Gavin 'Klondike Gold' McKenna back home in Yukon after winning U18 world hockey gold

It was quite the coming out party for Gavin McKenna at the under-18 men's world hockey championships in Finland, which wrapped up last weekend.

The 16-year-old from Whitehorse came home with a gold medal, and a handful of new nicknames.

"I kind of like the 'Klondike Gold' one," said McKenna. "I like all of them, but that one kind of stuck out."

That moniker was first thrown out by Team Canada's coach Gardiner MacDougall, a reference to McKenna's on-ice talent, and his Dawson City, Yukon, roots.

Analysts at the tournament began breaking out the nickname whenever the young Yukoner did something incredible on the ice — which was often.

McKenna put up 20 points at the tournament, smashing the previous Team Canada points record of 16. That feat is even more impressive considering he was also the youngest player on the team's roster.

"It's been a pretty crazy experience," said McKenna, a citizen of the Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in First Nation.

"I got to meet lots of new friends in Finland over there, and to top it off I got to win a gold medal with those guys."

This wasn't McKenna's first time wearing the maple leaf for Team Canada, but it was definitely the most notable performance so far in his young career.

"If there's a better player available for the 2026 [NHL] draft, just tell me where he is," proclaimed TSN's Craig Button during a broadcast following one of McKenna's goals.

McKenna, center, with his teammates on the ice last Sunday in Finland. (Jussi Nukari/Lehtikuva/AP)

McKenna was praised for his patience and poise, and both those attributes were on display in the championship game against the U.S.

McKenna scored two highlight-reel goals and sealed the victory when he sent the puck into Team U.S.'s  open net from 90 feet away.

"That was probably one of the best moments of my life," said McKenna. "I kind of blacked out and just remember being unbelievably excited."

'Pretty special' for dad Willy to be there

The big event was also a family affair.

Gavin's father, Willy, made the trip all the way to Finland to watch his son. Gavin had to leave the Yukon at a young age to further his career, so the two don't get to see each other that often.

"He's guided me through everything and done so much, building me a backyard rink and driving me to practices," said McKenna. "For him to be there, and [to] win it for him, that was pretty special."

McKenna back home in Whitehorse last summer. (George Maratos/CBC)

McKenna's tournament was capped when he got back to Canada and was named the Western Hockey League's Rookie of the Year.

The win marks the second time a Yukoner has won the trophy. In 2018, Dylan Cozens was named the top rookie while playing with Lethbridge.

McKenna says Cozens got in touch following the gold medal game in Finland.

"Getting a text from Dylan was pretty cool because he's at the men's worlds right now," said McKenna. "He's obviously busy with his own stuff so to get a text is pretty cool."

The hockey season may be over for McKenna now, but he still has a busy few months ahead. He'll be heading to Boston this summer for some sessions with Bauer Hockey and then may be donning the maple leaf for Canada again at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Edmonton.

McKenna also wants to be involved in some capacity with hockey in Whitehorse.

"I've had so much great support from the city, so I want to pay it back as much as I can," he said. "I'm super grateful of where I've come from."