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WHL Medicine Hat Tigers

McKenna Named Tempo WHL Player of the Week

January 8, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Medicine Hat Tigers News Release


Calgary, Alta. - The Western Hockey League announced today Gavin McKenna of the Medicine Hat Tigers has been named Tempo WHL Player of the Week for the week ending January 7, 2024.

The Whitehorse, Y.T. product led all WHLers with four goals, eight assists and a plus-six rating as Medicine Hat went 3-1-0-0 for the week.

McKenna's first of the week was a stunner against the Red Deer Rebels, blasting a one-timer so fast, fans and officials were unsure whether the puck actually crossed the goal line. McKenna's 12th tally of the season would tie the game at one, and the 16-year-old would chip in an assist on Oasiz Wiesblatt's long powerplay marker en route to a 3-2 overtime victory for the Tigers.

Red Deer would get the best of Medicine Hat in a rematch three days later, but McKenna flexed his speed to overtake a pair of Rebels and snap the puck just inside the post for a powerplay marker.

The 6-foot, 165-pound star showed off his generous side as the Tigers returned home to lower the boom on visiting Tri-City the next day. While McKenna didn't find the back of the net himself, he served up five assists- his highest single-game assist total since wracking up four apples in his WHL debut last season. McKenna earned first star of the night for his efforts.

But the 2026 NHL Entry Draft-eligible forward can only be held scoreless for so long. McKenna would pad his totals once again with a double-double in a 10-4 victory over the visiting Spokane Chiefs. With Medicine Hat playing its third game in three nights, the Chiefs jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the second period. McKenna one-timed a sweet feed from Tomas Mrsic to get the Tigers within one and showed off his wicked release on a partial breakaway to tie the game two minutes later. McKenna won a puck battle in the corner that would lead to Wiesblatt's game winning tally and added another powerplay helper late in the game to seal a successful week.

McKenna has dazzled hockey fans since being selected by Medicine Hat first overall in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft.

He's second in the rookie scoring race with 15 goals (including two game-winners), and 31 assists for 46 points in 36 games.

Medicine Hat (25-12-2-0) leads the Central Division and boasts the most goals (178) and second-highest goal differential (+62) in the WHL.

The Tigers are back in action on January 12 when they travel to Lethbridge (18-16-3-0) for the first of two meetings between the teams this week.

2023-24 Tempo WHL Player of the Week

January 2, 2024: Chase Bertholet, Spokane Chiefs

December 18, 2023: Tij Iginla, Kelowna Rockets

December 11, 2023: Dominik Rymon, Everett Silvertips

December 4, 2023: Conor Geekie, Wenatchee Wild (Arizona Coyotes)

November 27, 2023: Andrew Basha, Medicine Hat Tigers

November 20, 2023: Koehn Ziemmer, Prince George Cougars (Los Angeles Kings)

November 13, 2023: Gabe Klassen, Portland Winterhawks

November 6, 2023: Trevor Wong, Saskatoon Blades

October 30, 2023: Jagger Firkus, Moose Jaw Warriors (Seattle Kraken)

October 23, 2023: Andrew Cristall, Kelowna Rockets (Washington Capitals)

October 16, 2023: Ryder Ritchie, Prince Albert Raiders

October 10, 2023: Easton Armstrong, Wenatchee Wild

October 2, 2023: Jagger Firkus, Moose Jaw Warriors (Seattle Kraken)

September 25, 2023: Zac Funk, Prince George Cougars

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