Tigers star Gavin McKenna misses Game 3 of WHL final with undisclosed injury
Two days after his record-breaking point streak came to an end, Gavin McKenna was not on the ice for a pivotal game. The Medicine Hat Tigers star did not dress for Game 3 of the WHL final against the host Spokane Chiefs on Tuesday night because of an undisclosed injury, a league spokesperson confirmed. McKenna took the pre-game warmup, but was then deemed unable to play. Medicine Hat News beat reporter James Tubb reported McKenna appeared to not have the same strong skating cuts as usual in Game 2. McKenna was held off the scoresheet in the Game 2 loss, ending his 54-game point streak, the longest modern-era run in the CHL. The Tigers did bounce back without their star on Tuesday, however, winning 6-0 to take a 2-1 series lead. “I’m not going to talk about what the injury was. He was out. Thought he might be able to go, but just wasn’t tonight,” coach Willie Desjardins told reporters after the game. “The nice thing for us is he’s been such a big part of our team all year. It was really nice for us to rally behind him and get one for him because he’s got quite a few for us.” The 17-year-old Whitehorse native was second in the WHL in scoring this season with 129 points in 56 games, and he’s added another 37 points in 15 playoff games. McKenna is projected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. The Tigers suffered another injury scare in the second period when Cayden Lindstrom was slow to get off the ice and appeared to hurt a leg after a hit from Saige Weinstein. Lindstrom did not play in the third period of the one-sided game and the club didn’t specify his injury afterward, though the forward did talk to reporters at the post-game press conference. Lindstrom, picked fourth overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in last year’s NHL Draft, missed the entire regular season and first three rounds of the playoffs with a back injury. Tuesday’s game was the first of three straight in Spokane, Wash. The winner advances to the Memorial Cup in Rimouski, Que. More from Sportsnet Gavin McKenna’s point streak in WHL ends at 54 games Medicine Hat’s Gavin McKenna continues to dazzle with Michigan goal
Two days after his record-breaking point streak came to an end, Gavin McKenna was not on the ice for a pivotal game.
The Medicine Hat Tigers star did not dress for Game 3 of the WHL final against the host Spokane Chiefs on Tuesday night because of an undisclosed injury, a league spokesperson confirmed.
McKenna took the pre-game warmup, but was then deemed unable to play.
Medicine Hat News beat reporter James Tubb reported McKenna appeared to not have the same strong skating cuts as usual in Game 2.
McKenna was held off the scoresheet in the Game 2 loss, ending his 54-game point streak, the longest modern-era run in the CHL.
The Tigers did bounce back without their star on Tuesday, however, winning 6-0 to take a 2-1 series lead.
“I’m not going to talk about what the injury was. He was out. Thought he might be able to go, but just wasn’t tonight,” coach Willie Desjardins told reporters after the game. “The nice thing for us is he’s been such a big part of our team all year. It was really nice for us to rally behind him and get one for him because he’s got quite a few for us.”
The 17-year-old Whitehorse native was second in the WHL in scoring this season with 129 points in 56 games, and he’s added another 37 points in 15 playoff games.
McKenna is projected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
The Tigers suffered another injury scare in the second period when Cayden Lindstrom was slow to get off the ice and appeared to hurt a leg after a hit from Saige Weinstein. Lindstrom did not play in the third period of the one-sided game and the club didn’t specify his injury afterward, though the forward did talk to reporters at the post-game press conference.
Lindstrom, picked fourth overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in last year’s NHL Draft, missed the entire regular season and first three rounds of the playoffs with a back injury.
Tuesday’s game was the first of three straight in Spokane, Wash.
The winner advances to the Memorial Cup in Rimouski, Que.
