local
Maple Leafs select Penn State forward Gavin McKenna with the No. 1 pick in NHL draft
By JOHN WAWROW, Associated Press at ValleyCentral (KVEO/CBS4) - Sports
· June 27, 2026
· 1 min read
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Gavin McKenna’s nerves finally eased when lifetime Maple Leafs fan and international pop icon Justin Bieber took the NHL draft stage to announce who Toronto was selecting No. 1. “He was looking at me and I kind of was thinking, maybe,” McKenna said with a laugh. “Crazy. Just ...
Key takeaway (AP) — Gavin McKenna’s nerves finally eased when lifetime Maple Leafs fan and international pop icon Justin Bieber took the NHL draft stage to announce who Toronto was selecting No.
Why this matters in The McAllen
The selection of Penn State forward Gavin McKenna by the Toronto Maple Leafs has no direct connection to McAllen , but it does spark interest in the local hockey community. While hockey is not as deeply rooted in the Rio Grande Valley as other sports, there are still many fans in the area who follow the NHL and its teams. The draft choice may encourage some Valley residents to pay closer attention to the Maple Leafs' performance in the upcoming season, potentially leading to increased interest in hockey overall. As a result, local sports bars and venues may see a boost in viewership and attendance for Maple Leafs games, which could have a positive impact on the local economy. The success of McKenna and the Maple Leafs will likely be monitored by hockey enthusiasts in McAllen, who will be eager to see how the young forward performs at the professional level.
About this story
Original reporting by ValleyCentral (KVEO/CBS4) - Sports . The McAllen surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit ValleyCentral (KVEO/CBS4) - Sports . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: June 27, 2026 ·
Source: ValleyCentral (KVEO/CBS4) - Sports ·
Reading time: 1 min
Get more The McAllen stories like this
Free weekly briefing covering local and other local news. Curated by our editorial team. No spam.
By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy . Unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Gavin McKenna’s nerves finally eased when lifetime Maple Leafs fan and international pop icon Justin Bieber took the NHL draft stage to announce who Toronto was selecting No. 1. “He was looking at me and I kind of was thinking, maybe,” McKenna said with a laugh. “Crazy. Just ...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 27, 2026 by ValleyCentral (KVEO/CBS4) - Sports and curated for The McAllen readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by JOHN WAWROW, Associated Press at ValleyCentral (KVEO/CBS4) - Sports. To learn more about how The McAllen selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The McAllen, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
← Back to all news
More local →
Today’s briefing
Subscribe to newsletter