HIGHLIGHTS
- Gavin McKenna commits to Penn State
- McKenna is projected No. 1 pick in 2026 NHL Draft
- Read below for more on McKenna’s decision
Gavin McKenna has been the projected first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft for quite some time, and now we know where he’ll be playing this upcoming season.
After some rumors and time to make his decision, McKenna has committed to Penn State University for the 2025-26 NCAA season. He announced his choice live on ESPN Tuesday:
McKenna was reportedly down to between Penn State and Big Ten rival Michigan State, but ultimately has committed to become a Nittany Lion.
The generational talent will be joining a Penn State team that also added commitments like 14th overall pick Jackson Smith, and there are rumors that sixth overall pick Porter Martone could join McKenna if he doesn’t make the Philadelphia Flyers.
McKenna has spent the last three seasons with the Medicine Hat Tigers after being granted exceptional player status to join the Western Hockey League a year early.
The 17-year-old forward is coming off an incredible season in the WHL. He had 41 goals and 88 assists for 129 points in just 56 games. Only Andrew Cristall, who was drafted in 2023, had more points with 48 goals and 84 assists.
McKenna already has quite the trophy case, being named the WHL Rookie of the Year in the 2023-24 season when he put up 97 points (34 goals, 63 assists) in 61 games, and he was named the WHL Player of the Year for his 129-point campaign this past season.
In his WHL career, McKenna has 244 points (79 goals, 165 assists) in 133 games for 1.83 points per game.
Simply put, McKenna is a special player. These types of players were once thought to be generational, but we could very well see McKenna, Connor McDavid, and even Sidney Crosby playing in the NHL come 2026.
