Penn State men’s hockey had a landmark season in 2024-2025, appearing in its first Frozen Four in program history.
Things are looking up for the once club program, seeing a significant rise to glory under head coach Guy Gadowsky.
The future appears to be even brighter.
Penn State is in the running to land one of hockey’s next superstars.
17-year-old Gavin McKenna is considered to be hockey’s next great talent. McKenna is believed to be a slam-dunk choice as the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft.
A lefty forward from Whitehorse, Canada, McKenna could soon come to the United States and play college hockey.
And it very well could be in Happy Valley.
According to NHL insider Frank Seravalli, McKenna visited Penn State and Michigan State this weekend.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Seravalli reported the two schools are the only two on-campus visits McKenna has scheduled, to this point.
After incoming freshman Jackson Smith was selected 14th in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft Friday, ESPN insider and Penn State alum Emily Kaplan said she believes the Nittany Lions will sign McKenna.
“As a Penn State alum, I do think it’s a really exciting time for our program,” Kaplan said. “I do believe we’re going to get Gavin McKenna as well.”
Cam Robinson of Elite Prospects believes we’re going to hear a decision “in the coming days.”
McKenna scored 41 goals and totaled 88 assists for 129 points in 56 games this past season playing for the Medicine Hat Tigers in the WHL.
He registered 10 goals in seven games for Team Canada during the 2023-24 World Juniors Under-18 Team. McKenna has scored 79 goals in 133 WHL games.
McKenna is viewed as arguably the best prospect since Auston Matthews and Connor McDavid, bringing significant expectations to his college team.
