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Gavin McKenna of Penn State University in the Big Ten has been filing a draft diary for NHL.com this season leading up to the 2026 NHL Draft. The 18-year-old freshman left wing (5-foot-11, 170 pounds), who was born in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada, was selected No. 1 by the Toronto Maple Leafs on June 26. The sixth-youngest player in men's college hockey had 51 points (15 goals, 36 assists) in 35 games. McKenna filed his final entry after the first round of the draft at KeyBank Center in Buffalo.

Hello hockey fans,

So, I got into Buffalo with my family on Wednesday at around 4 p.m. to kind of settle in and get ready for the weekend.

For the most part, I was just hanging out with my family since I don't get to be with them a whole lot since I've been away from home since the age of 12 preparing for this very day. There were some agency dinners that I attended. One of my best buddies, Ryder Ritchie, was in town and we actually had a sleepover (Thursday night). I really wanted Friday to arrive as soon as possible, but it was great to spend some time with the local kids at the Hockey Clinic on Friday morning at HarborCenter. I wanted the day to get here as soon as possible, and it certainly didn't disappoint.

It was pretty special to have Justin Bieber announce you as the first pick in the NHL Draft to the Toronto Maple Leafs, and then to get that video message from Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews was really special.

Gavin McKenna announced as Maple Leafs' No. 1 overall draft pick

Anytime your captain and a player who has cemented himself in the League and is one of the best, sends you a video, it's pretty special. He actually sent me a text after the NHL Combine, so I've had conversations with him. He's just an exciting player and I hear he's a great person. I'm looking forward to getting to meet him and potentially try and learn as much as I can from him and, who knows, maybe play on a line with him if I'm lucky.

For me, still being a young kid, Austin Matthews is kind of a guy I've watched a lot. He's the, if not one of the best goal-scorers in the League so to have the opportunity to play with him, play alongside him and learn from him ... I can't wait.

I have played as Auston Matthews in "EA Sports NHL 25" and his shot is overpowering. I always try to get him when playing.

Hearing my name called was a very special moment. Getting hugged by my family after all these years of hard work and sacrifices was a moment I'll never forget. My grandfather (Joe Mason) said he's so proud of me. I wish I could relive that moment over and over again. I can't wait to see them after all this is done and give them another hug because it was one of the best feelings I've ever had.

I wore a special suit for the occasion. On the inside everything was in orange, being Indigenous. I thought it was fitting and I had every single family member in my suit jacket. Without those people, I wouldn't be here today, so the least I could do is put them in my suit jacket. My sister ended up making me some beads that represent being part of the Wolf Clan. The orange part also represents orange shirt day, and how every child matters. On the outside it was red, which represents the woman we lost at residential schools and for red dress day. It all has a lot of meaning to me.

Welcome to the NHL: Gavin McKenna prepares for NHL Draft

I've been thinking of this day for a while and everyone talks about the pressure and performing in Toronto but, honestly, I think I've dealt with pressure quite a bit in my life. As I said before, my grandpa has been through a lot harder pressure than I've been through so I just try and be grateful. Getting to go to a market like Toronto and have those passionate fans ... I'm so excited.

Now that I'm with the Maple Leafs, I'm sure I'll hear some booing from the Buffalo fans, but I've heard booing in every visiting rink I went to. I was the villain all year while at Penn State, whatever barn I went to. So, I'm looking forward to it.

The plan now is to attend development camp and, after that, I think the plan is to just go back to Kelowna (British Columbia) or Vancouver and train there. It's obviously a super big summer for me, so I got to make sure I'm putting in the work, off and on the ice, and hopefully all that training pays off, and then I can make the jump to the next level.

Thanks for reading all season. Enjoy the summer.

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