Gavin McKenna, who is projected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, has announced his commitment to play for Penn State in the 2025-26 season. He revealed his decision during a segment on the “Sports Center” on Tuesday evening. McKenna is the most significant prospect to join Penn State’s hockey program to date, having aimed to elevate his game to the college level.
McKenna described his choice as difficult, noting that while he had many strong options, he and his advisors ultimately decided that Penn State was the best fit for him. Starting August 1, 2025, major junior hockey players from leagues such as the OHL, WHL, and QMJHL will be eligible to play NCAA hockey due to new rule changes, overturning previous restrictions.
According to SportsNet’s Elliotte Friedman, McKenna previously visited Michigan, Michigan State, Denver, and Pennsylvania, with Michigan State being the finalist before Penn State won his commitment. McKenna had an outstanding 2024-25 season with the Medicine Hat Tigers in the WHL, tallying 129 points (41 goals, 88 assists) over 56 games, and adding 38 points in 16 playoff games. His points-per-game rate of 2.304 is the third-highest ever for a 17-year-old in league history, trailing only Connor Bedard and Rob Brown. Over his WHL career, McKenna amassed 244 points in 133 games.
Ranked second in the WHL for points and fifth for goals in the 2024-25 season, McKenna also led the league in assists. He made significant contributions on special teams and maintained an impressive 54-game point streak through the regular season and playoffs. Known as a generational talent, McKenna’s performance even surpassed Connor McDavid’s output at the same age.
Penn State’s hockey program, which was a club team until the 2012-13 season, has made significant progress in recent years, posting a 22-14-4 record in the 2024-25 season and reaching its first Frozen Four. The team has also attracted other top talents, including first-round NHL picks Jackson Smith and Luke Misa. With McKenna joining next season, Penn State is poised to strengthen its position in the Big Ten and make another deep run in the Frozen Four.
Fan Take: Gavin McKenna’s commitment to Penn State is a huge win for college hockey, signaling the rising competitiveness of NCAA programs in developing elite talent. This move could inspire more top junior players to consider college hockey as a viable path to the NHL, further elevating the sport’s profile and quality at the collegiate level.
