Preseason hockey tends to be a low-intensity of play, with coaches pushing their teams to improve on their basic skills and everyone trying to get into game shape. However, occasionally a youngster appears and takes a complete turn for the worse in the rink. Which is exactly what happened when Gavin McKenna skated out, surprising virtually all of them with a gear that no one would have anticipated seeing so early.
Head coach Jim Hiller did not hide his surprise when reflecting on the kid’s recent performances. Everyone already knew McKenna came with a boatload of skill, lateral agility, and slick playmaking instincts, but it was his raw, straightaway acceleration that really turned heads. Hiller admitted candidly that while observers praised McKenna’s hands, his sheer burst up the ice blew past expectations.
What makes this early-season surge so fun to watch is how quickly McKenna seems to process the game while flying down the wing. Defenders closed the gap in his first few games, forcing turnovers and good pressure. Rather than getting rattled, McKenna simply bounced back, creating additional ice for himself and forcing blueliners across the board to backpedal.
It’s not only the highlight offense, anyway. Hiller made a point to highlight how well the young forward works when he does not have the puck on his stick. Seeing a gifted prospect hustle back on the track, pressure defenders on the forecheck, and play with genuine energy off the puck shows maturity way beyond his years.
He has a strong support system around him, and veterans provide tips and advice following each turn; McKenna is absorbing every second. In all likelihood, this preview is a sign of things to come once the regular season gets underway and fans are in for a raucous time.
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