Penn State hockey coach Guy Gadowsky officially welcomed nine newcomers that comprise seven incoming freshmen and two transfers.
The breakdown of Penn State’s 2025-26 recruiting class consists of four forwards, three defensemen and two goaltenders that will complement a potent offensive nucleus which finished in the Top 10 nationally with 3.48 goals per game last season.
Headlining the newcomers are forwards Gavin McKenna and Shea Van Olm.
McKenna is projected as the next hockey prodigy and No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 Draft. McKenna is a native from Whitehorse, Yukon (Canada) and played his last three seasons with Medicine Hat Tigers, part of the Western Hockey League (WHL) – one of three leagues that comprise the Canadian Hockey League. (CHL)
Last season, McKenna was awarded Four Broncos Memorial Trophy as the WHL MVP and the David Branch Player of the Year Award given to the top player in the CHL.
Van Olm spent last season with the Spokane (Washington) Chiefs in the WHL.
During the 2024-25 regular season, Van Olm led all WHL skaters with 49 goals helping the Chiefs make the WHL finals against McKenna’s Tigers.
Penn State also welcomed at forward Luke Misa and Lev Katzin.
Misa comes to Penn State from the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) Mississauga/Brampton Steelheads and was drafted in the 2024 NHL Draft in the fifth round by the Calgary Flames.
In the last two seasons, Misa had consecutive 80-point campaigns for the Steelheads finishing both seasons in the Top 20 in scoring amongst all OHL skaters.
Katzin just won the Gold Medal for Team Canada in the 2025 IIHF U18 World Championships.
During his rookie season with OHL’s Guelph Storm, Katzin finished fourth in team scoring with 48 points (16 goals, 32 assists) in 44 games.
Penn State brings in a trio of defensemen of high pedigree that includes 2025 NHL Draft first rounder Jackson Smith, who the Columbus Blue Jackets took 14th overall.
During the 2024-25 season, Smith skated with the Tri-City Americans in the WHL where he finished 10th amongst all WHL defensemen in scoring with 54 points (11 goals, 43 assists).
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Smith was a teammate with Katzin on Team Canada’s Gold Medal winning club in the 2025 IIHF U18 World Championship. Smith was a plus seven netting five points (4 goals, 1 assist) during the tournament.
Mac Gadowsky reunites with his father after spending the past two seasons at Army West Point.
Gadowsky was a Hobey Baker finalist last season with the Black Knights where he led all defensemen nationally in scoring with 42 points.
Nolan Collins arrives as an elder statesman having spent four seasons in the OHL with the Sudbury Wolves and the Flint Firebirds.
Collins’ season was cut short last year due to an injury but he still netted 17 points (4 goals, 13 assists) in 36 games for the Firebirds prior to his injury.
For Flint in 2024-25, Collins skated in 36 games, scoring four goals while adding 13 assists for 17 points before his season was cut short due to injury.
The Nittany Lions round out their class with a pair of netminders in Josh Fleming and Kevin Reidler.
Fleming spent last season in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League’s (QMJHL) Acadie-Bathurst Titan.
Last season, Fleming finish in the Top 4 amongst all QMJHL goaltenders in wins (29) and saves (1,542).
Reidler comes to Penn State from the University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO) in the NCHC where he saw limited action last season with a 4-1-0 record and a 2.75 goals against average (GAA).
Considered by many as a fast riser, Reidler was selected by the Ottawa Senators in the fifth round of the 2022 NHL Draft and spent the 2023-24 season in the United States Hockey League (USHL) with the Dubuque (Iowa) Fighting Saints where he posted a 27-5-2 record, 2.86 GAA, and a .902 save percentage.
With Penn State fresh off their first Frozen Four appearance last season, the seven skaters complement a potent offensive core that returns 75% of its total offense and 83% of its goal scoring.
Penn State opens its 2025-26 season with a two-game set in Tempe, Arizona against Arizona State on October 3rd and 4th.
