sports
Yukon's Gavin McKenna Becomes Only Second Indigenous Player Selected No. 1 in NHL Draft
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.
TL;DR
- Toronto Maple Leafs selected Gavin McKenna with the first overall pick in the NHL draft.
- McKenna, an 18-year-old forward from Whitehorse, Yukon, was considered the top prospect.
- Pop star Justin Bieber announced McKenna's selection.
- The draft took place in Buffalo, where the Maple Leafs last had the No. 1 pick in 2016, selecting Auston Matthews.
- The Maple Leafs are in a rebuilding phase under new general manager John Chayka.
- McKenna has a history of prolific scoring in the WHL and NCAA.
- He becomes the fifth Yukon-born player selected in the draft and the highest pick.
- The top of the draft class is considered light on forwards and deep in defensemen.