Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1538407
4 4 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M O n the heels of its first Frozen Four appearance, the Penn State men's ice hockey team took another leap forward in July when it landed Gavin McKenna, the highest-profile signee in program history. McKenna, a 6-foot, 170-pound left winger, is projected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. He's been described as a "generational talent," and his arrival has given rise to hopes that Penn State will challenge for the national championship in 2026. "Gavin is a special player and a terrific young man," head coach Guy Gadowsky said. "Our staff could not have been more impressed with how he presented himself on his visit. His arrival to Hockey Valley is extremely significant not only to our hockey program, but to Penn State athlet- ics and to college hockey as a whole." McKenna chose Penn State over Michi- gan State, announcing his decision July 8 on ESPN's "SportsCenter." He could also have returned to his junior team, the Medicine Hat Tigers, who compete in the Western Hockey League, one of three elite junior conferences run by the Canadian Hockey League. The Tigers would have loved to welcome back last season's CHL Player of the Year for one more cam- paign before he heads to the NHL. But the NCAA no longer bars CHL players from competing at the college level, opening the door for McKenna to sign with Penn State. Following his commitment, McKenna told ESPN he's looking to help build on what the Nittany Lions accomplished last season, when they rebounded from a lackluster start and advanced to the Frozen Four with wins over Maine and Connecticut in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. "I think the main goal is obviously to win a championship," McKenna said. "You saw what Penn State did this year, making it to the Frozen Four. They've MEN'S ICE HOCKEY In Gavin McKenna, Lions Welcome A 'Generational Talent' G R E G P I C K E L | G R E G . P I C K E L @ O N 3 . C O M McKenna comes to Penn State after finishing second in the Western Hockey League last season with 129 points on 88 assists and 41 goals. PHOTO COURTESY PENN STATE ATHLETICS