Connor Bedard's Cousin Gavin McKenna, Making Serious Waves in the WHL

Meanwhile, the WHL has become a hotbed for emerging talent, catching the eyes of numerous scouts and pundits. Among them is Connor Bedard's cousin, a 15-year-old winger showing promise as a future NHL draftee.

Wearing #72 for the Tigers, McKenna, at just 15, is making waves as an NHL draft-eligible player in 2026. In his 31 games, he's notched up an impressive 39 points, including 8 goals in the last ten games.

As one observer notes,

"Connor Bedard's cousin, Gavin McKenna, in his 16-year-old season, is outpacing everyone else in his class's production for a second year in a row. He's got 3 junior seasons before he's drafted but would already be the highest-scoring per-game draft-eligible skater in the 2022 class lol."

In a game where the Tigers were down 3-0, McKenna showcased his skills, scoring a hat-trick, including the game-winning goal in overtime.

His wrist-shot, reminiscent of his cousin Bedard, adds a spectacular touch to his gameplay. At 16, McKenna stands at 5'11" and 165 pounds, with the potential to fill out and become a solid NHL forward, though not necessarily above average.

The future looks bright for McKenna, who could evolve into a franchise player like his cousin if he maintains this level of performance.

Source: Hawksinsider