Alberta Hockey Academy, recording 75 points.

In his first full WHL season in 2023–24, McKenna recorded 34 goals and 97 points in 61 regular season games. In recognition of his achievements, he received the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as the WHL's rookie of the year. McKenna called it "a true honour." He also won the CHL Rookie of the Year Award as the best in the three CHL component leagues, and was also named to both the CHL's Third All-Star Team and its All-Rookie Team.

In advance of the 2024–25 season, the Tigers named McKenna an alternate captain. Beginning on November 6, he embarked on a lengthy point streak that extended to 36 games on March 7, breaking the 21st century WHL record held jointly by Connor Bedard and Logan Stankoven. The streak continued until the end of the season, finishing at 40 games. McKenna registered at least one point in all but three games during the regular season, recording 41 goals and a league-leading 88 assists in 56 games. His 129 points was second in the WHL, behind Spokane Chiefs forward Andrew Cristall. McKenna received the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy as the WHL's most valuable player. His point streak extended as the Tigers made a deep run in the playoffs, finally ending at 54 games when he failed to record a point in the second game of the WHL Finals. After missing the third and fourth games of the Finals with an undisclosed injury, McKenna returned for the title-clinching fifth game, where the Tigers defeated the Chiefs to claim the Ed Chynoweth Cup. He had 9 goals and 38 points in 16 playoff games, the most of any Medicine Hat player. As WHL champions, the Tigers competed at the 2025 Memorial Cup, where they reached the championship final, but were defeated by the Ontario Hockey League champion London Knights. McKenna tied for second in tournament scoring, and scored his team's lone goal in the final. He was named to the Memorial Cup All-Star Team. With the postseason at an end, he received the David Branch Player of the Year Award from the CHL. At age 17, he was the third-youngest player given the distinction, with John Tavares and Sidney Crosby the only 16-year-olds so honoured.

Collegiate Following the 2024 decision of the American National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to allow CHL players to be eligible to play in collegiate competition starting with the 2025–26 season, McKenna became the target of significant recruitment campaigns by major American universities. As well, the WHL made what was widely interpreted as a bid to retain him, scheduling two Medicine Hat Tigers pre-season games in McKenna's hometown of Whitehorse. On July 8, 2025, McKenna announced that he had committed to joining the Pennsylvania State University's Nittany Lions for the 2025–26 season, citing a desire to play "against older, heavier, stronger guys" as preparation for a professional career. As part of his recruitment to Penn State, it was reported McKenna will receive up to US$700,000 in name, image and likeness compensation.

In a game against the Wisconsin Badgers on January 23, 2026, McKenna scored his first collegiate hat-trick.

Professional McKenna was selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs with the first-overall pick of the 2026 NHL entry draft on June 26, 2026. He signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Maple Leafs on July 3.

International play

McKenna made his international debut for the Canadian under-18 team at the 2024 World U18 Championships. He led Canada in scoring with 10 goals and 10 assists across seven games as the team made a deep run to the gold medal game. In the semifinal against Sweden, McKenna set a new Canadian record for most points at a single under-18 tournament with his 16th, surpassing Macklin Celebrini and Tyson Jost. He scored a hat-trick with an additional assist in the gold medal game as Canada secured the title with a 6–4 victory over the United States.

At the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, McKenna scored the game-winning goal in a 2–1 victory over Sweden to clinch a sweep of the preliminary round. He finished the event with three goals and six points in five games as the Canadians continued undefeated to a gold medal.

McKenna represented Canada at the 2025 World Junior Championships. McKenna recorded one goal in five games as the Canadians were eliminated by Czechia in the quarterfinals.

In December 2025, he was selected to represent Canada junior team at the 2026 World Junior Championships. He ranked second in the tournament in scoring with four goals and 10 assists in seven games as the Canadians won the bronze medal. In the 6–4 semifinal loss to Czechia, McKenna was assessed a game misconduct for abuse of officials after he was one of several Canadian players yelling at the referees. McKenna is a citizen of the Trʼondëk Hwëchʼin First Nation.

Following an alleged physical altercation on January 31, 2026, in downtown State College, McKenna was charged with felony aggravated assault, misdemeanour simple assault, disorderly conduct, and harassment. He was arraigned on February 4, and released on $20,000 unsecured bail. On February 6, after reviewing a video of the altercation, Centre County District Attorney and State College Police decided that the video was not evidence that McKenna had acted with the intent to cause serious bodily injury, and the aggravated assault charge was dropped. McKenna continues to face the remaining misdemeanor and summary charges.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Bold indicates led league Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2022–23 Medicine Hat Tigers WHL 16 4 14 18 0 4 1 0 1 0 2023–24 Medicine Hat Tigers WHL 61 34 63 97 21 5 2 4 6 2 2024–25 Medicine Hat Tigers WHL 56 41 88 129 19 16 9 29 38 6 2025–26 Penn State B1G 35 15 36 51 36 — — — — —WHL totals 133 79 165 244 40 25 12 33 45 8

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2023 Canada Red U17 5th 7 5 3 8 0 2024 Canada U18 7 10 10 20 0 2024 Canada HG18 5 3 3 6 0 2025 Canada WJC 5th 5 1 0 1 10 2026 Canada WJC 7 4 10 14 14Junior totals 31 23 26 49 24

Awards and honours Award Year RefCollege Big Ten Scoring Champion 2026 Big Ten Freshman of the Year 2026 All-Big Ten Second Team 2026 All-Big Ten Freshman Team 2026 AHCA West Second Team All-American 2026 CHL CHL Rookie of the Year Award 2024 WHL Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy 2024 WHL Plus-Minus Award 2025 Four Broncos Memorial Trophy 2025 Ed Chynoweth Cup champion 2025 International World U18 Championship Media All-Star Team 2024