McKenna, family enjoy ‘special moment’ with No. 1 pick’s first NHL goal for Maple Leafs
Gavin McKenna, the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, scored his first career NHL goal during a 5-4 overtime victory for the Toronto Maple Leafs. His parents celebrated the milestone from their home in Yukon while the crowd in Toronto cheered the young forward.
Why it matters
This highlights the career progression of a high-profile young athlete and the cultural significance of professional sports milestones.
Forward scores in fourth game, adds assist to help key OT comeback win against Predators
TORONTO -- Willy and Krystal McKenna were not at Scotiabank Arena to see their son Gavin score his first NHL goal Tuesday. After watching him go pointless in his first three games as a Toronto Maple Leaf, they returned home to Whitehorse, Yukon, about 2,500 miles northwest of Toronto, where they watched the dramatic 5-4 overtime victory against the Nashville Predators on TV.
That didn’t make the moment of a lifetime any less special for the Maple Leafs forward and his parents.
When the 18-year-old snapped a rocket into the top corner past Predators goalie Juuse Saros at 14:31 of the second period, the capacity crowd erupted into the type of deafening roar Gavin will never forget.
NSH@TOR: McKenna wires a shot home for the first of his career
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in