McKenna leads Canada to bronze medal at World Junior Hockey Championships

Gavin McKenna is leaving the World Junior Hockey Championships with a medal, albeit not the one he wanted. 

The 18-year-old from Whitehorse had a goal and three assists and was named player of the game for the second time in the tournament in a convincing 6-3 win over Finland in the bronze medal game Monday.

McKenna finished the tournament with 14 points, up from the four he had last year.

Despite that, McKenna would be the first to tell you he would trade it all for gold. 

“It’s not the medal you want,” said McKenna, speaking to reporters after Monday’s game. “It sucks we couldn’t get it done but this is a really tight group and one I’ll remember forever.” 

Through the first half of the tournament Canada looked primed for gold. The team went undefeated through the preliminary rounds and was an offensive juggernaut scoring at least seven goals in four of its first five games. 

McKenna was a big part of that, putting up multiple points in Canada’s first three games including a hat trick against Denmark. 

Then Canada ran into a familiar foe — the Czech Republic — in the semi-finals on Sunday and came out flat. McKenna had just one assist and took an uncharacteristic penalty late in the game. 

It was reviewed for a major but deemed not to be. 

It was a devilish dose of déjà vu for Canada. For the third year in a row, they lost to the Czechs in a must-win game, once again losing on a late goal in the third.

McKenna and team Canada bounced back from that deflating loss in a big way in Monday’s game against Finland. By doing so they won Canada’s first bronze medal since 2012.

“I’m proud of the group for getting up for this game,” said McKenna. “To come home with some hardware does feel good.” 

Yukon well represented in Minnesota

A number of Yukoners travelled to Minneapolis for the tournament. 

Ed Long flew in from Whitehorse with his family for the semi-finals and bronze medal game. 

“I thought it was just a great thing, a Yukon kid playing in the World Juniors,” said Long. “It’s just a great learning experience getting to show the kids what’s possible if you follow your dreams.”

Long’s kids didn’t just get inspiration from McKenna. At the end of Monday’s game McKenna skated over after seeing them waving the Yukon flag and gave them his stick. 

“That was pretty incredible,” said Long.

There was also a large contingent of McKenna’s family in the crowd to see him capture the bronze for Canada. That included his grandparents, who were also in Ottawa for last year’s tournament.

“It’s great to have my grandparents in the crowd,” said McKenna. “My family doesn’t get to see me play very often so it’s always special when they do.”

With the World Juniors now over, McKenna returns to Penn State University for the second half of his season with the Nittany Lions.

Then in June it’s the National Hockey League draft.

McKenna came into the World Juniors as the odds-on favourite to be the first player selected.

However, with another highly-touted player, Sweden’s Ivar Stenberg, winning gold the conversation may have shifted.

“I think Gavin’s stock is about the same place exiting out of this tournament as it was entering,” said Scott Wheeler, senior hockey writer with The Athletic.

“Gavin is amongst the contenders to go first overall but I wouldn’t say Gavin McKenna is a lock to go first overall.” 

The World Junior Hockey Championships return to Canada next year, with Edmonton and Red Deer, Alta., hosting.