14-year-old Gavin McKenna has 4-point debut

2007-born and 2022 first pick in the WHL Draft Gavin McKenna registered four primary assists in his debut with the Medicine Hat Tigers. McKenna, a late birthday, isn't NHL Draft eligible until 2026.

[@goalie2998]

I sincerely hope the pressure of high expectations doesn't ruin this kid. 14 is a kid.

[@polishpat95]

High expectations don't ruin anybody. That's just an excuse people with high expectations use when they fail...

[@brettbarber4593]

@@polishpat95 actually yes they do lol obviously you've never played high level hockey before.. happens all the time

[@CatMelon12]

@@polishpat95 yet you use the word "fail" where as if it wasn't for the expectations in the first place then the same result might not be considered a "fail"

[@whosflair3716]

@@brettbarber4593 high level lol he played kelowna rink, literally half the team got drafted. He played the highest level he possibly could in western Canada

[@shogekimura]

@@whosflair3716 he's not only talking about just this kid. He's referring to all of the kids that had high expectations and then "failed" to meet them.

[@846nick]

its crazy to me that young hockey players are so skilled both physically and mentally. you have to put in 100% everyday to get the opportunity to play in the chl and for a 14 yro to do that and have the mental and physical game to back it is wild. best of luck to this young man and his career.

[@ReneRajotte]

That shot pass he made on the 7th goal was insane

[@bc1173]

that was just a pass.

[@antthehckyplayer]

@@bc1173 bro

[@BeEazzzy]

Wow man, the skill levels keep rising at younger ages, it’s getting crazy.

[@innerpeace5223]

He’s a serious playmaker, amazing vision

[@landrec2]

That last fake/pass was so dope.

[@Jennifer-ge8bf]

WAY TO GO GAVIN! Amazing first game! Cheering you on from back home !!! 👏👏👏👌🏻😀👍🏻

[@MiK3Y13]

Mc anythiing as a last name... stud

[@TheUnderWaterBoy]

connor mcconnor

[@MrSharkFIN]

McConnor McConnor boutta tear the NHL

[@andrewbrady6154]

Holy crap ..... at 14 I was talking in monosyllabic grunts and bumping into things !!!

[@6hughmungus9]

That 4th point was nasty, sick processing speed to be able to change it up that quick.

[@heathclark318]

WOW!!!! Kid is going places

[@haramora7331]

Great Talent !!

[@pdubb4]

He's going to be a force in the NHL

[@voiceofreason7567]

*3 of his “assists” were just rebounds to his shots... Those shouldn’t even count.* 🤦👎🗑

[@videogameplayer0552]

@@voiceofreason7567 That’s literally what an assist is by definition. Whoever had the puck before the person that scored the goal gets an assist. Whoever had the puck before the person who got that assist can get an assist as well. Pretty simple to understand.

[@lukem3203]

@@voiceofreason7567 he’s also 14 bro 💀

[@OnPoint88]

@@videogameplayer0552 we know how it works.. he's just saying they're garbage pts.. unless you're specifically shooting for rebound goals

[@MrSharkFIN]

​@@voiceofreason7567 There was one rebound lmao

[@day1avsfan907]

Such a shame that he can only play in 5 WHL games this year

[@carrigan308]

Ah that explains it. I'd never seen a player younger than 15 in the juniors in the NHL video games, and even those are few. 14 is insane, although it's obviously not too big of a stage for him.

[@Midwesterngrown]

What’s that rule?

[@Annexation_]

Medicine Hat can petition to keep him past 5 games and split the season between WHL and Prep/AAA hockey, like what Winnipeg did with Savoie (he got 22 games)

[@lmtada]

Gretzky playing WHA (professional) at 17. Then NHL following year.

[@lilwoodiewood3457]

@@lmtada ok who cares ... a 16 year old played in the nhl .. 15 year olds have played in Sweden top pro league ... there are rules in the nhl.. the ahl and echl ... the only way someone under 18 is playing pro is in Europe and many players do who don't even get drafted u really think McDavid couldn't crack a nhl roster at 17 ... or what about Crosby he scored 102 points at 18 was he just not good enough to even crack a 4th line at 17 ... back in gretzkys time there were alot of underage players in the pros because the wha allowed it the nhl didn't... u act like he's the only one ... why wasn't gretzky in the nhl at 17 huh ... oh I know because the nhl dosent allow it ... is the wha still around today no it isn't where are these teens suspost to play pro before there 18 today huh .. ..

[@JakeMook]

so smart with the puck already. Wow

[@carrigan308]

Oh my goodness. He roasted that goalie at :54. 14 years old and doing this in his first game in the juniors? This kid will be one to keep an eye on.

[@lilwoodiewood3457]

He's just a couple months younger then Bedard when he did it ... he just the same as any other expectional status player he was just born in one of the last 3 months of the year instead of one of the first 9 ...

[@RazorgodsMods]

@@lilwoodiewood3457 this guy isn’t even exceptional status.. but the WHL drafts a year early and allows them to play 5 games regardless

[@aservant1284]

14!!! Wow I hope he grows well

[@samssportsshop]

This kid is going to be good

[@whasdf5321]

how is this kid 14 wow

[@orangesharpy]

14!! That's insane. Just a few years removed from Pee Wee age.

