By JOHN WAWROW AP Hockey Writer
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — For all the offense, leadership and star-power Gavin McKenna brought to Penn State hockey this season, coach Guy Gadowsky discovered yet another attribute in the celebrated forward’s talented arsenal.
And it involved ping-pong, of all things.
Having dominated most of his players in table tennis over the years, Gadowsky is still stung after meeting his match.
“It wasn’t fun because I was able to beat him on his recruiting trip. And then I beat him early in the season and quite regularly,” Gadowsky recalled. “He just kept on improving and improving and improving. And by the end of it, I think he probably has beaten me more than any other player.”
As the projected No. 1 pick in the NHL draft in Buffalo on Friday night, McKenna has larger visions than ping-pong. Yet what the 18-year-old from Whitehorse, Yukon, did in improving his paddle skills was eye-opening to Gadowsky in reflecting McKenna’s innate competitiveness.
“He has great confidence in his ability to figure things out and improve,” he said, noting how it compared to McKenna’s ability to adapt against older and more physical players at the NCAA level. “He very quickly became the best ping-pong player, and he very quickly became the best (hockey) player in the Big Ten at such a young age.”
McKenna finds his groove in 2nd half
It took the entire first half of the season for the 5-foot-11, 170-pound McKenna to adjust in making the jump from Canada’s Western Hockey League to college.
Driven by his own expectations and outside critics, McKenna found his groove upon returning to Penn State in January after representing Canada at the world junior championship. He had 32 points in his final 17 games to finish tied for fourth in the nation with 51 (15 goals, 36 assists) in 35 outings.
“When you see yourself at the top since a young age, and then you start to see things in the media that I’m falling down, I think you get pretty fired up from it,” McKenna said of his second-half surge.
“I got sick and tired of seeing it, just used it as fuel. I started working harder off the ice, on the ice,” he added. “I don’t think (the criticisms) will ever go away, but it’s something I’ll carry with me forever. I learned that hard work is key to confidence.”
On the draft radar since 2023-24
McKenna’s been pegged as his age group’s top talent since 2023-24, when he piled up 97 points in 61 games in his first full season with Medicine Hat. He followed with 41 goals and 129 points in 56 games the next year, before opting for Penn State — and announcing his decision on ESPN — in the wake of the NCAA lifting its ban of CHL players.
McKenna did so by banking on himself and taking the more difficult path to show he can compete at a higher level.
“If he’d have gone back and played juniors, he’d have piled up the points, which is what we already know he can do,” NHL Central Scouting chief Dan Marr said. “But now he’s shown he can adapt to the level of play, adapt to a different style of play. He just made himself more ready for the NHL.”
Though Sweden forward Ivar Stenberg and U.S. defenseman Chase Reid have been mentioned as potential No. 1 picks, Marr said he wouldn’t bypass McKenna.
The chance to go first to Toronto
The Toronto Maple Leafs are scheduled to pick first, and aren’t tipping their hand, though team executives have met several times with McKenna, including a visit to Whitehorse.
“He wants to win,” Leafs director of amateur scouting Mark Leach said. “He drags people into the fight if you will, not only in games but also in practice. Those are special people.”
McKenna has the opportunity to be the second Yukoner selected in the first round, after family friend Dylan Cozens went No. 7 to Buffalo in 2019.
To develop his skills, McKenna left his hometown behind six years ago in a journey that’s featured various challenges and numerous stops. And now he is days away from potentially landing in one of the NHL’s premier markets.
“There’s no player that I’ve been around that I would bet on to deal with that noise and spotlight more than Gavin because I’ve seen him handle everything here,” Gadowsky said.
McKenna welcomed the possibility of playing in Toronto, and living in a metropolis nearly 100 times the size of Whitehorse’s population of about 39,000.
“If I was a young kid telling myself this is where I’d be, that’d be a dream come true,” McKenna said of speaking in front of a crowd of reporters at the NHL prospect combine earlier this month. “It’s something I’m very grateful for, and something I’ll never take for granted.”
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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhlThe Latest: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer quits and will stay on until successor is chosen
By The Associated Press undefined
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer resigned on Monday, paving the way for Britain to have its seventh prime minister in just over a decade.
He said he was stepping down as leader of the governing Labour Party but would remain caretaker prime minister until a new head is chosen by the party.
Andy Burnham, who won a special parliamentary election last week, confirmed that he will run to succeed Starmer.
Starmer won a landslide victory in the 2024 general election, but a series of missteps badly damaged his credibility.
His resignation comes the day before Britain marks the 10th anniversary of its vote to leave the European Union, a decision that still roils the country’s economy and politics.
Here’s the latest:
Loud cheers as Burnham is sworn in as lawmaker
Andy Burnham has been sworn in as a lawmaker in Parliament.
Loud cheers broke out among lawmakers in the House of Commons as Burnham returned to Parliament after nearly a decade as mayor of Greater Manchester.
European Commission president looks forward to stable relations with the UK
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Starmer “did a true reset built on trust, without any question.”
