06/26/26 07:11:00
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06/26 19:09 CDT Maple Leafs select Penn State forward Gavin McKenna with the
No. 1 pick in NHL draft
Maple Leafs select Penn State forward Gavin McKenna with the No. 1 pick in NHL
draft
By JOHN WAWROW
AP Hockey Writer
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) --- With most of Yukon watching and a loud presence of Maple
Leafs fans in the stands, Toronto selected Penn State forward Gavin McKenna
with the first pick in the NHL draft on Friday night.
The 18-year-old McKenna is from Yukon's capital of Whitehorse and has been a
prolific scorer on both sides of the border, with his selection validating the
projections of the left winger being his age group's top prospect more than two
years ago.
McKenna's selection was announced by longtime Leafs fan and Canadian-born
international pop icon Justin Bieber.
"I got no words right now," McKenna said. "This is nuts. Obviously I want to
start by thanking my family. I love you guys. I wouldn't be here without you
guys."
As in 2016, there was a large contingent of blue and white jersey-wearing Leafs
fans, with a "Go Leafs, go!" chant erupting once Toronto was placed on the
clock. Saying "the child in me is ecstatic," Bieber joined NHL Commissioner
Gary Bettman on stage and, after a short pause, looked over to McKenna and
declared him being a member of the Maple Leafs.
Bieber teed up a video welcome message from Leafs captain Auston Matthews, who
was their No. 1 pick a decade ago, when the draft was also in Buffalo.
"I know how exciting this is for you and your family and what an incredible
honor it is," Matthews said. "We're just as excited to have you join the Maple
Leafs and cannot wait to get started. You're coming to a franchise with an
amazing history and base, and we're all working to write the next great chapter
together. And you're going to be a very important part of that."
The draft opened with Bettman getting booed --- a draft-day tradition --- as he
took the stage, and was joined by Sabres forward Josh Doan and NFL Bills tackle
Dion Dawkins.
Dawkins referred to Bettman as his "new dawg," acknowledged both the Sabres and
Maple Leafs fans in attendance in leading a cheer of "Let's go, Buffalo."
For Toronto, McKenna represents a major plank in the rebuilding process of a
team suddenly in transition under new general manager John Chayka. Toronto
finished last in the Atlantic Division last season and missed the playoffs for
the first time since Matthews' arrival.
The San Jose Sharks took Swedish winger Ivar Stenberg with the No. 2 pick.
Vancouver picks third, Buffalo fourth and the New York Rangers fifth.
The top of the draft class is considered light on forwards and deep in
defensemen.
McKenna is accustomed to the spotlight, splashing on the scene by combining for
79 goals and 244 points in 133 games with the WHL's Medicine Hat. He then made
the jump to the NCAA last summer in a bid to challenge himself against older
and more physical competition.
McKenna finished his freshman season with a flourish, scoring 32 points in his
final 17 outings. His 51 points finished tied for fourth in the nation.
He became just the fifth NCAA player to go first, and third in six years, since
Michigan defenseman Owen Power went No. 1 to Buffalo in 2021.
Though accustomed to the spotlight, McKenna now heads to a metropolis that is
nearly 100 times larger than Whitehorse's population of about 39,000. He became
the fifth Yukon-born player to be selected in the draft, and the highest pick
after Ottawa's Dylan Cozens went No. 7 to Buffalo in 2019.
A day earlier, without revealing who he was picking, Chayka said the team's
staff was unanimous on their choice. Chayka even traveled to Whitehorse last
month to spend time with McKenna and his family.
___
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL
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