F Gavin McKenna - Medicine Hat Tigers, WHL (2026 Draft)

[StreetHawk]

I think with McKenna you’re talking more about the WHL not being challenging enough. NCAA hockey is better hockey and would challenge the areas he needs to improve. He might be too good for the WHL in his draft year, and might ideally want to play somewhere else.

Then again, I don’t know if this process will work so quickly. I don’t think everything we’ve seen for years is going to become the exact opposite right away. Will probably take a few years, and thus not include players like McKenna. Maybe DuPont.

I don't believe the new CHL/NCAA rules would apply to him. Playing in the WHL vs a tier II league, has been better for his development to date. As a late birthday, assuming he did begin school in the year he turned 5 (a lot of places, especially in the USA, the cutoff to begin school is Sept 1, that you have to turn 5, otherwise, you begin K in the year you turn 6). So, he would have typically go from tier II to the NCAA for the 25/26 season.

If he could go NCAA for 25/26, I do believe that would be a step up as he'd be one of the younger players there vs more players in their early 20's. But, again, I don't believe that the new agreement allows for that.

 

[Mathieukferland]

Who is the last D-1 player to win the CHL scoring title? Granted he’ll probably have to increase his lead prior to leaving for Christmas to do that but it’s not impossible

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

View attachment 929694 Who is the last D-1 player to win the CHL scoring title? Granted he’ll probably have to increase his lead prior to leaving for Christmas to do that but it’s not impossible

Wasn’t it Lafreniere?

 

[JackSlater]

View attachment 929694 Who is the last D-1 player to win the CHL scoring title? Granted he’ll probably have to increase his lead prior to leaving for Christmas to do that but it’s not impossible

It would be Crosby. Notably Crosby was not a late birthday and was a CHL rookie. I don't think anyone else has ever done it.

Wasn’t it Lafreniere?

He was CHL MVP before his draft season, but he didn't lead the CHL in scoring.