McKenna hopes world juniors propel strong second half in NCAA with NHL draft looming

Canadian forward Gavin McKenna, right, protects the puck against Czech defenceman Radim Mrtka in the semifinals o the world junior hockey championship in St. Paul, Minn., Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)

Gavin McKenna has a specific way of centring himself.

The once slam-dunk No. 1 overall pick at the 2026 NHL draft put up 129 points in 56 games with the Western Hockey League’s Medicine Hat Tigers last season.

McKenna headed south this fall and proceeded to have a so-so start in the NCAA with four goals and 14 assists across 16 contests for Penn State before joining Canada for the world junior hockey championship.

The 18-year-old centre finished second in tournament scoring as part of a bronze-medal performance for the men’s under-20 national team. He also wasn’t the dominant force some might have expected in key moments.

“There’s a lot of pressure on a young kid like me,” McKenna said earlier this week in St. Paul, Minn. “But I always try to think back to my family, doing it for them. They’ve done a lot for me growing up.

“That’s my motivation.”

The centre from Whitehorse had four goals and 10 assists, including seven points on a lethal power play, for Canada, but found the score sheet just once — and took what could have been a crucial penalty — in a 6-4 semifinal loss to Czechia that ended dreams of a podium-topping finish.

“I feel good,” McKenna said of his overall performance. “In terms of this tournament (for) myself, I think it brought some confidence. I’m sure people obviously still say things … just trying to stay away from that.”

The chatter will continue — and ramp up as the calendar flips.

Among the players to push their way into the No. 1 conversation is Swedish winger Ivar Stenberg, who registered seven points as part of his team’s gold-medal showing at the world juniors.

McKenna, however, faced more scrutiny than any other draft-eligible talent at the annual showcase.

“He gets a lot of crap for a lot of stuff that’s really undeserved,” said Zayne Parekh, a Calgary Flames defenceman who suited up for Canada in Minnesota. “He’s an 18-year-old kid trying to find his way. People gotta be less hard on him and just let him breathe.

“He’s got enough pressure on his shoulders.”

Canadian head coach Dale Hunter was impressed with how McKenna handled the intense spotlight.

“Mature kid,” Hunter said. “All this pressure and he performed … power play, maybe one of the best ones here for a long time. He snapped it around well, and he scored even strength. It’s a credit to him.”

Michael Hage, who centred McKenna’s line and was on the first man-advantage unit, said a calm demeanour stood out.

“Doesn’t worry about it too much,” said the Montreal Canadiens prospect, who led the tournament with 15 points. “He does a better job than I would have done if I was in his position — not looking at the media and just worrying about what he has to do.”

The six-foot, 170-pound McKenna faded into the background at times across his seven world junior outings, appearing to shy away from contact and staying on the outside.

“There’s obviously stuff that needs to be worked on,” Hage continued. “That’s like everyone’s game, but you can’t teach what he does with the puck.”

Canadian captain Porter Martone, who’s in his freshman season at Michigan State after also leaving junior, went through the draft process last year.

“Gets knocked down a lot,” the No. 6 overall pick by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2025 said of McKenna. “Sometimes you gotta avoid the outside noise and really just focus on yourself and what you can control. You can’t control the uncontrollable … I expect big things from him.”

McKenna now returns to the college ranks — a bigger, older, more structured circuit than junior — with a national championship the goal at Penn State.

“It wasn’t there the first half,” he said of his offensive production. “And if I could do that the second half, I think that’ll help me.

“Staying mentally well is going to be a big part of it.”

And when doubts creep in, McKenna always turns to what gives him proper perspective — his family.

“If I’m getting too down on myself,” he said, “I always give them a call.”

Mighty fall

The Winnipeg Jets won the Presidents’ Trophy in 2024-25 with 116 points in the regular season.

The current campaign has been the complete opposite.

The Jets occupy the NHL basement with 35 points from 41 games. Winnipeg had 56 points halfway through last season.

According to the league’s stats department, since the Presidents’ Trophy was first awarded in 1985-86, the worst finish by the reigning winner the following campaign was the 1992-93 New York Rangers, who finished 19th out of 24 teams.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 7, 2026.

Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press