15-year-old hockey phenom from Yukon takes the spotlight at Canada Games - Action News
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15-year-old hockey phenom from Yukon takes the spotlight at Canada Games

Yukon forward Gavin McKenna, who's already seen as a top NHL prospect, has taken the Canada Games by storm.

Gavin McKenna is expected to become a top NHL prospect when he's eligible for draft

A teenager with long hair dressed in hockey gear inside a hockey rink.
Gavin McKenna led Team Yukon to a victory against Team P.E.I. on Tuesday as the men's hockey event gets underway at the 2023 Canada Winter Games. (Basil Eldho)

A 15-year-old from the Yukon who's already seen as a top NHL prospect has taken the Canada Games by storm.

Captain Gavin McKenna has led the territory's men's hockeysquad on a historicstreak, having recorded over 20 points so far in the Games.

The forward was selected as first pick by the Medicine Hat Tigers in the 2022 Western Hockey League Draft. Scouts say he's already seen as a potential top pick when he's eligible for the NHL draft in 2026.

But for now, McKenna says he's taking things onegame at atime.

"When you're in the rink you don't really think about it too much," he said. "But honestly, it's a pretty cool feeling to have that title behind you. Not everybody gets that."

The forward scored a hat trick with one assist in the gameagainst Team P.E.I. on Tuesday, with Yukon beating the locals 5-3.

Two hockey players, one dressed in green and white, the other wearing red and black, look down at the ice below them
'Making history for Yukon, it's been awesome,' McKennasaid. (Basil Eldho)

It's a historic moment for the territory at the Canada Games.

"Making history for Yukon, it's been awesome," McKennasaid. "Yukon has never won two games before, so to get this third win, it's unbelievable."

"It's an unbelievable feeling having these group of guys behind us. It's one of the tightest groups I've ever been on, and we haven't really played with each other all year. It's been really inspiring, for sure."

'Dream big'

A man with a gray beard poses for a picture while wearing a purple coat and a white beanie with the word
'[McKenna is] a superb talent, a very special player and really it's an honour to coach him,' said Yukon head coach Ken Anderson. (Shane Hennessey/CBC)

"[McKenna is] a superb talent, a very special player and really it's an honour to coach him," said head coach Ken Anderson.

"It's the rest of the boys too. It's really a privilege to coach them as well. A lot of good, good hockey players and a lot of good people, too."

Anderson said a lot of talented hockey players have come out of the Yukon and the North, like Dylan Cozens, the Whitehorse native who's playing for the Buffalo Sabres.

He said he hopes McKenna inspires children from smaller provinces to dream big.

"Those are big dreams. Hopefully the kids, they dream big," Andersonsaid. "Dream big and chase your dreams. I think they're worthwhile."

A teenager with a beanie hat with a green logo on the front that says
Hudson Bradley, goaltender for Team P.E.I., said facing McKenna is something he'll remember for the rest of his life. (Shane Hennessey/CBC)

Hudson Bradley, goaltender for Team P.E.I., said facing McKenna is something he'll remember for the rest of his life.

"He's really a good player and I've been watching him for a while now," said Bradley, who's from Stratford.

"I knew he was fast, I knew his shot was really quick so I was just thinking about being ready for a shot at all times. It's just being aware of him the whole time."

Bradley said having managed to stop McKenna on a breakaway was "pretty surreal."

Corrections

  • An earlier version of this story said Gavin McKenna was granted exceptional status with the Western Hockey League. In fact, B.C. Hockey and Hockey Alberta granted him that status. McKenna is considered an affiliate of the Medicine Hat Tigers, which allows him to play a limited number of games with that team.
    Feb 23, 2023 11:39 AM AT

With files from Nancy Russell