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Maple Leafs select Penn State forward Gavin McKenna with the No. 1 pick in NHL draft
By John Wawrow, Associated Press at KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate)
· 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 The San Antonio
The selection of Gavin McKenna by the Toronto Maple Leafs has no direct impact on San Antonio , but it does spark interest in the local hockey community. San Antonio's own hockey team has been working to grow the sport in the city, and the excitement surrounding the NHL draft can help bring attention to their efforts. As the Maple Leafs look to rebuild with McKenna, San Antonio residents who follow the team may be eager to see how the young player performs. Additionally, the presence of international pop icon Justin Bieber at the draft highlights the broad appeal of hockey, which can help attract new fans to the sport in San Antonio. With the city's strong sports culture, there may be opportunities for local hockey organizations to capitalize on the interest generated by the NHL draft and bring more hockey events to the area.
About this story
Original reporting by KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) . The San Antonio 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 KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: June 26, 2026 ·
Source: KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) ·
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 KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) and curated for The San Antonio readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by John Wawrow, Associated Press at KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate). To learn more about how The San Antonio selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The San Antonio, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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