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Globe and Mail
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Globe and Mail
Canadian hockey phenom Gavin McKenna heading to Penn State
Gavin McKenna's long-rumoured move to the NCAA is official. In a game-changing decision for junior hockey, the presumptive No. 1 overall pick in next year's NHL entry draft announced on ESPN's SportsCenter on Tuesday that he's leaving the Western Hockey League and committing to Penn State University. 'It was a super-tough decision,' McKenna said. 'Obviously there are a lot of great options out there. But me, my family and everyone who's part of my circle decided that the best spot for me next year would be Penn State University.' McKenna said having the chance to go against 'older, heavier, stronger guys' in college will help prepare him for the NHL. McKenna had 41 goals and 88 assists in 56 regular-season games for the Medicine Hat Tigers last season. He joins the Nittany Lions after helping Medicine Hat win its first WHL title since 2007 and reach the Memorial Cup final. 'Obviously, the (WHL) was a great spot, and I'm very grateful for what it did for me and my family,' he said. 'I think both options are great, but I just think that going to college and being in such a great conference, it'll really challenge me and prepare me.' The 17-year-old from Whitehorse, who also played for Canada at the world junior hockey championship, has an exceptional blend of deceptive playmaking, elite stickhandling and shifty skating. In June, the six-foot winger became the third-youngest Canadian Hockey League player of the year behind Sidney Crosby and John Tavares. As the OHL hopes for another top NHL pick, Canada's junior hockey landscape faces change McKenna is the latest – and biggest – talent exiting the Canadian ranks for the NCAA in a changing junior hockey landscape. The NCAA lifted a long-standing ban in November, allowing CHL players to compete at U.S. colleges starting next season. A wave of CHL players nearing the end of their time in junior committed to American schools in the following months. McKenna, meanwhile, joins a growing number of WHL, OHL and QMJHL prospects committing to the NCAA with their junior careers in full swing. Keaton Verhoeff, another top 2026 draft prospect, is departing the WHL's Victoria Royals to join the University of North Dakota. Cayden Lindstrom, McKenna's Medicine Hat teammate and last year's fourth overall pick, is heading to Michigan State. Calgary Flames prospect Luke Misa, of the OHL's Brampton Steelheads, and defenceman Jackson Smith, this year's 14th overall pick who spent the past three seasons with the WHL's Tri-City Americans, have also committed to Penn State. The Big Ten school posted a 22-14-4 record last season and lost to Boston University in the Frozen Four semi-final. The NCAA approved new rules in June that allow colleges to directly pay their athletes, a practice previously forbidden for decades. College athletes can also profit off their name, image and likeness since June, 2021. The CHL, meanwhile, operates under an amateur student-athletes model and can only provide players a modest monthly stipend. Players are, however, allowed to pursue sponsorship deals. McKenna's season ended with a 4-1 loss to the London Knights in the Memorial Cup final, capping a stellar campaign that included a whopping 54-game point streak. Rumours surrounding his departure picked up steam in the weeks that followed, with the phenom reportedly visiting several U.S. schools this summer. Medicine Hat was one of five WHL franchises to bid for the 2026 Memorial Cup, but the CHL chose Kelowna, B.C., as host. The Tigers and Kelowna Rockets are scheduled to play two WHL pre-season games in Whitehorse on Sept. 12 and 13.
