Gavin McKenna, projected 2026 No. 1 NHL draft pick, officially commits to Penn State
To State College, Pennsylvania, to be exact.
The projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft has committed to Penn State after deciding between the Nittany Lions and Michigan State.
After the news was reported Monday that the 17-year-old was likely going to don the blue and white, McKenna made it official on Tuesday during an appearance on ESPN's 'SportsCenter.'
The 2024 CHL Player of the Year said he's excited to make the leap from major junior hockey to the stateside NCAA game, which is allowed under a game-changing November decision that will now let players from the OHL, WHL and QMJHL go to college hockey if they so desire.
ESPN reported that McKenna was offered a six-figure NIL deal by Penn State during his recruitment, which is thought to be the highest total for a college hockey player.
Gavin McKenna of Team Canada celebrates his empty net goal during the 2024 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship.
AP
'I feel this is the next step in my development to reach my ultimate goal of playing in the NHL and I am excited to get to Happy Valley,' McKenna said. 'I'm very appreciative for all the support I've received so far, especially to my family who has been with me through it all.'
McKenna spent the last two-plus seasons with the Medicine Hat Tigers in the WHL, tallying an absurd 41 goals and 88 assists this past season to finish second in the league with 129 points.
Landing McKenna is a huge boon for Penn State, which fell to Boston University in the national semifinal — the first time in the program's history it had reached the Frozen Four.
Canada's Gavin McKenna skates with the puck as United States' Drew Fortescue (5) defends during the second period of the USA's 4-1 victory in the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship final on Dec. 31, 2024.
AP
McKenna will be joining another WHL star in defenseman Jackson Smith, who was drafted No. 14 overall by the Blue Jackets after a season on the blue line of the Tri-City Americans.
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