Gavin McKenna, the consensus No. 1 prospect for the 2026 NHL Draft, has reportedly committed to Penn State University for the 2025-26 season. This decision is a landmark moment for both the Nittany Lions and NCAA hockey, as McKenna is widely considered the most talented Canadian-born prospect since Connor Bedard. His commitment instantly elevates Penn State into national championship contention and signifies their emergence as a major recruiting force.
McKenna's choice to play college hockey is being viewed as "groundbreaking" because players of his caliber typically haven't chosen the NCAA route before. A recent rule change now permits junior hockey players from the Ontario Hockey League, Western Hockey League, and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League to play NCAA hockey. Previously, these players were considered professionals and ineligible for NCAA competition.
Several factors contributed to McKenna's decision, including the opportunity to experience campus life before turning pro and the potential to earn significant income through Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) programs. Penn State's aggressive and well-funded NIL program has made them an attractive alternative to the CHL and traditional NCAA powerhouse schools. According to sources, Penn State's NIL offer to McKenna was in the neighborhood of $700,000, dwarfing Michigan State's offer of $200,000 to $300,000. This package is reportedly the richest in the history of college hockey.
McKenna is a 17-year-old forward who had a sensational season with the Medicine Hat Tigers in the Western Hockey League (WHL) in 2024-25. He registered 129 points (41 goals, 88 assists) in 56 games and added 38 points (9 goals, 29 assists) in 16 playoff games, leading Medicine Hat to the WHL Championship. McKenna also had a 54-game point streak that carried over from the regular season into the playoffs, a CHL record for the 21st century. He was named the WHL and CHL Player of the Year, joining a list of honorees that includes Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid.
With McKenna joining the program, Penn State's odds to win the 2025-26 NCAA championship have jumped to +500. He will join a team that reached its first Frozen Four in 2025 and is adding other top recruits, including Columbus Blue Jackets first-round pick Jackson Smith and Luke Misa.
McKenna's commitment is a significant blow to the WHL and the CHL as a whole. It signals that the NCAA is now a preferred developmental destination for elite hockey talent. Factors like NIL money, professional-grade facilities, and older, more competitive opponents are increasingly influencing players' decisions. The move could encourage more top prospects to consider the NCAA route, potentially reshaping the landscape of junior hockey.
