So why did Gavin McKenna, thought to be the best NHL Draft prospect since Connor McDavid more than a decade ago, commit to Penn State?
The guy could have gone anywhere.
Literally anywhere.
To be clear, Coach Guy Gadowsky’s program is no slouch. The program just came off its best season ever, making it to the Frozen Four for the first time.
Still, any program in the country would have played its home games on a roller rink for a chance to grab a player of McKenna’s stature.
Yet, of all of them, he picked Penn State, and he told ESPN why.
It’s Happening: Penn State Hockey Reportedly Set to Land Phenom Gavin McKenna
“It was a super tough decision,” McKeena said. “Obviously, there’s a lot of great options out there. But I think me and my family and everyone kind of part of my circle, we all decided on the best spot for me next year will be Penn State University. I think Penn State is a great spot for me. I got to kind of get a taste of what it’s like there, and got to bring along my dad, and we both thought it was a great spot for me.”
McKenna got a literal taste of Penn State by visiting the university’s famous creamery.
It’s also fair to wonder why McKenna is bothering playing college hockey at all.
McKenna, a native of Whitehorse, Yukon in Canada, scored 129 points for the Western Hockey League’s Medicine Hat Tigers, and won’t turn 18 until close to the end of the year.
His performance earned him the David Branch Player of the Year, presented annually to Canada’s top amateur player. Previous winners of that award include Mario Lemieux, Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.It’s unfair to predict at this stage that McKenna’s career will be close to as successful as any of those three, who are among the best to ever play.
But players of his caliber or above— including the three mentioned— don’t play college hockey.
At least they didn’t before.
So why does McKenna want to?
“I feel this is the next step in my development to reach my ultimate goal of playing in the NHL and I am excited to get to Happy Valley,” he said. “I’m very appreciative for all the support I’ve received so far, especially to my family who has been with me through it all.”
“I think both options are great, but I just think that’s going to college. And, being in such a great conference, it’ll really challenge me and prepare me.”
McKenna’s main objective long term is, of course, to meet expectations and become one of the best to play the game.
But at Penn State, he wants to lead the team to glory.
“I think the main goal is obviously to win a championship,” McKenna said. “I think you kind of saw what Penn State did this year, making it to the Frozen Four. They’ve come a long ways. And I think next year, when I go there, obviously, that’s the goal, is to win a championship.”
