January 5, 2026, St. Paul, Minnesota, United States: Canada forward GAVIN McKENNA 9 reacts after scoring a goal in the third period. Canada and Finland faced off in the Bronze Medal match at the IIHF World Junior Championship on January 5th. Canada won the bronze by a score of 6-3. St. Paul United States - ZUMAt166 20260105_zsp_t166_017 Copyright: xMichaelxTurnerx
January 5, 2026, St. Paul, Minnesota, United States: Canada forward GAVIN McKENNA 9 reacts after scoring a goal in the third period. Canada and Finland faced off in the Bronze Medal match at the IIHF World Junior Championship on January 5th. Canada won the bronze by a score of 6-3. St. Paul United States - ZUMAt166 20260105_zsp_t166_017 Copyright: xMichaelxTurnerx
Team Canada has suffered a notable setback ahead of the IIHF World Championship, as projected No. 1 NHL Draft pick Gavin McKenna has decided to skip the tournament.
Gavin McKenna will not play for Team Canada at the upcoming World Hockey Championship, starting from May 15, as Darren Dreger from TSN reported on May 4.
The NHL Draft Combine is scheduled for May 31-June 6 in Buffalo, while the world championship runs between May 15 and 31 in Switzerland. Even though the dates will not collide, he has decided to focus on preparing for the NHL Draft Combine.
At the 2024 World U18 Championships, Gavin McKenna debuted for Canada’s under-18 team and emerged as its leading scorer with 10 goals and 10 assists across seven games, powering the team to the gold medal final.
According to Kyle Golik, Gavin McKenna was one of five players added to Canada’s roster last week, joining four NHL talents. He also made history as the first Penn State Nittany Lions representative at the World Championships.
The Nittany Lions continue to grow under Guy Gadowsky. The program has developed NHL prospects and successful college teams, but Gavin McKenna’s spot on Canada’s senior national team gave it worldwide recognition.
Not playing an international tournament is a strategic career decision.
"A group decision involving Hockey Canada and McKenna’s representatives feel it’s best to focus on the NHL combine,” reported Dreger.
There is a chance the Buds helped keep Gavin McKenna from heading overseas, minimizing the risk of injuries while competing against elite opponents.
Gavin McKenna's Case for the No. 1 Pick in 2026
With the Toronto Maple Leafs set to own the No. 1 pick in 2026, the franchise seems intent on ensuring nothing jeopardizes its future plans.
The Leafs won the NHL's Draft Lottery, giving them the first-overall pick on June 26 in Buffalo. They could make history with their third-ever No. 1 overall selection. Their previous top picks were Auston Matthews and Wendel Clark, and the organization already seems interested in Gavin McKenna.
He scored 15 goals and had 36 assists in 35 games for Penn State this season. Gavin McKenna also scored 4 goals and added 10 assists in 7 games at the 2026 World Juniors. He helped Canada win the bronze medal at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship.
The youngster is known for his explosive scoring ability and elite playmaking. At such a young age, he has a high hockey IQ, and his speed is a notable asset for any team.
Share your thoughts on Gavin McKenna's decision.
Read more at NHL Fan Central.
Written by
Kapil Manghnani
Edited by
Soheli Tarafdar