NHL prospect Gavin McKenna fuelled by doubters: 'People have been waiting for me to fail'
CBC
Gavin McKenna knew the haters would be ready to pounce.
The 17-year-old centre was expected to be the runaway No. 1 overall selection at the 2026 NHL draft. That might still very well end up being the case.
There has also been criticism since McKenna bolted the Western Hockey League's Medicine Hat Tigers for Penn State of the NCAA. The Whitehorse product has 18 points in 16 games this season in U.S. college hockey -- a circuit with a shorter schedule, older players and more defensive structure -- after dominating junior with 129 points across 56 contests in 2024-25.
McKenna, who wanted a different challenge as part of a "building year" in hopes of being better prepared for the professional ranks, is expected to be a key part of Canada's attack at the upcoming world junior hockey championship.
And the country certainly has a motivated player.
"I don't mind it at all," he said Monday at training camp of the draft chatter. "Sometimes getting people pumping your tires all the time isn't the best thing for you. People have been waiting for me to fail; it fires me up."
McKenna put up 41 goals and 88 assists last season in a WHL run that included a 40-game point streak. He's scored just four times in 2025-26, but isn't concerned about the noise or his output with the Nittany Lions in State College, Pa.
"I just try to take it with a grain of salt," McKenna said. "Where my game's at, if people are watching and if people are smart at hockey and are actually watching the game, not just looking at the numbers, they'd know. I'm confident.
"I've been playing well. Pucks haven't been going in for me, haven't been getting bounces, but I think with world juniors to build my confidence, and then bring it in the second half, I think that'll be huge for me."
Canada is certainly banking on that.
The country finished a disastrous fifth on home soil last year in Ottawa -- McKenna is one of six returnees -- for a second straight embarrassing quarterfinal exit at the annual showcase event.
"He's a quality kid," said Alan Millar, general manager of Canada's under-20 men's program. "People are focusing in on a small window. He's still the player that won a WHL championship and had 120-plus points."
A rule change south of the border allowed for players like McKenna to jump to the NCAA despite having already suited up in junior, a major shift that would not have been allowed before this season.
The move coincided with schools being allowed to lure recruits with name, image, likeness (NIL) endorsement money. Canadian Hockey League players were previously barred from competing at U.S. colleges because they were deemed professionals for having received monthly stipends for living expenses.
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WARNING: This story contains details of violence against Indigenous women, as well as references to racist beliefs and behaviours.