Gavin McKenna is one of the most talked-about prospects in hockey, and he hasn’t even been drafted yet. The 17-year-old forward is far and away the consensus number-one overall selection in the 2026 NHL Draft, but where he will play in his draft year is still to be determined.
McKenna has spent the past three seasons in the WHL with the Medicine Hat Tigers, recording 129 points (41g, 88a) in 56 games last season. While he could stick around for a fourth year in Medicine Hat, there are whispers that he’s headed to the NCAA. And if he does opt for college hockey, one of those options could be the Penn State Nittany Lions.
“I was asking a few people around hockey what they thought, and informal straw poll, I would say Penn State,” hockey insider Elliotte Friedman said on the 32 Thoughts Podcast. “That’s who the favorite is. Nothing’s done until it’s done. I was told it would be premature to make any enormous proclamation. But I asked a bunch of people around and said if you had to pick where he’s going to play next year, most of them picked Penn State.”
Penn State is coming off their first-ever appearance in the Frozen Four this past April, falling to the BU Terriers 3-1 in the semifinals. While Friedman says they remain the favorites to land McKenna, the mega-talented youngster will reportedly make several visits to other schools in the US.
McKenna is eligible to jump into the college ranks after the NCAA voted last November to allow Canadian junior players eligibility for Division I play beginning next season. Previously, the NCAA deemed all players in the OHL, WHL, and QMJHL ineligible due to the presence of some who had already signed professional contracts with NHL teams.
A return to the WHL hasn’t been ruled out, and McKenna could believe he has some unfinished business after leading the Tigers to the Memorial Cup but falling 4-1 to the OHL’s London Knights in the championship game. In 16 playoff games, McKenna recorded 38 points (9g, 29a).
Penn State has produced three NHL players, including Brett Murray, Brandon Biro, and Casey Bailey. Other pro standouts from the school include AHLers Alex Limoges, Ryan Kirwan, Connor MacEachern, Simon Mack, Kris Myllari, Nikita Pavlychev, Nathan Sucese, and Kevin Wall.