Speaking on the eve of Brexit’s 10th anniversary of Britain’s departure from the EU, von der Leyen said: “I’m looking forward to resuming a strong and stable relationship with the people of the United Kingdom.”
Burnham greeted by media frenzy as he arrives at London train station
About 50 journalists and photographers waited to greet Burnham as he arrived at London’s Euston station by train from Manchester, ahead of being sworn in as a lawmaker at Westminster.
The former mayor of Greater Manchester told reporters that his “priority” for the day was to be officially sworn in as a lawmaker.
“It’s been very kind of sad for me today to leave Greater Manchester. The people have been brilliant to me over the last few years. I’ve loved every minute of the role,” he said.
Britain and Labour Party would benefit if Burnham faces a challenge for the prime minister post
A leadership contest would strengthen Britain’s new government because it would give front-runner Andy Burnham the chance to lay out his policies before becoming prime minister, said Victoria Honeyman, a professor of politics at Leeds University.
Burnham arrived in London on Monday to take up his seat in Parliament following a special election victory last week.
“If you are Andy Burnham, you want a bit of a proper contest because these kinds of show contests where it’s basically all decided are not necessarily good for anybody,” Honeyman said. “It isn’t good for the country because it doesn’t really kind of wrinkle out all of the issues that people want to talk about. You don’t really get a very good view of the individuals that are competing for the role.”
But Burnham won’t want the contest to be “too bruising,” she said, “because you don’t want the party to be criticized too massively publicly, and you want to be able to present yourself as being unified, which is very difficult if it’s quite a vicious battle.”
Why is Andy Burnham the front-runner to succeed Starmer?
Because many people see him as the best person to defeat the anti-immigrant Reform Party at the next election, according to Olivia O’Sullivan, the director of the UK in the World Program at the Chatham House think tank.
Burnham’s greatest asset is that he appeals to Labour Party lawmakers who were frustrated by the way Starmer has governed, O’Sullivan said. The hope is that he will set out a “clearer vision” and connect with voters in parts of the country that are in danger of turning to the Reform Party, she said.
Burnham was elected to Parliament last week after decisively defeating a Reform candidate in a special election.
“He won a very strong majority in precisely the type of area, the type of constituency that the Labour Party is worried it’s losing,” O’Sullivan said. “So it may be that a lot of his appeal is centered in the fact that he seems to connect better with those voters and offer a clearer vision. But it’s absolutely correct that that is not the same thing as offering a radically different set of policies or even a particularly clear policy program.”
Ukrainian President thanks Starmer
“Keir, thank you for all our cooperation, your support, and the joint decisions that have helped make our Europe and our protection of life stronger,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on X.
“Here in Ukraine, we deeply value Britain, and every meeting and every conversation we have had has always been filled with real substance … I wish the United Kingdom and all British people every success as well as realisation of your national goals. We have confidence in Britain.
Keir, you are always a welcome guest in Ukraine.”
Reform UK leader calls for a general election
Nigel Farage, who leads the anti-immigration party, wrote on X that “Reform demands an election, and we are ready to deliver radical change.”
“If Labour thinks it can shove another professional politician into No 10, it has another thing coming,” he said.
Farage said Labour has betrayed voters’ trust, citing the Starmer government’s unpopular welfare and tax policies and illegal immigration as examples of the party’s failings.
Britain’s next national election doesn’t have to be held until 2029. British politics allows parties to change leaders midterm without the need for a general election.
EU Council president praises Starmer’s role in EU-UK relations
António Costa said on Monday that Starmer helped turn “a new page” in EU-UK relations 10 years after Brexit.
“We turned a new page in EU-UK relations,” Costa said in a social media post. “The EU is committed to continued cooperation in this spirit.”
Starmer was seen as repairing relations with Brussels following Brexit and had helped schedule an EU-UK summit for July 22.
But on Monday, the European Commission said they were reassessing that plan.
Norwegian prime minister thanks Starmer for a ‘strong and close partnership’
“I respect the decision he has made,” Jonas Gahr Støre, a fellow center-left leader, said in a statement.
“The United Kingdom is Norway’s close ally in Europe, and over the past two years our countries have grown even closer through important agreements,” he said.
Støre added: “We have worked closely together to strengthen security cooperation in Europe and to support Ukraine.”
Burnham says the country expects ‘stability and seriousness’
In a post on X, Andy Burnham thanked Starmer for his service and leadership.
He said Starmer’s decision to step down “marks the beginning of a transition and it is important that this process is conducted in an orderly and responsible way. I will put myself forward as part of this process.”
“The country expects stability, seriousness and a continued focus on the issues that matter most and that is what it will get.”
He added: “People want to see progress on economic growth, cost of living, public services, housing and opportunities for the next generation. Political change should never distract from the responsibility to improve people’s lives.”
Andy Burnham will run to succeed Starmer
Former Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham confirms he will run to succeed Keir Starmer as Labour leader and prime minister.
Wes Streeting, considered another leading contender, said he will back Burnham. That makes it more likely that Burnham will be selected without a leadership contest.
