South Alberta Hockey Academy forward and Medicine Hat Tigers prospect Gavin McKenna was named the CSSHL's U18 MVP this season. - FILE PHOTO JAMES TUBB
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At the beginning of the 2022-23 CSSHL season Gavin McKenna laid out a list of goals for himself and his South Alberta Hockey Academy team. On May 4, one of those goals came to fruition.
The 15-year-old Medicine Hat Tigers prospect was named CSSHL U18 MVP after his 37 goal, 75 points in 26 games in the SAHA blue, black and white. He says they had a project heading into the season where they had to outline their goals for the year ahead, he achieved three of the four.
“The goals I had were to win a championship, win the Circle K Classic and then personally, lead the league in scoring and win MVP,” McKenna said.
He was tournament MVP in SAHA’s run to the Circle K Classic championship in January, their second straight tournament win, led the U18 league in scoring by a nine-point margin playing in four fewer games than second place, and while he was back home with family and friends in Whitehorse, Yuk., he was named MVP.
All goals he says weren’t possible without those around him.
“It was a good year and I have to give a lot of credit to my linemates,” McKenna said. “They kind of switched around a little bit, but for the most part I was with Kade Duell and Kadon McCann, they helped me out a lot.
“I couldn’t have done it without my team. There’s a great group of guys behind me so they were a huge help. The coaches and everyone at SAHA, they all helped me in the gym, on the ice at practice and really every day. I couldn’t have done it without anyone on my team.”
McKenna was driving with his friend Luke Cozens, Yale U18 forward, Lethbridge Hurricanes prospect and brother of former Hurricane Dylan Cozens, when he learned he was MVP. Cozens was previously named the CSSHL’s U18 most sportsmanlike, giving the pair reasons to congratulate each other.
“He was pretty happy, he won most sportsmanlike so I was pretty happy for him,” McKenna said. “He returned the favor and was pretty proud of me as well.”
Reflecting on the season as a whole, McKenna says the success he had will help set him up going forward.
“It was a good year for sure, growing up, I obviously still am, but I was just a straight playmaker, and I think being in U18 I kind of learned how to score some more this year which will help me a lot for the future. It was definitely one of the best seasons I’ve had yet. So it’s one of the ones I’ll remember for sure,” McKenna said.
The MVP award caps off what will be McKenna’s final year of minor hockey as he enters his rookie season with the Tigers having already made an impression in the Western Hockey League. McKenna had four goals and 18 points in 16 regular season contests with the Tigers, registering a goal in their four-game playoff series against the Winnipeg Ice.
He says the award gives him confidence heading into the offseason and is proud of the hard work he displayed in his minor hockey career.
“Growing up and then moving away, it was a bit of an adjustment but it was a huge step for me,” McKenna said. “Just getting a new taste of hockey and a new challenge. Now moving on, hopefully, I’ll be in the WHL next year and it’ll be a great year. But my minor hockey career was pretty fun.”
It may not be for school, but he’s already getting his list of goals ready for the upcoming season.
“Probably rookie of the year and there’s tournaments like the U17’s I hope I get the opportunity to play in, and then it’s just team goals like winning a championship,” McKenna said.
