Tigers forward McKenna named WHL Player of the Month for January
Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today Medicine Hat Tigers forward Gavin McKenna has been named WHL Player of the Month for January.
McKenna, 16, recorded 29 points (10G-19A) in 12 games to lead all WHL point scorers during the month of January. He was named Tempo WHL Player of the Week on January 8 before securing back-to-back weeks as the Kal Tire WHL Rookie of the Week – January 22 and January 29.
The 6-foot, 165-pound left winger registered eight multipoint performances during the month of January, highlighted by a six-point outburst (1G-5A) Saturday, January 6 in a 12-1 win versus Tri-City. McKenna also logged two four-point performances during the month of January, including Sunday, January 7 in a 10-4 win versus Spokane (2G-2A) and Saturday, January 27 in a 5-3 win versus Moose Jaw (1G-3A).
With 63 points (21G-42A) in 41 games, McKenna sits second in scoring on the Tigers and 14th across the entire WHL.
The month of January saw McKenna, a product of Whitehorse, Yukon, hit the scoresheet in 10 of 12 games.
Selected by the Tigers in the first round (first overall) of the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft, McKenna has been a creative dynamo since debuting during the 2022-23 season, notching 81 points (25G-56A) in 57 career WHL Regular Season contests.
McKenna appeared in 16 regular season games during the 2022-23 season, tallying 18 points (4G-14A). In four career WHL Playoff games, he has one goal.
McKenna is considered to be a top prospect for the 2026 NHL Draft.
Heading into February, the Medicine Hat Tigers rank first in the WHL’s Central Division and second in the WHL’s Eastern Conference with a record of 29-14-3-1. With McKenna serving as a catalyst, the Tigers are the highest-scoring team in the WHL’s Eastern Conference with 210 goals-for in 47 games (4.47 goals per game).
Gavin McKenna and the Medicine Hat Tigers return to action Friday, February 2 (6 p.m. MT) when they visit the top team in the WHL – the Saskatoon Blades – at SaskTel Centre.
About the Western Hockey League
Regarded as the world’s finest development league for junior hockey players, the Western Hockey League (WHL) head office is based in Calgary, Alberta. The WHL offers a world-class player experience featuring three key cornerstones: hockey development, education, and a safe and positive environment for all participants. A diverse and inclusive organization, the WHL consists of 22 member Clubs with 16 located in Western Canada and six in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. A member of the Canadian Hockey League, the WHL has been a leading supplier of talent for the National Hockey League for close to 60 years. The WHL is also a leading provider of hockey scholarships with over 375 graduates each year receiving WHL Scholarships to pursue a post-secondary education of their choice. Each season, WHL players also form the nucleus of Canada’s National Junior Hockey Team.