McKenna named to CHL 2023-24 All-Star and All-Rookie Teams presented by CCM
The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) today announced its First, Second, and Third All-Star Teams for the 2023-24 season, along with its All-Rookie Team — all of which are presented by CCM.
The CHL All-Star and All-Rookie teams were selected by NHL Central Scouting based on regular-season play along with all-star selections and award winners from across the CHL’s three member leagues: the Western Hockey League (WHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).
CHL First All-Star Team presented by CCM
Goaltender – William Rousseau (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies / QMJHL): 34-10-1-4 record, 2.24 GAA, .924 SV% & 8 SO in 50 GP during the 2023-24 season; the 2023-24 CHL Goaltender of the Year established a new single-season record in the QMJHL by registering eight shutouts this season
Defenceman – Denton Mateychuk (Moose Jaw Warriors / WHL): 17G-58A, 75 PTS, +35 in 52 GP during the 2023-24 season; the Columbus Blue Jackets prospect averaged 1.44 points-per-game which led all WHL defencemen, while his 75 points ranked third among that same group
Defenceman – Zayne Parekh (Saginaw Spirit / OHL): 33G-63A, 96 PTS, +39 in 66 GP during the 2023-24 season; as one of just two CHL blueliners over the last 20 years to top 95 points in a single season, the 2023-24 CHL Defenceman of the Year and 2024 NHL Draft prospect led all blueliners in the CHL in scoring (96) and goals (33) this season
Forward – Jagger Firkus (Moose Jaw Warriors / WHL): 61G-65A, 126 PTS, +31 in 63 GP during the 2023-24 season; having led the CHL in scoring with 126 points, the 2023-24 David Branch Player of the Year and Seattle Kraken prospect was the only skater in the CHL to tally 60-plus goals and 60-plus assists this past season
Forward – Easton Cowan (London Knights / OHL): 34G-62A, 96 PTS, +38 in 54 GP during the 2023-24 season; the Toronto Maple Leafs prospect registered at least a point in 49 of 54 games, tallying 33 multi-point performances throughout the season
Forward – Zac Funk (Prince George Cougars / WHL): 67G-56A, 123 PTS, +56 in 68 GP during the 2023-24 season; the Washington Capitals prospect finished the season as the CHL’s leading goal scorer with 67 goals, making him just the 10th CHL skater since 2000 to top 65 goals in a single season
CHL Second All-Star Team presented by CCM
Goaltender – Jacob Oster (Oshawa Generals / OHL): 35-16-7-1 record, 2.82 GAA, .905 SV% & 3 SO in 60 GP during the 2023-24 season; the 2024 NHL Draft prospect co-led the CHL with 35 wins during the 2023-24 campaign, all while setting a new Oshawa record with 3,569 minutes played in a single season
Defenceman – Hunter Brzustewicz (Kitchener Rangers / OHL): 13G-79A, 92 PTS, +31 in 67 GP during the 2023-24 season; the Calgary Flames prospect tied Jason Gladney (1993-94) for the Kitchener Rangers franchise mark for points (92) by a blueliner in a single season
Defenceman – Carter Yakemchuk (Calgary Hitmen / WHL): 30G-41A, 71 PTS, -6 in 66 GP during the 2023-24 season; having recorded a WHL-best 30 goals this season, the 2024 NHL Draft prospect is the first draft-eligible defencemen from the WHL to score 30 goals in a season since Ian White achieved the feat 22 years ago
Forward – Anthony Romani (North Bay Battalion / OHL): 58G-53A, 111 PTS, +43 in 68 GP during the 2023-24 season; tallied an OHL-leading 58 goals while his 111 points ranked second in the OHL
Forward – Berkly Catton (Spokane Chiefs / WHL): 54G-62A, 116 PTS, +15 in 68 GP during the 2023-24 season; the 2024 NHL Draft prospect’s 116 points, 56 goals, and 1.71 point-per-game average were the best of any draft-eligible skater from the CHL during the 2023-24 campaign
