The Maple Leafs’ travelling fan base is getting the full Gavin McKenna experience out west - Toronto Star

The Leafs' trip ends Saturday in Vancouver, with McKenna's family and friends from Yukon on hand.

Leafs rookie forward Gavin McKenn races Mackie Samoskevich of the Kraken for a loose puck in Wednesday night’s game in Seattle. McKenna recorded his first two-goal game in the NHL.

Gavin McKenna seems to be settling in nicely as a professional, but there’s one thing that stands out to the rookie in his new life as a Maple Leaf: the team’s massive travelling fan base.

He got his first real dose in the opener of their four-game road trip in Edmonton, where “Go Leafs go!” chants drowned out “Let’s go Oilers!” Then in Calgary, an ocean of blue sweaters overwhelmed the Flames’ famed C of Red in the Saddledome stands.

It could be even crazier Saturday night in Vancouver (the closest NHL city to McKenna’s hometown of Whitehorse) where family and friends will wave the Yukon flag alongside the omnipresent Leaf Nation.

“It’s a huge fan base ... It’s definitely cool to see all the support we’ve had around Canada,” McKenna said after the Edmonton game.  

Leafs defenceman Darren Raddysh is enjoying the difference after parts of five seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning: “In Tampa, we had a good following, but playing in Toronto now, when you’re on the road it feels like you’re at home sometimes.”  

McKenna has been the central attraction on this trip and while he might not enjoy the extra scrutiny, he has lived up to the billing of a No. 1 draft pick. He’s brought youthful enthusiasm to a team that needed it, and introduced a chicken wing goal celebration (imported from Penn State, where he played last season).

GAVIN MCKENNA HAS THE FIRST TWO-GOAL GAME OF HIS CAREER‼️ https://t.co/6mTPDcF6wK

His playing time has also been a source of debate. McKenna missed one shift in the first period of Wednesday’s 5-4 loss to the Kraken in Seattle and the panel on Sportsnet’s coverage was in a tizzy, wondering if coach Jim Hiller was sending some sort of message. They scrutinized his previous shift and concluded he hadn’t done anything egregious, but continued the discussion.

The likely reason was to get teammate Colton Sissons some ice time, while also needing a faceoff win from the right dot. Sissons was playing with Bo Groulx and Vinni Lettieri, a line that didn’t see much action in that game.

With forward Kirill Marchenko injured, McKenna started the game in Seattle on the top line with Auston Matthews and Jack Roslovic. McKenna finished with two goals and an assist to take the NHL rookie scoring lead. Did Hiller see any chemistry?

“On the power play, for sure,” said the Leafs coach. “At five-on-five I didn’t think they did all that much, to be honest with you, but definitely the power play and six-on-five. Beautiful goals on the power play, no question.”

They played about nine minutes together and had the puck two-thirds of the time, but didn’t create a single high-danger scoring chance according to naturalstattrick.com.

None of McKenna’s points were at five-on-five. Both goals were on the power play, making the 18-year-old the youngest Leaf to score twice in a game with the man advantage. The assist was on Matthews’ tying goal with Sergei Bobrovsky pulled for an extra attacker.

With 11 points, McKenna is the 11th teenager in Leafs history with 10 or more in his first 15 games, a list that also includes Matthews and Mitch Marner. And in the past 80 years, Vincent Damphousse and Wendel Clark were the only other 18-year-olds with two-goal games as a Leaf.

Asked about the achievements, the rookie deflecting credit to Matthews: “When you’re playing with a guy like that, it makes it pretty easy.”  

“Everything is pretty much top notch here with the plane, with the food,” said McKenna. “You’re always getting the best.”

After back-to-back wins, the Leafs will look to bounce back in Vancouver on Saturday night with plenty of support from Whitehorse.

“Looking forward to playing in front of those people,” said McKenna.  

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Kevin McGran is a Star sports reporter based in Toronto. Follow him on Bluesky @kevinmcgran