Gavin McKenna — the projected No. 1 decide within the 2026 NHL Draft — is anticipated to decide to Penn State for the 2025-26 season, in keeping with Cam Robinson of Elite Prospects. An official announcement from this system is anticipated Tuesday.
Starting Aug. 1, 2025, junior hockey gamers from the Ontario Hockey League, Western Hockey League and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League are permitted to play NCAA hockey following a landmark rule change. Up to now, junior hockey gamers have been thought-about professionals and subsequently weren’t allowed to play within the NCAA.
McKenna would be the greatest prospect to ever decide to Penn State’s hockey program. Main as much as his resolution, it was extensively identified McKenna can be taking his abilities to the collegiate stage.
In accordance with Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, McKenna had beforehand visited with Michigan, Michigan State and Denver along with Penn State. The Spartans have been a finalist in McKenna’s recruitment earlier than shedding out to the Nittany Lions.
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McKenna put collectively a sensational season for the Drugs Hat Tigers within the Western Hockey League in 2024-25. The 17-year-old registered 129 factors (41 objectives, 88 assists) in 56 video games, whereas additionally producing 38 factors (9 objectives, 29 assists) in 16 playoff video games as Drugs Hat gained the WHL Championship.
The star winger tallied 2.304 points-per-game, the third-highest mark for a 17-year-old in league historical past behind solely Chicago Blackhawks star Connor Bedard (2022-23) and Rob Brown (1985-86). McKenna finishes his WHL profession with 244 factors (79 objectives, 165 assists) in 133 video games.
McKenna ranked second within the WHL in factors (129) and fifth in objectives (41), whereas main the league in assists (88). The Northern Canada product additionally ranked fifth in power-play assists (28) and was tied for third in shorthanded objectives (4). He additionally recorded a 54-game level streak that began within the common season and lasted by the playoffs.
He’s being labeled as a generational expertise who will seemingly make the bounce to the NHL stage immediately. McKenna’s spectacular season outperformed Connor McDavid’s age-17 season through which the Edmonton Oilers star tallied 99 factors (28 objectives, 71 assists) for the OHL’s Erie Otters.
McKenna will be part of a Penn State hockey program that was categorised as a membership staff previous to the 2012-13 season. Nonetheless, the Nittany Lions have loved fairly an increase over the past decade. Penn State accrued a 22-14-4 file in 2024-25 and reached its first Frozen 4.
The Nittany Lions proceed to construct off of that historic season by securing commitments from Columbus Blue Jackets first-round decide Jackson Smith in addition to Luke Misa, the brother of San Jose Sharks first-round decide Michael Misa. With McKenna becoming a member of the fold subsequent season, Penn State will seemingly be a drive as soon as once more within the Large Ten and will make one other run on the Frozen 4.