[@lilwoodiewood3457]

No his birthday is late in the year ... he was peewee aged 3 years before that not 2 ... Bedard was also 3 years removed from peewee ... he was just a couple months older ... this kid Is the same age as any other expectional status player I don't see why the fact he was born a couple months earlier makes its a bigger deal

[@brianoreilly4961]

I'm impressed and I'm very hard to impress 🤠

[@orangesharpy]

@@lilwoodiewood3457 Well we're talking about a 14 year old playing with guys who would not look out of place in NHL training camps. Not only playing with but excelling. I think it's kind of a big deal. Also the fact that he is a coupe months younger than other exceptional players seems like a bigger deal to me. I guess I am easily impressed.

[@lilwoodiewood3457]

@@orangesharpy u still don't get My point what's the difference between a 14 year old turning 15 in 1 month and a 15 year old like Bedard (when he was 15)

[@lilwoodiewood3457]

@@orangesharpy it's pretty normal for that kids 1 or 2 months older then him are going to major Jr camps to and playing with those same kinds of guys it's just not that impressive ... Bedard being above point per game and only being a couple months older while doing so is more impressive to me

[@PhilMante]

What i really hope is that the swindlers, women, and wild lifestyles don't get this kid. If he's 14 & putting up points like this, he's got a bright NHL future.

[@eobrien1327]

14… that’s a year older than my 13 year old brother. That’s insane to think about

[@stoneysopranoyukon9398]

Another good Yukon kid. Makes me proud 😁

[@whosflair3716]

Another great from kelowna rink, and another great from my school. Makes me proud 😁

[@PR0MOTE]

How was the 6th Goal an assist? The defender touched the puck?

[@scottjardine7989]

Wow. This kid is crazy.

[@Xstr3ngthz]

What’s with connors and mcs

[@arleighallen2897]

good for him

[@CLo-ly1ic]

Gavin Mckenna and Connor Bedard are the future of team Canada!!

[@slushland]

1:25 KIDS GOT A GREAT ELBOW TOO LOL

[@MikeellerFB]

At this point you have gotta feel bad for the other team

[@Msampare01]

Guys all he is is a kid that matured faster then anyone else

[@jerryrick4685]

there are players in the nhl that dont have those hands and that vision

[@Msampare01]

@@jerryrick4685 lol a lot of them do they just maybe don’t perform it a lot cause the nhl is hard ur lucky if you get a highlight in ur career

[@jerryrick4685]

@@Msampare01 a lot of them do, not all, and their the best in the world of all ages. tons of 14 year old's mature fast all over the world, none did what he did at 14. 4 points in first game, its unprecedented

[@TheGiftRF]

Future Oiler

[@fredericgagne4508]

14 years this guy had already the talent to play in the nhl, ridiculous

[@Zaghzackio]

Looks like the best player on the ice, Pure filth!

[@bryce4628]

i feel like if ur name is connor or ur last name starts with Mc ur gonna be a beauty

[@stevenbauer4799]

15 year old exceptional m. misa had two goals in his ohl debut. and assist next game.

[@Barrdown]

14?!

[@axn-]

cant even get a learners permit yet and playing professional hockey. damn son pop off

[@ChrisSandstorm]

Nice!!

[@leoreacts6066]

He might be more skilled than most CHL players, but I dont understand how he physically plays against grown men when he is a kid at 14.

[@danstaneckyj7854]

only allowed to play 5 games, if he is that good, do not hold him back. the sky is the limit.

[@Soggy5271]

He’s my age the hell?

[@caden.23_]

The next Glen Goodall.

[@michaelhiltz7846]

I don't wanna talk down what he did because he did make some very nice plays. But it was 4 points in a 9 - 1 game. Lethbridge didn't really put up a fight or make it hard for him.

[@MrSharkFIN]

He took part in 44% of his teams goals. That's pretty damn good

[@day1avsfan907]

4 points is 4 points

[@KgH72]

0:47 that was fkn nasty

[@ThaSpeedsterZ]

Humble and hardworking.. Not like those wannabe NBA/NFL kids. Stay pure, hockey☝☝

[@whosflair3716]

Hard working in school aswell, he was in some of my classes last year and was actually really well behaved

[@ThaSpeedsterZ]

@@whosflair3716 unlike the black football /basketball kids huh? 😉

[@whosflair3716]

@@ThaSpeedsterZ My school is like 99 percent white lol we don't even have a football team so maybe 😅

[@ethanlommerse2973]

@@ThaSpeedsterZ just straight racist to make that presumption

[@canadiansyrup527]

man if asthma didnt take me over i couldve been on that ice...

[@cosmicsniper6473]

decent hockey player

[@whosflair3716]

"Decent" lol

[@Seany13oy]

Next one to be be giving the exceptionnal status for sure

[@quentingeorge2832]

I mean he obviously has exceptions status if he’s playing in the WHL

[@DrinkGatorade]

What my parents say I should be doing at his age

[@kevindavis9365]

Give him better competition, this is unfair to the players and the goalies.

