Gavin McKenna made headlines earlier this month when he announced he would be leaving the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers to join the Penn State Nittany Lions in NCAA hockey next season.
Projected as the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, McKenna had a remarkable 2024–25 season with Medicine Hat, tallying 41 goals and 88 assists for 129 points in just 56 regular-season games. At only 17 years old, his offensive output surpassed what Connor McDavid posted at the same age in the OHL.
The decision to head to college hockey marks a significant shift in McKenna’s development path. He helped the Tigers capture their first WHL Championship since 2007 and reach the Memorial Cup final before making the jump.
“There’s a lot to be excited about,” McKenna told The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler. “Heading to college and playing my first game — that’ll be pretty amazing.”
The move also gives McKenna another chance to elevate his game ahead of a possible return to the World Juniors. His first appearance in the tournament with Team Canada didn’t meet expectations — he registered just one goal in five games as Canada was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Czechia.
“Last year wasn’t the best way to go out,” McKenna said. “I know a lot of us will have a big chip on our shoulders this year, and that’s going to be exciting.”
Penn State only began competing in NCAA Division I men’s hockey in 2011, but the program has quickly grown. The Nittany Lions made their first Frozen Four appearance in 2025, falling in the semifinals to Boston University.
For McKenna, Penn State just felt like the right fit from the start.
“From the beginning of the process, I had a feeling it would be Penn State,” he explained. “After touring the facilities and meeting the staff and some of the players, I knew it was somewhere I could call home. On top of that, they have a great team with a real chance to win — and that’s the goal next year.”
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