OTTAWA | There was Connor Bedard in 2023, then Macklin Celebrini last year. What if, for a third year in a row, Junior Team Canada was led by a young 17-year-old star?
We certainly wouldn’t want to put pressure on Gavin McKenna, but it’s far from impossible that ÉCJ is once again the business of a young future NHL star. The forward who plays for the Medicine Hat Tigers in the Western Hockey League (WHL) has dominated the competition since the start of the season.
And the word is weak.
In 30 games before leaving for the ECJ camp, he scored 60 points, a high not only in the Western circuit, but in the entire Canadian Hockey League. He was one of only two players to average at least two points per game in the WHL this season, joining Andrew Cristall of the Kelowna Rockets, who is averaging 2.43 points per game since the start. of the countryside. He is also at the ECJ camp.
But, coming back to McKenna, it would be surprising if he did not have his place on the team, even if head coach Dave Cameron assured that no one had his position assured on Tuesday.
And to see how much he is dominating in the WHL this season, but also how much he has demolished the competition during the recent international tournaments he has participated in…
What to expect?
McKenna won’t be drafted until next year, but he’s playing his junior year at age 17 (that’s a late, in hockey jargon).
He is therefore approximately the same age as Bedard in 2023 and Celebrini last year, with a few months difference.
Can he get close to Connor Bedard’s 23 points in 8 games? It might be a little ungrateful to place such expectations on him. But, Celebrini’s eight points in five games last year? Definitely realistic.
Especially when we see how he reacted during recent international tournaments. At the World Under-18 Championship, he was 16 years old.
His production: 20 points in 7 games.
“They set the bar high,” McKenna admitted of Bedard and Celebrini. But that’s my goal, to work to catch up with these players. They have a lot of talent and even at the start of their careers, they demonstrate how good they are. Obviously following in their footsteps would be pretty cool.”
The bar was set high, certainly, but Bedard and Celebrini also demonstrated one thing: age is just a number when you have a unique talent.
“It’s certain that the players are fast and intelligent. They are the best in the world. But I don’t think age is a factor for me, says McKenna. I just want to fit in as best I can.”
An elite player
Tuesday evening, the vast majority of ECJ players were unable to participate in the team’s first training session due to flight problems related to bad weather. But McKenna was there, and we could already appreciate his talent.
“He’s a special player and he deserves to be here,” said forward Brayden Yager, who plays against him in the WHL. We all see what he does in Medicine Hat. I’m not too worried about him and I don’t think anyone is. He will be an important part of this team.”
“He’s an elite player,” added Hockey Canada vice-president of national teams, Scott Salmond. He has incredible talent and we saw what he did at the Under-18 World Cup in the spring, and even at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup this summer. [six points en cinq matchs]. His vision and skills are elite. In addition, we talk a lot about his offensive skills, but he is also involved in both directions of the ice.
How many points for McKenna this year? Bets are on.