[@PR0MOTE]

Did he have exceptional status? How can he play at 14? someone help!

[@hypehky5326]

hes late bday 07, 15 very very soon

[@batmancollects4491]

what happened to him? played just this 1 game and never played again

[@PR0MOTE]

save his other 4 games in case they're in a playoff race? idk? LOL. Do the other eligible games he has count in playoffs?

[@justinspitzer6966]

My god what is going on in the bedard family

[@LDMmowandCo]

Btw lethy best team

[@christophercharles3169]

4 points in a game is nice. However, not to be overly negative but, although it's obvious he's got skill, I didn't see anything overtly spectacular in this video. I wish him well but its people who make outlandish comments like the ones for this video that create unreal expectations and immense pressure for a young player.

[@whosflair3716]

I mean yeah but he's 14, literally grade 10, and could still be playing bantam hockey

[@christophercharles3169]

@@whosflair3716 Again, he did nothing special in this game video. Not taking anything away from the kid but he obviously benefitted from good players around him.

[@McRick2000]

@@christophercharles3169 I guess two brilliant passes resulting in first assists, outstanding skating and fighting off checks from players three and four years older than him aren't special.

[@christophercharles3169]

@@McRick2000 You catch on fast. Kids develop at different rates and time will tell if he continues to develop or he tappers off as most kids do. Again, not enough in this video to warrant everyone describing him as if he was the second coming.

[@dreamerzone8]

He's 14 in the CHL playing against competition 2-6 years older than him, and not only holding his own, but putting up points. Are you expecting every point to be a highlight reel in this scenario? Like wtf. Some of them were even really great plays he made.

[@joemcmanus430]

what the fuck are they feeding these kids

[@nickz6143]

As amazing as this is, this kid would never have been able to play in the WHL back when it was mostly roster of 18 - 20 year olds that were 6’4” 200 plus pounds. Not sure why these leagues are pushing such young guys into major junior. We weren’t even allowed to think about going to a try out at age 14, 15 and even 16 year olds were rare to make the league. The games I have seen recently look slower and the teams looks lighter and smaller in terms of physiques. The last Calgary Hitman game I went to a few years ago looked more like the skill level I remember when playing in Junior A, but that is just my opinion. Hope he can stay healthy and not get injured. Would be a shame to ruin his hockey career trying to play at this level too fast. Although like I said, it doesn’t seem like the big players that I remember in the leagues back a few years are no longer in major junior and must be playing Pro these days I guess.

[@bc1173]

you answered your own question. the sport has gotten very small and very soft which allows these kids to play

[@polishpat95]

Some of these were barely assists. Rebounds. Kid got lucky. But I hope to see him do well.

[@dueyev]

Hes all over the puck at FOURTEEN!!

[@whosflair3716]

@@dueyev bro could play in bantam

[@dueyev]

@@whosflair3716 yup its insane!

[@marc-etiennemercier6584]

Wtf is up with all those Mc elites

[@willsk7068]

Lol my kid big cuz

[@bc1173]

when you all but completely remove hitting from the sport this is what happens. this is happen much more often now.

[@skoalface3269]

3 of those were flukey rebounds, lmao

[@shaneh2289]

Wtf

[@kjlahti782]

I worry that jealous 19 year olds will be taking runs at him, trying to "make" a name for themselves .

[@whosflair3716]

Hopefully not, he was in some of my classes last year and was pretty nice for his skill level

[@samlittleton1491]

A rebound off the goalie shouldn’t be an assist…..

[@timmyjohnson1195]

Yes it is. Anyone whose played hockey knows that.

[@samlittleton1491]

@@timmyjohnson1195 no it is not look up the rules.

[@50lbchode43]

@@samlittleton1491 it is

[@whosflair3716]

@@samlittleton1491 like the refs don't know how to ref lol

[@bc1173]

@@samlittleton1491 a rebound off of the goalie is an assist as per the rule book you referred us to, and it also should be an assist as per critical thinking.

[@rocklandbabcock7959]

steroids

[@skatiemustard11]

Is this professional hockey? They look like trash

[@stevenbauer4799]

its jr. hockey, not pro. learn the difference.

[@voiceofreason7567]

*3 of his “assists” were just rebounds to his shots... Those shouldn’t even count.* 🤦👎🗑

[@joe-ey9ir]

He's making smart plays. When there is traffic in front of the net, shooting is almost always a good idea. Plus the first one was really nice.

[@ANTONARGO87]

@@joe-ey9ir Yep, what Walter Gretzky enforced to Wayne anticipation.

[@dom4657]

u go out there n see if u can even keep the puck on ur stick for more then 45 seconds the whole game😭

[@voiceofreason7567]

@@dom4657 please 🤦🤣 I’m much better than you little buddy, just stick to playing house league

[@Zaghzackio]

Imagine hating on a 14 year old kid 😂 that's just pathetic from you

[@frankpeters935]

aq 14 yr old should not be playtinf with men that can drink when he is 18 we are going to sat gavin who??????????????????