local
Maple Leafs select Penn State forward Gavin McKenna with the No. 1 pick in NHL draft
By John Wawrow, Associated Press at KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC)
· June 26, 2026
· 5 min read
Gavin McKenna’s nerves finally eased when lifetime Maple Leafs fan and international pop icon Justin Bieber took the NHL draft stage to announce who Toronto was selecting No. 1.“He was looking at me and I kind of was thinking, maybe,” McKenna said with a laugh. “Crazy. Just crazy what’s going on ...
Key takeaway The 18-year-old from Yukon’s capital of Whitehorse has been a prolific scorer on both sides of the U.
Why this matters in Tomball News
The selection of Gavin McKenna by the Toronto Maple Leafs may seem like a distant event to Tomball residents, but it highlights the strong hockey following in the Houston area. As the NHL continues to grow in popularity, local fans are taking notice of top prospects like McKenna and how they might impact their favorite teams. With the Houston Aeros no longer in the picture, many area fans have adopted the Dallas Stars as their local team, but some still follow the Maple Leafs, who have a significant fan base in the southern United States. The rebuilding process in Toronto, led by new general manager John Chayka, will be of interest to these fans, who will be watching to see how McKenna and other young players contribute to the team's success. As the NHL season approaches, Tomball residents can expect to see more coverage of the Maple Leafs and other teams with local followings.
About this story
Original reporting by KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) . Tomball News surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: June 26, 2026 ·
Source: KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) ·
Reading time: 5 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Gavin McKenna’s nerves finally eased when lifetime Maple Leafs fan and international pop icon Justin Bieber took the NHL draft stage to announce who Toronto was selecting No. 1.“He was looking at me and I kind of was thinking, maybe,” McKenna said with a laugh. “Crazy. Just crazy what’s going on ...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 26, 2026 by KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) and curated for Tomball News readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by John Wawrow, Associated Press at KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC). To learn more about how Tomball News selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from Tomball News, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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