Live Roundups Editor's Desk Insights Executive Ops Weather About 🔍
Home › Sport › Yukon’s Gavin McKenna becomes only second Indigenous...
Sport

Yukon’s Gavin McKenna becomes only second Indigenous player selected No 1 in NHL draft

The Guardian Sport Friday 26 June 2026, 23:38 UTC By Agencies 1 min read
Key Points

Whitehorse winger goes first overallJustin Bieber announces Leafs’ top pickPenn State star hails from Yukon capitalWith 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...

  • Whitehorse winger goes first overall

  • Justin Bieber announces Leafs’ top pick

  • Penn State star hails from Yukon capital

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.

Continue reading...
Yukon (ORG) Gavin McKenna (PERSON) NHL (ORG) Whitehorse (LOCATION) Bieber (PERSON) Leafs (ORG) State (ORG) Maple Leafs (ORG) Toronto (LOCATION) Penn State (ORG) McKenna (PERSON)
Originally published by The Guardian Sport Read original →

Related Stories

Parker, Delle Donne: WNBA has to protect players

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- As they prepare to be inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday, two-time WNBA MVPs Candace Parker and Elena Delle Donne and four-time championship-winning coach Cheryl Reeve spoke Friday about what progress has been made in the league's officiating and style of play -- and what needs to get better. Speaking one day after the WNBA suspended Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas for her hit on the Indiana Fever's Caitlin Clark, Parker, Delle Donne and...

ESPN 1h ago

Norway manager: 'No-brainer' to sit Haaland Fri.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Norway coach Stale Solbakken said his decision to rest ten first-team players including Erling Haaland against France was a "no-brainer" due to medical tests showing fatigue affecting several members of his squad. After making wholesale changes in Boston, Norway lost 4-1 against the World Cup favourites to finish as runners-up in Group I and head for a round of 32 tie against Ivory Coast on Tuesday. Solbakken's decision prompted frustrated fans inside the stadium to...

ESPN 1h ago

Uruguay vs Spain and Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia in final Group H games LIVE!

Uruguay vs Spain; FIFA World Cup Group H Full Time After Extra Time This is a live match. Extra Time Half Time Uruguay vs Spain.

Sky Sports Football 1h ago

As expected, Maple Leafs draft McKenna at No. 1

The Toronto Maple Leafs selected Penn State winger Gavin McKenna with the first pick of the NHL Entry Draft on Friday night. McKenna, 18, was widely projected to go No. 1 overall to the Maple Leafs on the strength of a junior hockey and collegiate career that showcased his elite scoring and playmaking capabilities. The Whitehorse, Yukon, native debuted with the Western Hockey League's Medicine Hat Tigers in 2022

ESPN 1h ago