When the Toronto Maple Leafs made the first overall selection in this year’s NHL Draft, the league brought out one of the team’s most famous fans to deliver the news. At the draft, held in Buffalo this year, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman let pop superstar Justin Bieber take the mic and reveal the pick. ‘I’ve been a Leafs fan since I was just a little boy,’ Bieber said while walking to the stage. ‘These nights are so special. I’m so grateful to be here.’ Then,
he revealed that top star Gavin McKenna would be taken with the top pick. ‘Mr. McKenna, we’d like to draft you to the Toronto Maple Leafs!’ Bieber announced. McKenna, a native of Whitehorse, Yukon, chose the Bieber song ‘Yukon’ as a nod to his home as he walked to the stage. ‘To all the Yukoners out there, this song is for you,’ McKenna said in an interview after the pick was announced. ‘Thanks Justin.’ Bieber wasn’t the only star who congratulated McKenna on the selection
to the team. He received a video from his now-teammate and Maple Leafs captain, Auston Matthews, after the pick was made. ‘I know how exciting this is for you and your family, and what an incredible honor it is,’ Matthews said in the video. ‘Congratulations, we’re just as excited to have you join the Maple Leafs and cannot wait to get started.’ McKenna was a star in college at Penn State before being selected in the draft.
Justin Bieber, Toronto Maple Leafs, NHL Draft, Buffalo, Gary Bettman, Gavin McKenna, Auston Matthews, Whitehorse, Yukon, Penn State
So Bettman just let Bieber do the whole thing now??
I love that they brought Justin out, that’s kinda iconic lol. But did I miss something—was the first pick named Gavin McKenna for real?
Wait, I thought Auston Matthews was the one on stage announcing it, not Bieber. Also the kid picked with the top pick and sang a Bieber song?? That seems like a lot for a draft, I dunno.
This is why sports is losing me. Next thing you know they’ll be drafting pop stars instead of players. The article says he was from Yukon and picked “Yukon” like it’s some kind of tribute but… did Justin actually know him or was it just marketing? Buffalo of all places too, like why not Toronto? Anyway congrats to the kid I guess.