Gavin McKenna arrives on the red carpet before the NHL hockey draft Friday, June 26, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

BUFFALO, N.Y. — With most of Yukon watching and a loud presence of Maple Leafs fans in the stands, Toronto selected Penn State forward Gavin McKenna with the first pick in the NHL draft on Friday night.

The 18-year-old McKenna is from Yukon’s capital of Whitehorse and has been a prolific scorer on both sides of the border, with his selection validating the projections of the left winger being his age group’s top prospect more than two years ago.

McKenna’s selection was announced by longtime Leafs fan and Canadian-born international pop icon Justin Bieber.

“I got no words right now,” McKenna said. “This is nuts. Obviously I want to start by thanking my family. I love you guys. I wouldn’t be here without you guys.”

As in 2016, there was a large contingent of blue and white jersey-wearing Leafs fans, with a “Go Leafs, go!” chant erupting once Toronto was placed on the clock. Saying “the child in me is ecstatic,” Bieber joined NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman on stage and, after a short pause, looked over to McKenna and declared him being a member of the Maple Leafs.

Bieber teed up a video welcome message from Leafs captain Auston Matthews, who was their No. 1 pick a decade ago, when the draft was also in Buffalo.

“I know how exciting this is for you and your family and what an incredible honor it is,” Matthews said. “We’re just as excited to have you join the Maple Leafs and cannot wait to get started. You’re coming to a franchise with an amazing history and base, and we’re all working to write the next great chapter together. And you’re going to be a very important part of that.”

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 Matthews’ arrival.

McKenna is accustomed to the spotlight, splashing on the scene by combining for 79 goals and 244 points in 133 games with the WHL’s Medicine Hat. He then made the jump to the NCAA last summer in a bid to challenge himself against older and more physical competition.

McKenna finished his freshman season with a flourish, scoring 32 points in his final 17 outings. His 51 points finished tied for fourth in the nation for the Nittany Lions.

He became just the fifth NCAA player to go first, and third in six years, since Michigan defenseman Owen Power went No. 1 to Buffalo in 2021.

Though accustomed to the spotlight, McKenna now heads to a metropolis that is nearly 100 times larger than Whitehorse’s population of about 39,000. He became the fifth Yukon-born player to be selected in the draft, and the highest pick after Ottawa’s Dylan Cozens went No. 7 to Buffalo in 2019.

A day earlier, without revealing who he was picking, Chayka said the team’s staff was unanimous on their choice. Chayka even traveled to Whitehorse last month to spend time with McKenna and his family.

Penguins pick

With the 22nd pick in the draft, the Pittsburgh Penguins took Liam Ruck from the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League.

Ruck entered the 2026 NHL Entry Draft as one of the best pure finishers in the class and one of its fastest risers. The Medicine Hat Tigers winger spent 2025-26 alongside his twin brother Markus, and the two finished first and second in Western Hockey League scoring.

Liam was the runner-up with 104 points (45 goals, 59 assists) in 68 games, with his 45 goals tying for the team lead and earning him a spot on the WHL East First All-Star Team.

He helped Medicine Hat to a 50-win season and a run to Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Championship, a year after the Tigers won the 2025 WHL Championship. His international resume includes a bronze medal at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup with Canada.

Ruck climbed boards all season and entered draft weekend as a mid-to-late first-round projection, with the upside of a riser who sneaks into the lottery. NHL Central Scouting ranked him 20th among North American skaters in its final list. The open questions are physical engagement and defensive-zone compete, and he will need to add strength to his 6-foot, 176-pound frame, but the offensive intelligence is real. Dobber Prospects pegs his pro comparison between Sam Steel and Troy Terry, the profile of a middle-six scorer who can help a power play.