First Indigenous NHL Draft Pick | Toronto News

Toronto News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 6, 2026 · 1m

Eighteen-year-old Gavin McKenna from Whitehorse just shattered NHL history—selected first overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs, becoming the first Indigenous Canadian to top the draft in nearly 50 years. Wearing a custom suit adorned with family photos and beaded wolf pins made by his sister, he proudly carried his Trondëk Hwëchin heritage onto the global stage, with his family in traditional hide vests by his side. For McKenna, this isn’t just a personal triumph—it’s a beacon for his community, rooted in resilience passed down from his grandfather’s painful journey through residential school…