Yukon hockey phenom Gavin McKenna named to Canada's world junior roster

Gavin McKenna will be spending the holidays in Canada's capital.

The 16-year-old hockey star from Whitehorse was officially named on Friday to Team Canada's final 25-player roster for the world junior hockey championships in Ottawa.

McKenna, who is a Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in citizen, is leading the Western Hockey League in scoring this year, averaging two points a game.

"Gavin is brilliant, there's no question," said TSN analyst Craig Button, a former NHL general manager. "He's amongst the best players outside of the NHL drafted or not drafted, full stop."

McKenna is the youngest player named to this year's Team Canada's roster.

Only eight times in the tournament's history has a 16-year-old made the team.

Wayne Gretzky was there in 1978, and both Connor McDavid and Connor Bedard also played as 16-year-olds.

It's like a fairy tale-Council of Yukon First Nations Grand Chief Peter Johnston

Button says with McKenna's vast talent, age doesn't matter.

"We spend so much time looking at birth certificates instead of just looking at how players play," said Button. "Few players can make the game look easy — Gavin does that."

While many on the roster this year have already been drafted into the NHL, McKenna isn't even eligible until 2026.

When that draft does happen many experts expect McKenna to be the first player taken.

"It's like a fairytale," said Council of Yukon First Nations Grand Chief Peter Johnston, about McKenna's career so far. "There's a lot to be thankful for, and a lot to be proud of for Yukon First Nations people, and Yukoners as a whole."

Button agrees, and says McKenna is in a position to inspire not just the Yukon, but the entire country

"When you can influence and be a role model for other young people, and people who are proud of their community and proud of their heritage, it's significant," said Button.

"When you consider Gavin has all those great qualities as a hockey player, and great qualities as a human, his influence will be far and wide."

Mckenna is just the second Yukoner to ever play for Team Canada at the world juniors. In 2020, Dylan Cozens won gold with Canada.

McKenna and Team Canada open this year's tournament on Boxing Day with a game against Finland.