The hype around Gavin McKenna has been growing for quite some time.
The hype around Gavin McKenna has been growing for quite some time.
Now, it’s time to see his hockey journey continue in the NCAA.
The 17-year-old announced his commitment to the Penn State Nittany Lions on ESPN’s SportsCenter broadcast Tuesday evening, ending his time in the WHL and playing his NHL draft year against college hockey competition.
"It was a super tough decision," McKenna said on SportsCenter. "Obviously there's a lot of great options out there, but I think me, my family and everyone who's kind of a part of my circle, we all decided that the best spot for me next year will be Penn State university.
"Penn State a great spot for me. I got a bit of a taste of what it's like there and got to bring along my dad, and we both it was a great spot for me."
In his two-plus years with the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers, McKenna has exceeded expectations in every way imaginable.
As a 14-year-old, McKenna put up four points in his WHL debut. He wound up with 18 points in 16 games that year. He followed that up with 97 points the following year, dominating WHL competition. This past season, he took it up a notch with 129 points in just 56 games, leading the Tigers to a WHL title.
McKenna is one of the premier playmakers we’ve seen come through the CHL in recent years, and he’s fiercely competitive. He is a fluid skater who can dash between defenders or cut on a dime. His vision is incredible, as he consistently scans the ice to spot lanes as they develop. McKenna is no slouch as a shooter either. He notched 41 goals on the year this year to go with his 88 assists.
McKenna won nearly every award in the WHL this season and then went on to collect the CHL’s top player award as well as being named to the CHL’s first-team all-star squad. He played for Canada’s World Junior Championship team last year, and despite a disappointing finish, McKenna was their youngest and most impressive player on most nights.
Needless to say, McKenna has proven everything he could in the WHL. That’s why his decision to head to Penn State and take on the NCAA makes so much sense.
When the NCAA made CHL players eligible to compete in the American college level, we knew there would be massive changes to the way players develop prior to going pro.
We’ve seen some big names make the jump ahead of next season. Cayden Lindstrom (CLB), Henry Mews (CGY) and Malcolm Spence (NYR) are among the biggest names that have committed to the NCAA, but Gavin McKenna’s decision is a ground-breaking moment for hockey as a whole.
Hockey fans will follow McKenna closely all year as the top draft-eligible prospect for the 2026 NHL draft. He is a potential franchise-altering player for whichever NHL team drafts him. He’s the most highly regarded prospect in hockey since Connor Bedard and Auston Matthews before that.
What McKenna Brings To Penn State
When McKenna steps onto the Penn State campus, he will arguably be the most highly anticipated freshman in NCAA history.
McKenna will immediately become one of Penn State’s most skilled and effective forwards. He could have one of the best freshman years at the NCAA level over the past 30 years, rivalling those of Adam Fantilli, Macklin Celebrini and Jack Eichel.
McKenna joins a loaded Penn State freshman class that includes Luke Misa (CGY) and the 14th pick in this past draft, Jackson Smith (CLB).
Penn State has become one of the premier recruiting schools since the implementation of name, image and likeness (NIL) deals. The Nittany Lions are investing heavily in hockey, and they’ve been challenging some of the more recent powerhouse schools, such as Boston University, Boston College and Michigan State when it comes to recruiting prospects.
Penn State is building toward becoming one of the most aggressive programs in the country, showcasing all it has to offer, not only from an NIL perspective but also in terms of facilities and development opportunities. Adding McKenna is one of many signs that the Nittany Lions shouldn’t be doubted.
Why Did McKenna Leave The WHL For The NCAA?
The question many will have when it comes to McKenna’s decision to move to Penn State is, what could the Medicine Hat Tigers or the WHL have done to prevent this?
The simple answer is nothing.
This is the new reality. The WHL did nothing wrong, and Medicine Hat was a fantastic place for McKenna to develop the last few years. He’s become the dynamic, silky, play driver we’ve come to know because of the WHL and, more intimately, the Medicine Hat program. McKenna benefited greatly from the coaching, skill work, on- and off-ice workouts and so many other little things that will largely go unnoticed.
Medicine Hat and the WHL will always be part of the story of Gavin McKenna. The CHL and its teams will continue to play a major role in the stories of many future stars. This move is just a player taking his development and future into his own hands.
The NCAA will present a number of other challenges and allow McKenna to play against bigger, stronger and faster players. McKenna can spend additional time in the gym and work on building his body in preparation for what will likely be his rookie NHL season in just over a year’s time.
He will also get out of the CHL system and experience a different version of the hockey development experience. For years, the CHL has taken kids at 16 and sent them to a new city to live with billets and play a 60-plus-game hockey schedule. Maybe that hasn’t been the best thing for some of these kids. This will give McKenna a bit of a college experience – something CHL kids have missed out on until they age out of their respective league at 21 and go to U Sports in Canada.
What Does Gavin McKenna's College Commitment Mean For The CHL And NCAA's Recruiting Saga?Gavin McKenna, the phenom and top prospect for the 2026 NHL draft, is reportedly committing to Penn State. He's expected to make the announcement on ESPN at 6 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
At the end of the day, McKenna will be better off developmentally, and he will be better prepared for the rigors of the NHL. As much as it may hurt the CHL right now, it will grow hockey and make the players better.
McKenna will be a leader in the charge toward the NCAA, particularly for Canadians who once thought the CHL was the only option. Ultimately, this is a very good thing for the game of hockey, and that’s what we should be celebrating.
Category: General Sports
