Gavin McKenna Reaches 100 Points in WHL Season with Medicine Hat Tigers

Image credits: BVM Sports, Best Version Media, LLC.

The Western Hockey League (WHL) has witnessed a remarkable performance by Gavin McKenna, the presumed number one pick for the 2026 NHL draft, as he reached the 100-point mark in just 49 games while playing for the Medicine Hat Tigers. McKenna achieved this feat by slipping a pass to Oasiz Wiesblatt in front of the net in the second period against the Edmonton Oil Kings, bringing his totals to 30 goals and 70 assists in the contest. This milestone makes him the third player in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) to reach 100 points this season.

McKenna's impressive performance has been consistent throughout the season, with the 17-year-old from Whitehorse registering 18 points over 16 games in 2022-23 and 97 points in 61 games last season. According to Cam Robinson of Elite Prospects, McKenna is just the third WHLer in the last 35 years to record 100 points in 49 games or less. This achievement further cements his position as a top prospect for the 2026 NHL draft, with his performance surpassing that of 2023 number one pick Connor Bedard, who needed 62 games to cross the century mark in his pre-draft season. McKenna trails only 2023 Washington Capitals second-round Andrew Cristall in WHL scoring and is third in plus/minus with a plus-43 rating.

McKenna's success has not only been limited to his individual performance, as he has also been instrumental in helping his club, the Medicine Hat Tigers, to the top of the WHL standings. The Tigers entered play with a 37-16-4 record, good for the top mark in the Eastern Conference and the second-highest point total in the league. McKenna's consistent performance has been a key factor in the team's success, and his ability to adapt to different game situations has made him a valuable asset to the team. Despite his regular-season success, McKenna did struggle on Team Canada at this year's world juniors, managing just one goal in five games as the Canadians were bounced by Czechia in the tournament quarterfinal.

In other WHL games, the Calgary Hitmen blanked the Brandon Wheat Kings 5-0, the Everett Silvertips beat the Portland Winterhawks 4-1, the Vancouver Giants won 5-1 over the Kelowna Rockets, and the Lethbridge Hurricanes edged the Kamloops Blazers 5-4 in a shootout. The Prince Albert Raiders defeated the Moose Jaw Warriors 4-1, the Saskatoon Blades prevailed 3-2 in overtime against the Red Deer Rebels, Spokane won a 9-6 barnburner against the Tri-City Americans, and the Regina Pats beat the Swift Current Broncos 4-1. The following are the scores from these games:

• Calgary Hitmen 5, Brandon Wheat Kings 0
• Everett Silvertips 4, Portland Winterhawks 1
• Vancouver Giants 5, Kelowna Rockets 1
• Lethbridge Hurricanes 5, Kamloops Blazers 4 (shootout)
• Prince Albert Raiders 4, Moose Jaw Warriors 1
• Saskatoon Blades 3, Red Deer Rebels 2 (overtime)
• Spokane 9, Tri-City Americans 6
• Regina Pats 4, Swift Current Broncos 1

As the season progresses, McKenna will look to continue his impressive performance and help the Medicine Hat Tigers secure their position in the playoffs. With his exceptional skills and consistent performance, McKenna is likely to be a top pick in the 2026 NHL draft, and his future in the hockey world looks bright. The WHL standings are as follows:

1. Medicine Hat Tigers
2. Edmonton Oil Kings
3. Calgary Hitmen