McKenna wins second straight Kal Tire WHL Rookie of the Week honours
Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today that Gavin McKenna of the Medicine Hat Tigers has been named Kal Tire WHL Rookie of the Week for the week ending January 28, 2024.
The 16-year-old led all WHLers with three goals, four assists and a plus-two rating in two matches as the Tigers went 1-0-0-1 for the week.
McKenna opened the floodgates in a high-scoring first period against the Moose Jaw Warriors on January 26 when he flew down the wing and snapped the puck past Moose Jaw netminder Jackson Unger. Hayden Harsanyi would quickly make it 2-0 for Medicine Hat just over a minute later, and McKenna capped off the run by burying his 20th of the season with a furious one-timer two minutes and 48 seconds after his game-opening goal. The Warriors would storm back to seize a 5-4 lead in the third period, but McKenna would combine with Andrew Basha to set up Shane Smith for the game-tying goal with 14 seconds left. Moose Jaw would ultimately earn a shootout win, but McKenna was rewarded with second star honours and a single point for his efforts.
The Tigers’ fate would improve in a dramatic rematch the following night. McKenna would spring Hunter St. Martin for the game-opening goal, though the Warriors would seize a 3-2 lead heading into the final frame. In the third, McKenna wound through the opposition in search of a teammate to pass to, but his shot took a fortuitous bounce off a Warriors’ stick and deflected into the Moose Jaw net. With the game level, McKenna would assist on two more Tigers goals as Medicine Hat clawed its way to a 5-3 win. This time, McKenna would be named first star.
The 2026 NHL Entry Draft-eligible forward is second in the WHL rookie scoring race with 21 goals and 42 assists in 41 games. His 1.54 points-per-game average is first among all CHL first-year players.
McKenna, who hails from Whitehorse, Y.T., was selected by Medicine Hat with the first overall pick in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft.
The 6-foot, 165-pound left winger was named Kal Tire Rookie of the Week on January 22, 2024 and Tempo WHL Player of the Week on January 8, 2024. He’s also represented Team Canada Red at the 2023 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, where he tallied five goals and three assists in seven games.
Medicine Hat (28-14-3-1) is sitting first in the Central Division with points in seven of its last 10 games.
The Tigers will travel to Saskatoon to face the league-leading Blades (33-9-2-3) in a battle between the top two teams in the Eastern Conference on February 2.
2023-24 WHL Rookie of the Week
January 22, 2024: Gavin McKenna, Medicine Hat Tigers
January 15, 2024: Julius Miettinen, Everett Silvertips
January 8, 2024: Julius Miettinen, Everett Silvertips
January 2, 2024: Cole Reschny, Victoria Royals
December 18, 2023: Terik Parascak, Prince George Cougars
December 11, 2023: Max Curran, Tri-City Americans
December 4, 2023: Joshua Ravensbergen, Prince George Cougars
November 27, 2023: Ethan Eskit, Brandon Wheat Kings
November 20, 2023: Dakota MacIntosh, Moose Jaw Warriors
November 13, 2023: Ben Kindel, Calgary Hitmen
November 6, 2023: Ethan McCallum, Medicine Hat Tigers
October 30, 2023: Julius Miettinen, Everett Silvertips (NHL CSS: C)
October 23, 2023: Terik Parascak, Prince George Cougars (NHL CSS: B)
October 16, 2023: Ty Coupland, Swift Current Broncos
October 10, 2023: Terik Parascak, Prince George Cougars (NHL CSS: B)
October 2, 2023: Terik Parascak, Prince George Cougars (NHL CSS: B)
September 25, 2023: Oscar Lovsin, Wenatchee Wild
About the Western Hockey League
Regarded as the world’s finest development league for junior hockey players, the Western Hockey League (WHL) head office is based in Calgary, Alberta. The WHL offers a world-class player experience featuring three key cornerstones: hockey development, education, and a safe and positive environment for all participants. A diverse and inclusive organization, the WHL consists of 22 member Clubs with 16 located in Western Canada and six in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. A member of the Canadian Hockey League, the WHL has been a leading supplier of talent for the National Hockey League for close to 60 years. The WHL is also a leading provider of hockey scholarships with over 375 graduates each year receiving WHL Scholarships to pursue a post-secondary education of their choice. Each season, WHL players also form the nucleus of Canada’s National Junior Hockey Team.
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