Yukon fans celebrate hometown star Gavin McKenna's draft to the Maple Leafs

For Yukon hockey fans, it was arguably the event of the year.

And for the territory's Toronto Maple Leafs fans, it was like a dream come true on Friday, when hometown hero Gavin McKenna was picked by the Leafs with the first overall draft pick.

"You know, we may not be winning the Cup today, but we're winning something and we'll take it," said Paul Robitaille, a longtime Leafs fan in Dawson City, Yukon.

"This is a big deal."

Hundreds of people had gathered in Whitehorse and Dawson City on Friday afternoon to watch the draft, which happened in Buffalo, N.Y.

McKenna is a citizen of the Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in First Nation, which is based in Dawson City. Alysha Van Bibber, also a Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in citizen, helped organize a watch party at the First Nation's community hall in Dawson.

"I don’t know him or really his family personally, but just the investment I think, as a citizen and somebody who lives up in the Yukon and all of that — I was surprised at how nervous I got," Van Bibber said.

"I think everyone was nervous, and when his name came out of Justin Bieber’s mouth — which also was crazy — I think it was kind of relief and excitement from everybody."

McKenna is the second-ever Indigenous player from Canada to be selected first overall in the NHL draft. The last one was Dale McCourt of the Kitigan Zibi Anishinābeg First Nation, who was selected first overall by the Detroit Red Wings in 1977.

Gregory McKenna, who says he's Gavin's great-uncle, came to the Dawson gathering on Friday because he was curious to see how many people would show up. He was wearing a Medicine Hat Tigers jersey — Gavin's former Western Hockey League team.

"I was proud," Gregory said, of watching it all play out on Friday. Asked what he hopes comes