The Toronto Maple Leafs selected 18-year-old forward Gavin McKenna with the first overall pick at the 2026 NHL Draft on Friday, June 26, 2026, at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York.
McKenna, a Whitehorse native from the Trʼondëk Hwëchʼin First Nation, became the first-ever Yukon-born player chosen number one overall.
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He played for Penn State University last season, recording 51 points in 35 NCAA games after a dominant stint with the Western Hockey League's Medicine Hat Tigers.
Pop star Justin Bieber officially announced the selection on stage alongside NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman.
The announcement sent 3,000 fans gathered at Toronto's Scotiabank Arena into celebration.
"This isn't what I imagined when I was a young kid; it's so much better," said McKenna.
"If I was a young kid telling myself this is where I'd be, he'd be in shock."
A Historic Pick for Yukon
McKenna expressed excitement about joining one of hockey's most intense markets and playing under captain Auston Matthews, who welcomed him via a pre-recorded video message.
"I'm ready for it," McKenna stated.
"Being a Canadian kid and going to the biggest hockey market in the world… I love those fans already.
It's one of the most passionate fanbases out there."
McKenna noted that his background keeps him grounded, pointing to the support of his community and his grandfather, Joe Mason, a residential school survivor.
"I like to drag my teammates into the fire. Whether it's on or off the ice, I really like to push myself hard," he said.
