The Whitehorse, YT forward joined the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ for the 2020/21 U15 Prep season. The following season he would play in the U18 Prep division as an underage player, posting a division best 42 assists and 65 points in 35 games with RHA Kelowna. The Medicine Hat Tigers would then select McKenna with the first pick at the 2022 WHL Draft.

During the 2022/23 U18 Prep season with South Alberta Hockey Academy McKenna would lead the league with 37 goals, 38 assists and 75 points while being named the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ U18 Prep MVP. That season McKenna would play 16 games with Medicine Hat tallying 18 points.

McKenna joined the Tigers full time for the 2023/24 season, posting 97 points in 61 games as he was named the WHL and CHL Rookie of the Year, a WHL (Central) First Team All-Star, a CHL All Rookie Team member, and a CHL Third Team All Star. He would also represent Canada Red U17 and Team Canada U18, posting a total of 28 points in 14 games. He would be named a U17 World Hockey Challenge All Star, and a U18 World Junior Championships Gold Medalist, All Star, and Top 3 Player on his team, leading the event with 10 goals.

In 2024/25 McKenna posted 129 points and a WHL best 88 assists in 56 games as he was named WHL and CHL Player of the Year, and a CHL and WHL (East) First Team All-Star. He would add 38 points in 16 playoff games as Medicine Hat were crowned WHL Champions before heading to the Memorial Cup where McKenna was named to the Memorial Cup All Star Team. McKenna would represent Team Canada at the World Juniors, posting 1 point in 5 games.

This past season McKenna joined Penn State University, posting 51 points in 35 NCAA games. He would add 14 points in 7 World Junior games with Team Canada, capturing a bronze medal. McKenna was named to the NCAA (B1G) All Rookie Team, NCAA (B1G) Second All Star Team, the NCAA (B1G) Rookie of the Year and Scoring Champion, and a NCAA (West) Second Team All-American,

McKenna is the second ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ alumni to be selected first overall at an NHL Entry Draft, joining former North Shore Warriors star Connor Bedard (2023 – Chicago Blackhawks)

Gavin McKenna (2026 – Toronto Maple Leafs) joins Connor Bedard (2023 – Chicago Blackhawks) as the second ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ alumni selected first overall at an NHL Entry Draft. Daxon Rudolph (2026 – Buffalo Sabres) joins Bowen Byram (2019 – Colorado Avalanche) as the highest selected ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ defenseman at an NHL Entry Draft, with each going fourth overall. 

The six ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ alumni selected in the first round beat the previous ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ record of five set in 2021, 2023 and 2025. A record 25 ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ alumni were selected at both the 2023 and 2024 NHL Entry Draft. Two alumni were selected inside the Top 5, and four inside the Top 10, both ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ records. 

A total of 223 players were selected at this year’s draft with 10.3% of players selected having played in the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ.

106 players developed in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) were selected at the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, making up 47.5% of the players selected. The CHL’s 106 selections were its highest total in 16 years, dating back to 2010, and marked the first time since 2013 that the CHL reached the 100-pick mark at the NHL Draft.

39 of those 106 players were developed in the WHL, with 22 of the 23 ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ alumni making up 56.4% of WHLers. All 23 ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ alumni selected were developed in the CHL, making up 21.7% of all CHLers.

In total, 193 ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ alumni have now being selected at the NHL Draft since 2012. 157 of those 193 (81%) have been selected in the last seven years. 58 ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ alumni have gone on to play NHL regular season or playoff games. 

Number of Players Selected Per Draft

1. 2024 – 25
2. 2023 – 25
3. 2026 – 23
4. 2021 – 23
5. 2022 – 21
6. 2020 – 20
7. 2025 – 20
8. 2019 – 7
9. 2016 – 7
10. 2018 – 6
11. 2017 – 6
12. 2015 – 3
13. 2014 – 3
14. 2012 – 3
15. 2013 – 2

Most Players Selected from a ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Program In League History

1. Yale Hockey Academy – 26
2. Pursuit of Excellence/RHA Kelowna– 26
   • 14 POE, 12 RHA Kelowna
3. Edge School – 23
4. Northern Alberta Xtreme – 22
5. Okanagan Hockey Academy – 21
6. BWC Academy – 18
7. Delta Hockey Academy – 17
8. RHA Winnipeg – 16
9. OHA Edmonton – 12
10. West Van Warriors – 8
    • 5 West Van, 3 NSW
11. St. George’s School – 7
12. Pacific Coast Hockey Academy – 5
13. South Alberta Hockey Academy – 3
14. Notre Dame Hounds – 2
15. Calgary International Hockey Academy – 1
16. Champions Hockey Academy – 1
17. CIH Academy – 1
18. Coeur d’Alene Hockey Academy – 1
19. Mount Academy – 1
20. Ontario Hockey Academy – 1
21. Pilot Mound Hockey Academy – 1
22. Prairie Hockey Academy – 1

14 ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Programs saw student-athletes selected at this years draft:

• Okanagan Hockey Academy – 5
• RHA Kelowna – 5
• Northern Alberta Xtreme – 4
• Edge School – 3
• Delta Hockey Academy – 2
• OHA Edmonton – 2
• Calgary International Hockey Academy – 1
• Champions Hockey Academy – 1
• Ontario Hockey Academy – 1
• Pacific Coast Hockey Academy – 1
• Pilot Mound Hockey Academy -1
• RHA Winnipeg- 1
• South Alberta Hockey Academy – 1
• Yale Hockey Academy – 1

The 39 ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ alumni are currently playing in the QMJHL, NCAA and WHL. Of the 78 WHL players who find their names on the list, 45% (35/78) are ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ alumni. 95% of the 39 ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ alumni are currently playing in the CHL (OHL, QMJHL, WHL).

Gavin McKenna is the highest ranked ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ skater coming in as the Top Ranked North American skater. He will look to join Connor Bedard (North Shore Warriors) as the second ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ alumnus selected first overall. Carson Carels, Keaton Verhoeff, Daxon Rudolph, Ryan Lin, Liam Ruck, Ben MacBeath, Markus Ruck, Chase Harrington and Mathis Preston all find themselves ranked inside the Top 32. The current ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ record for most alumni selected in the first round (5) happened three times: 2021, 2023 & 2025. 

The 39 ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ alumni represent 15 different member programs, with Edge School and RHA Winnipeg leading the way with eight:

• Northern Alberta Xtreme – 9
• RHA Kelowna – 7
• Okanagan Hockey Academy – 6
• Edge School – 4
• South Alberta Hockey Academy – 4
• Delta Hockey Academy – 3
• OHA Edmonton – 3
• Pacific Coast Hockey Academy – 3
• Calgary International Hockey Academy – 2
• Yale Hockey Academy – 2
• Notre Dame Hounds – 1
• Ontario Hockey Academy – 1
• Pilot Mound Hockey Academy – 1
• RHA Winnipeg – 1
• Stanstead College – 1

Among the 224 ranked North American skaters include 38 ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ alumni:

Among the 37 ranked North American skaters include 1 ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ alumni: