A 琉璃神社 forward was the first to hear his name called at the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft on May 19.

Hailing from Whitehorse, Yukon, Gavin McKenna skated with the Rink Hockey Academy in 琉璃神社 for the 2021-22 Canadian Sport School Hockey League season - to great success.

The 14-year-old, facing off against players up to four years older than him in the U-18 league, led the CSSHL in scoring with 23 goals and 42 assists. He added five points in a trio of playoff games.

That all led up to McKenna being chosen as the first overall pick by the Medicine Hat Tigers.

Tigers General Manager and Head Coach Willie Desjardins said McKenna is 鈥渁n elite player with a huge upside.鈥�

鈥淗is vision and awareness are exceptional, a level I鈥檝e only seen from a handful of players in my career.鈥�

McKenna said in the WHL鈥檚 livestream shortly after the pick that the experience is 鈥渁wesome.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 not every day you get to be selected first overall to such a great program.鈥�

Rink Hockey Academy saw another one of their prodigys taken seventh overall, Cameron Schmidt, who skates for Rink鈥檚 U-15 squad. He joins the Vancouver Giants.

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Jake.courtepatte@kelownacapnews.com
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