Penn State
Penn State Hockey Reportedly Set To Add 2026 Presumptive Number 1 Overall Pick Gavin McKenna
Penn State Great Valley MBA, Penn State Berks Undergrad, Eagle Scout and Vigil Honor, IT Service Manager. I joined Sports Talk Philly in 2017 and root for all the Philly teams (as well as their minor league counter parts).
All posts by Paul BowmanPublished07 Jul 2025
Penn State Hockey is coming off their best season and already had a commitment from Jackson Smith (picked 14th overall in the 2025 NHL draft) to join the team this year.
Now, they’re poised to add what they hope will be a generational talent in Gavin McKenna.
BREAKING: Multiple sources indicate that Gavin McKenna will commit to Penn State University for 2025-26
One of the most electrifying prospects chooses the Nittany Lions. A game-changing get for PSU hockey.
Read more: https://t.co/5L6NFs8rqq pic.twitter.com/8KodDOh5nW
— Cam Robinson (@Hockey_Robinson) July 7, 2025
With the Medicine Hat Tigers last year, he recorded 129 points in just 56 games (2.3 points per game average), which is emblematic of a talent that many consider to be a generational one.
Already, McKenna is widely considered the favorite to be selected with the first overall pick in the 2026 NHL draft next year.
That will mean that McKenna will play at least one season with the Nittany Lions after he signed with the team.
The rumors of his signing began on Monday after reporting from Jordan Schmaltz.
Sounds like Gavin McKenna will be signing with Penn State sometime this week. Maybe even as early as today. He was added to the team group chat last night. Big news in the college hockey scene. 👀
-People’s
— Jordan Schmaltz (@J_Swish24) July 7, 2025
Penn State has been taking advantage of the CHL players now being eligible to play in NCAA as McKenna joins Nolan Collins, Josh Fleming, Lev Katzin, Pierce Mbuyi, Luke Misa, and Shea Van Olm as recent commitments from the league.
Reports had indicated for weeks that Michigan and Michigan State were the other two teams pushing hard for the commitment from the 17-year-old, but Michigan was ruled out with McKenna not bothering to visit Ann Arbor. That left the duel between MSU and PSU.
Michigan State had the hockey history, but Penn State is looking to write it’s own history and it looks like McKenna will soon be on board to do just that.
