As Gavin McKenna gets ready for what could be a special moment at the 2026 NHL Draft, he draws inspiration from someone very important in his life. While speaking to Mike G. Morreale of , McKenna says his grandfather, Joe Mason, has been a major influence on him both on and off the ice.

“He's [Joe Mason] a huge influence,” McKenna told Morreale. “He's gone through so much in his life. For me, that's my motivation.”

Gavin McKenna is expected to be the No. 1 pick after a strong season with Penn State Nittany Lions men's ice hockey, scoring 51 points in 35 games and leading the Big Ten in scoring. 

However, when he faced challenges during his first season away from home, McKenna looked to his grandfather’s strength and determination to ground himself.

Playing nearly 3,500 miles from Whitehorse, Gavin McKenna faced pressure, social media criticism, and college adjustment challenges. In tough moments, he recalled his grandfather Joe Mason’s stories.

Mason, when enrolled in Canada's Indian residential school system, once survived alone in the mountains as a boy for several days. It's a story that gave McKenna strength. 

“I just can't even imagine what that was like at such a young age,” McKenna said.

Remembering what his grandfather went through helped Gavin McKenna stay strong and get through the difficult moments of the season.

“If I've got something going on in my life that's hard, I know it's nothing compared to what he's gone through,” McKenna said.

That mindset helped Gavin McKenna adjust successfully to NCAA hockey. His skill helped him succeed on the ice, while his grandfather’s lessons gave him the strength to handle the pressure of being hockey’s top draft prospect.

Family Heritage Remains Central to McKenna’s Identity

Joe Mason’s influence goes beyond just motivation. Family members say he is a mentor who teaches Gavin McKenna about kindness, humility, and helping others. These lessons have shaped McKenna’s character.

“Our grandpa is our best friend,” McKenna’s sister Madison said. “He teaches us through those stories and by showing us.”

A member of the Tr’ondee Hwech’in First Nation, Mason helped Gavin McKenna connect with his Indigenous roots. In fact, Gavin's forearm tattoo shows a Yukon cabin, along with a wolf and a moose, representing family traditions and Indigenous heritage.

“This is my cabin that my grandpa built,” McKenna explained. “And then I'm obviously Indigenous, so our clan animal is a wolf, and my grandpa, we all grew up hunting moose.”

As the draft day gets closer, Gavin McKenna is focused on more than just becoming an NHL star. The lessons he learned from his grandfather continue to shape the kind of legacy he wants to build.

“I want to be a great hockey player, but I want to be an even better person,” McKenna said.

Gavin McKenna’s journey shows his talent. It also shows how resilience, family values, and his grandfather’s lessons and inspiration helped shape him.

What are your thoughts? How will McKenna’s grandfather’s influence shape his leadership once he enters the NHL spotlight? Comment down below. 

Read more at the NHL Fan Central.

Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit