Gavin McKenna Commits to Penn State University
In a move that will send shockwaves throughout the hockey world, multiple sources indicate to Elite Prospects that Gavin McKenna, the presumptive first-overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, will commit to play for Penn State in the 2025-26 season.
The official announcement is coming later this week.
It’s a pivotal moment not only for the Nittany Lions but for NCAA hockey as a whole. McKenna, widely considered the most talented Canadian-born prospect since Connor Bedard, becomes the most high-profile recruit in college hockey history.
For Penn State, a program that has grown steadily since its Division 1 inception in 2012, this commitment instantly vaults them into national championship contention and signals their emergence as a major recruiting force.
While Michigan State had long been linked as a top contender for McKenna’s services and ended up the bridesmaid, Penn State has quietly been emerging as a legitimate power in the NCAA landscape.
Armed with one of the country’s most aggressive and well-funded NIL programs, Penn State has increasingly been viewed by top prospects as a viable, and in many cases superior, alternative to the CHL or traditional NCAA powerhouse schools.
“Penn’s operation is one of the best in college hockey,” one NCAA source said. “They’ve built an environment that's very competitive financially, but also a highly attractive experience for the student-athlete.”
And that environment has already drawn top-tier names. Calgary Flames prospect Luke Misa was the first to commit after scoring 34 goals and 85 points for Brampton this past season. He was followed by the most recent 14th overall selection, Jackson Smith, a smooth-skating 6-foot-3 defender with boundless potential.
Both are slated to arrive at Penn State in the fall. Add McKenna to the mix, and Penn State’s newest freshman class might be one of the most talented collections of incoming talent the NCAA has seen in a long time. They’re joining a roster that went all the way to the Final Four last spring and will return many core pieces.
McKenna's decision also represents a significant blow to the Western Hockey League and the CHL as a whole. Medicine Hat surely made a strong push to keep their young star. But in today’s evolving development landscape, factors like NIL money, professional-grade facilities, and older, more competitive opponents carry more influence than ever.
As a result, college hockey has quickly become looked at as the best place for the very elite 18-19-year olds. For Americans and Canadians..
It should be emphasized that this isn’t about the WHL failing McKenna. It's about an individual choosing the very best path for his development.
At 6-foot, 170lbs, McKenna blends high-end skating, elite vision, and fierce competitiveness. He has dominated the WHL through his two-plus seasons in the league, but none more than this past season when he was named WHL and CHL Player of the Year.
He finished second in league scoring with 129 points in 56 games, while mixing in a 54-game point streak, en route to leading his club to the Memorial Cup finals.
He’ll arrive at Penn State as the most anticipated freshman in program history, and perhaps in NCAA history. And while McKenna is expected to play just one season of NCAA hockey before turning pro in the fall of 2026, that one season has the potential to be remarkable.
