Sixteen-year-old McKenna ready to battle at Hockey Canada’s World Juniors selection camp

For Gavin McKenna, holidays in his hometown of Whitehorse have a comforting rhythm.

Whether it’s under the blazing Yukon sun or under a vast shade of cloud and snowflakes, his days are spent with family and friends buzzing between the outdoor rink his dad, Willy, built behind their house and the television to watch the IIHF World Junior Championship.

This year could be different.

The reigning WHL and CHL Rookie of the Year is heading to Ottawa, Ont. in hopes of earning a spot on Team Canada ahead of the iconic tournament.

“I got the call from one of the coaches and I was super pumped,” McKenna said. “My whole life, it’s been a goal of mine. But I know the job is not finished yet, so I’ve got to make sure that when I go to camp I am as ready as possible. I’ve got to kind of make a name for myself so that I put myself in the best position to make that team.”

That’s a big deal for the 6-foot, 165-pound winger.

In the nearly half-century the tournament has been running, the list of 17-year-olds who have represented Canada is quite short.

Recent competitors include NHL superstars like Connor McDavid and Connor Bedard, while earlier rosters are stacked with the likes of Sidney Crosby, another Medicine Hat Tigers star in Trevor Linden and Hockey Hall of Fame talent like Steve Yzerman and Eric Lindros.

But McKenna will still be 16 as he battles to set himself apart from the other 18 forwards- 17 of whom are already drafted by NHL clubs.

His 17th birthday will come on December 20, the day after Canada is slated to play its first pre-tournament game against Switzerland.

“There would be nothing like it. That would be probably my best birthday,” McKenna said of the idea of celebrating in Ontario.

As for the prospect of competing with older players for a spot at the table?

“I’ve played against older guys pretty much my whole life,” McKenna shrugged. “I’m kind of used to it now, but obviously they’re super talented, so I’ve just got to make sure I’m ready.”

McKenna isn’t afraid to admit this was a major goal for him entering his sophomore season in the WHL.

He wasn’t among the 16 WHLers invited to the National Junior Team Summer Showcase in late July because he was busy gearing up for the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

Named an alternate captain for Canada, McKenna added three goals and three assists in five games en route to a gold medal.

Roughly 40 family members and friends also made the trip from the Yukon to Edmonton’s Rogers Arena to cheer him on- and that was for his second gold medal of the offseason.

McKenna scored a hat trick in a heart-stopping third-period comeback as Canada captured gold in a 6-4 decision against the United States at the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship.

With 10 goals and 10 assists in seven games, he set a new Canadian scoring record at the tournament while playing up an age group.

“The thing about those guys is they were so mature,” McKenna said of the team that included the likes of Tij Iginla (Utah Hockey Club) and his now-Tigers teammate Ryder Ritchie (Minnesota Wild). “Playing with those guys was so much fun and there was so much talent on that team. I think the reason we won was just because of how tight we were. They were super mature so they knew we had to click as quick as possible because it’s a short tournament.”

Surely, he hoped, all of this would be enough to earn him consideration for the esteemed World Juniors squad.

“It was definitely in the back of my mind,” he admitted. “I knew that this year there would be a chance I could make it. But it’s slim being a young guy, so I had to make sure I had the best start to the year that I could. Just having that in the back of my mind, it motivated me every day whether it was in the gym or in practice.”

Sure enough, McKenna has ripped up his second full season in the Western League, netting a staggering 19 goals and 41 assists for 60 points in 30 games- a mark that leads all CHL skaters.

The effort has helped propel a Tigers squad that’s dealt with more than its fair share of injuries to the top of the Central Division.

But for now, he’ll focus his energy on selection camp, which runs from December 10-13 at TD Place in the Nation’s capital.

“I want to play a big role on the team,” McKenna added. “I want to get some big minutes and I’ve got to earn those minutes. I’m going to make sure I’m doing everything I can. I’ve got to use my offensive abilities to the best that I can and make the teammates around me better. There’s so much talent on that team, so I’ve got to make sure I’m using them- and like I said, work on my defensive game there, because any little mistake against those teams could ruin the tournament for you.”

McKenna is among 11 WHL players attending camp (Kamloops Blazers defenceman Harrison Brunicke was invited but is unable to participate) and suiting up for a pair of matches against the U SPORTS All-Star team on December 12 and 13.