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

[Garbageyuk]

Cool to see another indigenous player doing big things. If he goes 1st overall, I think he’d be the first indigenous player to do so in the NHL, although I could be wrong. Unless Bedard is? It’s kind of hard to tell these days, unless they say it outright.

 

[Bubbles]

The funny thing is a couple weeks ago when he was 'struggling' with only 2 goals, he was leading the league with over 40 shots. Just a comically low sh % for a guy with a great shot.

He's now the leading shot getter, by a far margin too at 82. Didn't expect him to shoot that much this year.

 

[Klondiker98]

Cool to see another indigenous player doing big things. If he goes 1st overall, I think he’d be the first indigenous player to do so in the NHL, although I could be wrong. Unless Bedard is? It’s kind of hard to tell these days, unless they say it outright.

He's part indigenous. His mother Christal's father Grandpa Joe is indigenous and her mother Karen is Caucasian. Although I don't know Gavin I know his mothers side of the family quite well.

 

[Garbageyuk]

He's part indigenous. His mother Christal's father Grandpa Joe is indigenous and her mother Karen is Caucasian. Although I don't know Gavin I know his mothers side of the family quite well.

Wikipedia says he’s an enrolled band member of a tribe in BC, so he’s as indigenous as anyone. “Part indigenous” isn’t really a thing among First Nations people. Blood quantum is a concept that originated with the government/Europeans/settlers.

 

[Klondiker98]

Wikipedia says he’s an enrolled band member of a tribe in BC, so he’s as indigenous as anyone. “Part indigenous” isn’t really a thing among First Nations people. Blood quantum is a concept that originated with the government/Europeans/settlers.

I'm not here to argue with you. I just know his mother wasn't born in BC. They're from a community called Dawson City and his his father( Willy) grew up in Whitehorse.
BTW Wikipedia isn't always correct. Like I said I'm not here to get into a keyboard debate.
Similarly with Dylan Cozens Whose mother is indigenous

 

[Garbageyuk]

I'm not here to argue with you. I just know his mother wasn't born in BC. They're from a community called Dawson City and his his father( Willy) grew up in Whitehorse.
BTW Wikipedia isn't always correct. Like I said I'm not here to get into a keyboard debate.
Similarly with Dylan Cozens Whose mother is indigenous

What a strange reaction. I wasn’t trying to argue, just providing some info. But yeah, I double checked; the First Nation he’s a member of is indeed located in/around Dawson City, Yukon - Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation. Thought it was in BC; my mistake.

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

Have only seen extended highlights of him but he reminds me of kucherov. cerebral player

 

[Klondiker98]

What a strange reaction. I wasn’t trying to argue, just providing some info. But yeah, I double checked; the First Nation he’s a member of is indeed located in/around Dawson City, Yukon - Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation. Thought it was in BC; my mistake.

I reread my response and I came across a little priggish and harsh. My sincere apologies

 

[Jets4Life]

Cool to see another indigenous player doing big things. If he goes 1st overall, I think he’d be the first indigenous player to do so in the NHL, although I could be wrong. Unless Bedard is? It’s kind of hard to tell these days, unless they say it outright.

McKenna and Bedard are not blood relatives. I believe they are relatives through marriage.

 

[Bubbles]

1G, 2A tonighgt against Lethbridge.

https://x.com/i/web/status/1854356362211320214

 

[SaSaShi]

Does he project to be a C in the NHL or strictly wing??

 

[Albatros]

Does he project to be a C in the NHL or strictly wing??

Does anyone? Sure some age that way, Claude Giroux for one, but I doubt it can ever be the expectation.

 

[Bonin21]

Only a matter of time before he commits to BC, I'm sure...

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Only a matter of time before he commits to BC, I'm sure...

Why do you think that? Just pure speculation or something to back it up?

 

[Bonin21]

Why do you think that? Just pure speculation or something to back it up?

If he does decide to play college... BC gets all the top guys

 

[hockeykid87]

Only a matter of time before he commits to BC, I'm sure...

The Tigers are almost certainly going to get the Memorial Cup next year. He's not going to the NCAA.

 

[kyle44]

These players also have contracts. They can’t just “go” to the NCAA without their CHL team releasing them. I’m sure the standard player contracts moving forward will look different, but not the one McKenna signed.

 

[MS]

Does he project to be a C in the NHL or strictly wing??

He's strictly a winger right now (has taken 2 faceoffs this year in 17 games) and I don't think there's any indication that will change, and it's very unusual for players to make that switch at/past the age he's at. He's a winger.

 

[Breakfast of Champs]

The Tigers are almost certainly going to get the Memorial Cup next year. He's not going to the NCAA.

I don't even understand the obsession some people have with trying to get elite players out of thr chl early, it's literally the most proven path for superstars.

Crosby, McDavid, Mackinnon, Stamkos, Bedard etc all played their draft years in the chl. It's the perfect blend of allowing players to dominate while still being challenging enough, I can't see why anyone would feel the need to leave the path most travelled by future canadian superstars and phenoms

 

[Hockeyville USA]

I don't even understand the obsession some people have with trying to get elite players out of thr chl early, it's literally the most proven path for superstars.

Crosby, McDavid, Mackinnon, Stamkos, Bedard etc all played their draft years in the chl. It's the perfect blend of allowing players to dominate while still being challenging enough, I can't see why anyone would feel the need to leave the path most travelled by future canadian superstars and phenoms

Because the NCAA has developed players incredibly well lately, the USA Hockey/NCAA zealots down here as well as some Canadians who like the challenge of the NCAA route get loud about it.

I do think McKenna will be in the Dub next year again as well.

Only a matter of time before he commits to BC, I'm sure...

Bonin, you're smart and know geographic/blue blood trends in NCAA Hockey recruiting, if he somehow made it down to the NCAA, the top schools on his list would likely be Denver, Michigan, and North Dakota, in that order.

 

[Bonin21]

Ya but if Hagens decides to come back it would be hard to pass that up.

 

[Bubbles]

I don't even understand the obsession some people have with trying to get elite players out of thr chl early, it's literally the most proven path for superstars.

Crosby, McDavid, Mackinnon, Stamkos, Bedard etc all played their draft years in the chl. It's the perfect blend of allowing players to dominate while still being challenging enough, I can't see why anyone would feel the need to leave the path most travelled by future canadian superstars and phenoms

It's kind of funny to see that these guys think DuPont and McKenna are going to jump into college because...reasons. These guys grew up in Canada and dreamed of being in the CHL.

There's always going to be a few kids that really follow college hockey from Canada, but the vast majority are CHL focused.

They remind me of people that kept saying a whole bunch of kids are going to jump to Europe because Matthews did it. And exactly ZERO players have gone down that road.