Forward – David Goyette (Sudbury Wolves / OHL): 40G-77A, 117 PTS, +20 in 68 GP during the 2023-24 season; the Seattle Kraken prospect recorded an OHL-best 117 points, which was the most by a Sudbury Wolves player since Norm Milley registered 120 in 1998-99
CHL Third All-Star Team presented by CCM
Goaltender – Harrison Meneghin (Lethbridge Hurricanes / WHL): 27-20-5-0 record, 2.59 GAA, .919 SV% & 3 SO in 53 GP during the 2023-24 season; ranked among the WHL leaders in several different categories, including save percentage (.919, second), shutouts (3, T-4th), minutes played (3,040, fourth) and saves (1,483, fifth)
Defenceman – Vsevolod Komarov (Drummondville Voltigeurs / QMJHL): 14G-55A, 69 PTS, +47 in 61 GP during the 2023-24 season; the Buffalo Sabres prospect finished the season with 55 assists and 69 points, both of which rank as the most by any defenceman in the QMJHL
Defenceman – Luca Cagnoni (Portland Winterhawks / WHL): 18G-72A, 90 PTS, +47 in 65 GP during the 2023-24 season; the San Jose Sharks prospect posted the first 90-point season by a WHL defenseman in the last 30 years
Forward – Gavin McKenna (Medicine Hat Tigers / WHL): 34G-63A, 97 PTS, -4 in 61 GP during the 2023-24 season; alongside Connor Bedard, the 2026 NHL Draft prospect is one of only two 16-year-old skaters in the WHL to record 90-plus points in a single season over the last 25 years
Forward – Carson Rehkopf (Kitchener Rangers / OHL): 52G-43A, 95 PTS, +23 in 60 GP during the 2023-24 season; the Seattle Kraken prospect recorded 16 power-play goals, which were tied for the most in the OHL this season, while his 52 goals ranked second in the OHL
Forward – Mathieu Cataford (Halifax Mooseheads / QMJHL): 40G-50A, 90 PTS, +43 in 65 GP during the 2023-24 season; the Vegas Golden Knights prospect was one of only two players in the QMJHL this season to register 40-plus goals and 50-plus assists
CHL All-Rookie Team presented by CCM
Goaltender – Carter George (Owen Sound Attack / OHL): 23-21-6-3 record, 3.30 GAA, .907 SV% & 4 SO in 56 GP during the 2023-24 season; the 2024 NHL Draft prospect led the CHL in saves (1744) and shots faced (1923) this past season, while 23 wins this season were the most by a rookie goaltender in Attack franchise history
Defenceman – Tarin Smith (Everett Silvertips / WHL): 8G-36A, 44 PTS, +26 in 67 GP during the 2023-24 season; the 2024 NHL Draft prospect led all rookie defencemen in the CHL with 44 points this season
Defenceman – Xavier Villeneuve (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada / QMJHL): 8G-35A, 43 PTS, -10 in 54 GP during the 2023-24 season; the 2026 NHL Draft prospect ranked second among rookie blueliners in the CHL in both scoring (43 points) and goals (8)
Forward – Gavin McKenna (Medicine Hat Tigers / WHL): 34G-63A, 97 PTS, -4 in 61 GP during the 2023-24 season; as one of the CHL’s youngest players on an active roster during the 2023-24 season, McKenna registered 16 contests with three or more points, including four points on six occasions and two hat-tricks; his 97 points ranked second among CHL rookie this season
Forward – Terik Parascak (Prince George Cougars / WHL): 43G-62A, 105 PTS, +49 in 68 GP during the 2023-24 season; the 2024 NHL Draft prospect led all CHL rookies during the 2023-24 season in goals (43) and scoring (105); his 105 points are the most by a rookie in the CHL since 2006-07 campaign (Patrick Kane – 145 points & Sam Gagner – 118 points)
Forward – Jake O’Brien (Brantford Bulldogs / OHL): 13G-51A, 64 PTS, +4 in 61 GP during the 2023-24 season; the 2025 NHL Draft prospect led all OHL rookies with 51 assists and 64 points, both of which established new rookie records for the Brantford Bulldogs
