The Toronto Maple Leafs selected Penn State forward Gavin McKenna with the first pick in the NHL draft on Friday night. McKenna, 18, is from Whitehorse, Yukon, and has been a prolific scorer on both sides of the border.
McKenna’s Selection
McKenna’s selection was announced by longtime Leafs fan and Canadian-born international pop icon Justin Bieber. McKenna expressed his gratitude to his family, saying, “I got no words right now. This is nuts. Obviously I want to start by thanking my family. I love you guys. I wouldn’t be here without you guys.”
The draft opened with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman getting booed, a draft-day tradition. Bettman was joined by Sabres forward Josh Doan and NFL Bills tackle Dion Dawkins. Dawkins referred to Bettman as his “new dawg” and acknowledged both the Sabres and Maple Leafs fans in attendance.
For Toronto, McKenna represents a major plank in the rebuilding process of a team suddenly in transition under new general manager John Chayka. Toronto finished last in the Atlantic Division last season and missed the playoffs for the first time since Auston Matthews’ arrival.
Original reporting: KSAT Sports (San Antonio) — read the source article.