Liberal Democrats say ‘merry-go-round of prime ministers’ needs to change
Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat Leader, said Starmer’s replacement would have to change “our broken politics.”
“The British people are sick of being let down by an endless merry-go-round of prime ministers while nothing really changes for them,” he said. “This time must be different. It can’t just be about changing who’s in No. 10, it has to be about changing our broken politics so we can fix our country.”
Zack Polanski, who leads the Green Party, echoed that the U.K. needs a “bold change of direction.”
Referring to former Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, who many expect to become the next Labour leader, Polanski said: “The time for half measures and sticking plasters is long gone — if he becomes the next PM, Burnham must be bold or he will be bust.”
German leader calls Starmer a reliable partner
“The German government has always had in Keir Starmer a reliable and close partner in foreign policy questions, particularly regarding Ukraine,” Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s spokesperson, Stefan Kornelius, told reporters. He declined to comment on the “internal motives in Britain.”
He said the government believes a meeting that Merz plans to host in Berlin Wednesday of the so-called “E5” — Germany, France, Britain, Italy and Poland — will go ahead as planned despite Starmer’s announcement. The meeting is meant as part of preparations for the upcoming NATO summit.
Some key quotes from Starmer’s resignation speech
“Walking up this street two years ago was the proudest moment of my life. A new Labour government. The first in 14 years. A page in our country’s history turned after years of disappointment and despair. … The chance to change the lives of millions of people for the better. That’s what I came into politics for. The journey to that point was not easy.”
“The question my party is asking now is whether I am best placed to lead us into the next general election. I have heard the answer of my parliamentary party to that question. And I accept that answer with good grace.”
“Every decision I’ve taken has been about putting the country I love first. That is why I will resign as leader of the Labour Party. I have spoken to His Majesty the King this morning to inform him of my decision.
“I will remain in post as Prime Minister until the contest is complete. And I will do everything I can to ensure an orderly handover of power.”
The curious sign of the lion and the unicorn
Starmer stood behind a lectern featuring a crest with a lion and a unicorn.
One is not a native of the U.K. and the other is mythical.
Both have shared the distinction of being part of the royal coat of arms since the 17th century.
The lion, although never living in the wild of England, is its national animal. The unicorn, though fictional, is Scotland’s official animal.
The two became part of the crest when the two crowns were united in 1603, when King James I ascended the throne in England; he was already King James VI in Scotland.
Starmer is the sixth prime minister in 10 turbulent years of UK politics
When he was elected in 2024 in a landslide victory for Labour, Starmer pledged to steady the ship and end years of political chaos under his successors, the Conservative Party.
Starmer had succeeded Rishi Sunak, who held the top job from 2022 to 2024.
Before Sunak, Liz Truss lasted only 45 days. Truss followed three other Conservative prime ministers: Boris Johnson (2019-2022), Theresa May (2016-2019), and David Cameron (2010-2016.)
Formal contest to replace Starmer will begin in early July and could end in days
Starmer said Monday that nominations will open on July 9 and close when Parliament breaks up for its summer recess, which is scheduled to begin July 16. The contest will be open to members of Parliament from the ruling Labour Party.
Former Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is the leading candidate to replace Starmer. The question now is whether anyone will challenge him.
If there is no challenge, Burnham could become Labour leader and thus prime minister soon after nominations close. Even if there is a contest, Starmer said a successor would be selected by Sept. 1.
EU leader praises Starmer
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised Starmer’s legacy after news of his resignation in a post online on Monday.
“It can take many leaders years to grow into the statesman you became in just two years,” she said on X. “European and Ukrainian security is stronger because of you. Thank you, dear Keir.”
The prime minister’s speech ends on an emotional note
Starmer’s voice choked with emotion near the end of the brief statement.
“The question my party is asking now is whether I am best placed to lead us into the next general election,” Starmer said. “I have heard the answer of my parliamentary party to that question, and I accept that answer with good grace.”
Starmer resigns
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer says he is stepping down as leader of the governing Labour Party.
Starmer says he will remain caretaker prime minister until a new Labour leader is chosen in the next few weeks.
Starmer made the announcement after facing growing pressure to hand over to a new leader who can try and revive the government’s flagging fortunes. He has been in office since leading Labour to a landslide election victory in July 2024. In those two years, his popularity and that of the party have plummeted.
As Starmer spoke, protesters sing
As Starmer began his speech, protesters nearby played the EU anthem, Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy.”
Expectations of a resignation
Expectation is building that U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer will set out a timetable for his resignation, conceding to pressure from his Labour Party to hand over the reins of power.
If he does, Starmer will be the sixth prime minister in a decade to stand outside 10 Downing Street and announce a premature departure.
Starmer spent the weekend pondering his future following the victory of intraparty rival Andy Burnham in a special election for a seat in Parliament. Burnham, until last week the Labour mayor of Greater Manchester, ran with the aim of challenging Starmer for leadership of the party and the country.
Burnham is due to be sworn in as a member of Parliament on Monday.