The stock of local rising hockey star Gavin McKenna is trending upwards as he is participating in the selection camp for the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

He will be seeing plenty of familiar faces at the Under-18 camp, which is taking place at the WinSport Event Centre in Calgary from July 27-30. 

“I’m excited,” said the 16-year-old McKenna. “It’s always an honour to have a chance to represent your country.” 

The camp roster includes five players who won gold at the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship in Finland in May: McKenna, Caleb Desnoyers, Reese Hamilton, Jack Ivankovic, and Matthew Schaefer.

McKenna set a record for points by a Canadian with 10 goals and 10 assists for 20 points during that tourney. 

He sparked Team Canada to the gold medal win with a hat trick and an assist in the final against the U.S. 

McKenna was named one of the three best players of the tournament for Team Canada, along with McKenna’s linemate Porter Martone and goaltender Carter George. 

“I’m excited to get the chance to play with some familiar faces,” related McKenna. 

Forty-one players, including four goaltenders, 12 defensemen and 25 forwards were invited to the camp. 

The camp includes a pair of Red-Black scrimmage games today and tomorrow.

McKenna, was the first Yukoner to be chosen first overall in the Western Hockey League (WHL) draft, in 2022, by the Medicine Hat Tigers. 

He was also named WHL 2023-24 Rookie of the Year.

McKenna, a member of the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation, is projected by some hockey analysts as a potential number one overall pick in the 2026 NHL entry draft. 

According to the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup website, it is the only best-on-best competition at the U18 level. 

Canada has won 24 of the 32 gold medals awarded in the tournament since 1991. 

The 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup takes place in Edmonton Aug. 5-10.