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ANOTHER INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION – Canada Red’s Gavin McKenna is seen here in a game against Finland during the 2023 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge Nov. 2, 2023 in Charlottetown. McKenna will don the the maple leaf again, this time in Finland. Photo courtesy JANESSA HOGAN / HOCKEY CANADA IMAGES
Whitehorse hockey phenom Gavin mcKenna has been named to the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship team.
Whitehorse hockey phenom Gavin mcKenna has been named to the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship team.
The World U18 Championship is scheduled to be played April 25 to May 5 in Espoo and Vantaa, Finland.
McKenna was named in a press release from the Western Hockey League (WHL) today along with six other WHL players.
Benoit Roy, senior manager of hockey operations for Hockey Canada, said, “We are excited to bring this calibre of young athletes together to begin working with our coaching staff,” Roy said. “Having players who already know how to compete in a short-term tournament will also bring valuable experience and leadership to our team in our quest for a gold medal.”
McKenna previously played in the 2023 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Charlottetown, P.E.I. in November.
He totalled five goals and three assists in seven games in the tournament.
McKenna piled up the accolades this season. He set a Medicine Hat Tigers franchise record for 16-year-olds with 97 points this season.
He was named to the Central Division's First All-Star Team.
McKenna was named Tempo WHL Player of the Week on Jan. 8.
He was also named Kal Tire WHL Rookie of the Week in back-to-back weeks – Jan. 22 and Jan. 29.
He was named WHL Player of the Month for January, recording 29 points (10 goals, 19 assists) in 12 games to lead all WHL scorers during the month of January.
In addition, McKenna was named WHL Rookie of the Month for February. He recorded 20 points (8 goals, 12 assists) in 11 games to lead all WHL rookie scorers during the month of February.
McKenna led the Tigers in post-season scoring with two goals and four assists in five games as they bowed to the Red Deer Rebels four games to one in the first round of the playoffs.
McKenna is, of course, the first Yukoner taken first overall in the Western Hockey League (WHL) draft, in 2022.
He is considered one of the top prospects in the 2026 NHL draft.
TSN and RDS will air select games of the World U18 Championship, including all Team Canada games and all playoff-round games.
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