Once Gavin McKenna's name is announced at the 2026 National Hockey League draft, his biggest hug might be for his grandfather, Joe Mason. McKenna's grounding in his Indigenous roots partly has a foundation in the terrible experiences that his grandfather endured at a residential school.
McKenna speaks to that perspective in a recently released documentary, The McKenna Project, which can be viewed on YouTube. Mason also discusses some of his experiences in the documentary, which originally aired on TNT in the U.S. last month.
"My grandpa, without him, I definitely wouldn't be here today," McKenna said in the film. "What he went through, going to a residential school, I can't even imagine. I can't take anything for granted, and if I have something going on in my life that's hard, I know it's nothing compared to what he has gone through."
The prevailing expectation is that the Maple Leafs will select McKenna first overall once the draft gets underway in Buffalo on June 26.
Where is Leafs' interest in McKenna?
While it's doubtful that Leafs general manager John Chayka will confirm on Friday when he meets with media at the scouting combine that McKenna will be Toronto's pick, the team's interest in the Penn State winger has been no secret. During a chat on an NHL podcast this week, McKenna confirmed that Chayka has made a visit to the family's home in Whitehorse, Yukon, after the Leafs won the draft lottery on May 5. McKenna said he had a "really good conversation" with Chayka.
Leafs amateur scouting director Mark Leach, who also is scheduled to speak to media on Friday, told the NHL's website this week that the organization will take its time once the combine concludes to make a decision on the first-overall pick. Sweden's Ivar Stenberg, a winger like McKenna, would be another option. Though the Leafs need defencemen, none of those available in the draft fall into the same class as McKenna in regard to potential.
During the 2025-26 season at Penn State, McKenna endured some bumps, both on and off the ice. A strong second half helped lead to a nomination for the Hobey Baker Award, given to the top men's hockey player in the NCAA. The sixth-youngest player in the NCAA, McKenna finished with 51 points in 35 games and was named the Big Ten freshman of the year.
Off the ice, McKenna's alleged involvement in an incident outside a bar in State College, Pa., led to charges against the 18-year-old, including a felony count of aggravated assault which was later dropped. McKenna still faces a misdemeanour simple assault charge and summary counts.
How did McKenna honour his grandfather?
All the while, though there were challenges in putting aside some of the criticism that was sent his way, McKenna was able to stay on an even keel. McKenna has honoured his grandfather with a detailed tattoo on his right forearm, featuring a cabin, a moose and a wolf.
"He has been a huge motivator for me," McKenna said. "I have a lot of young supporting fans who are Indigenous. Some people have doubts in themselves and sometimes heritage can play a factor in that, so I just want to make sure that kids know, no matter who you are or where you come from, that anything is possible. You have to believe in yourself."
