In a moment of sporting history far from the football pitch, 18-year-old Gavin McKenna of Whitehorse, Yukon, was selected first overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2026 NHL Draft. McKenna becomes only the second Indigenous player ever chosen as the No. 1 pick. The Penn State forward, a prolific scorer who has starred on both sides of the Canada-US border, had been projected as his age group’s top prospect for more than two years. Justin Bieber was on hand to announce the Leafs’ selection, and much of Yukon was watching.
Walter Murrow
June 27, 2026
0
7