National Post
09-07-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Hockey phenom Gavin McKenna commits to Penn State for upcoming NCAA season
Gavin McKenna's long-rumoured move to the NCAA is official. Article content In a game-changing decision for junior hockey, the presumptive No. 1 overall pick in next year's NHL entry draft announced on ESPN's SportsCenter on Tuesday that he's leaving the Western Hockey League and committing to Penn State University. Article content Article content 'It was a super-tough decision,' McKenna said. 'Obviously there are a lot of great options out there. But me, my family and everyone who's part of my circle decided that the best spot for me next year would be Penn State University.' Article content Article content McKenna said having the chance to go against 'older, heavier, stronger guys' in college will help prepare him for the NHL. Article content McKenna had 41 goals and 88 assists in 56 regular-season games for the Medicine Hat Tigers last season. He joins the Nittany Lions after helping Medicine Hat win its first WHL title since 2007 and reach the Memorial Cup final. Article content 'Obviously, the (WHL) was a great spot, and I'm very grateful for what it did for me and my family,' he said. 'I think both options are great, but I just think that going to college and being in such a great conference, it'll really challenge me and prepare me.' Article content The 17-year-old from Whitehorse, who also played for Canada at the world junior hockey championship, has an exceptional blend of deceptive playmaking, elite stickhandling and shifty skating. Article content In June, the 6-foot winger became the third-youngest Canadian Hockey League player of the year behind Sidney Crosby and John Tavares. Article content McKenna is the latest — and biggest — talent exiting the Canadian ranks for the NCAA in a changing junior hockey landscape. The NCAA lifted a long-standing ban in November, allowing CHL players to compete at U.S. colleges starting next season. Article content Article content Keaton Verhoeff, another top 2026 draft prospect, is departing the WHL's Victoria Royals to join the University of North Dakota. Cayden Lindstrom, McKenna's Medicine Hat teammate and last year's fourth overall pick, is heading to Michigan State. Article content Calgary Flames prospect Luke Misa, of the OHL's Brampton Steelheads, and defenceman Jackson Smith, this year's 14th overall pick who spent the past three seasons with the WHL's Tri-City Americans, have also committed to Penn State.
CTV News
25-06-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Grief, loss changed mindset of top NHL draft prospect Matthew Schaefer
Matthew Schaefer (left) signs a Canadian hockey fan's jersey after practice in Petawawa, Ont., on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang Matthew Schaefer has been hit with heartache and grief. The 17-year-old defenceman projected to go first overall at the 2025 NHL draft dusted himself off after each devastating blow. Those tragedies now help shape his perspective in and out of hockey as he churns toward the biggest moment to date in a young career. 'I've been through a lot,' Schaefer said. 'I'm so much stronger that I went through this stuff.' 'Work your hardest, be a good person,' the Hamilton product added. 'You never know what people are going through.' The star blueliner with the Ontario Hockey League's Erie Otters has been through more than most. Schaefer's world was knocked off its axis in February 2024 when his mother, Jennifer, died of breast cancer. 'She's always with me in spirit,' he said. 'I know she has a front-row seat every game … she was a strong woman. I talk about more the happy memories instead of the sad memories. 'There's a lot of things I've learned. I'm definitely a lot stronger.' That devastating news came three months after Schaefer's billet mom was struck and killed by a train in what was ruled a death by suicide. The six-foot-two, 186-pound blueliner was then rocked again in December as he prepared to play for Canada at the world junior hockey championship when mentor and Otters owner Jim Waters died of a heart attack. 'When I was younger and I stubbed my toe, I probably would have thought the world was ending,' Schaefer, the No. 1-ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting, said during the Stanley Cup final. 'But going through everything, there's so (many) worse things that can happen in life. 'Each and every day, I just want to have a positive mindset.' An elite defenceman with exceptional skating, defensive awareness and playmaking ability, Schaefer is expected to hear his name called when the New York Islanders make the top selection Friday at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Schaefer played just 17 games in the OHL this season after breaking is collarbone at those world juniors in Ottawa — the beginning of the end for a host country that would suffer another disappointing quarterfinal exit — putting up seven goals and 15 assists for 22 points with Erie. A pair of centres ranked No. 2 and No. 3 in North America will likely be picked soon after Schaefer — Michael Misa of the OHL's Saginaw Spirit and James Hagens of the NCAA's Boston College Eagles. A product of Oakville, Ont., Misa was granted exceptional status to play major junior a year early ahead of the 2022-23 campaign. He registered 62 goals and 72 assists for 134 points in 65 games this season. 'A lot of different emotions,' the 18-year-old said of his journey. 'I'm just trying to take it all in.' Hagens had 37 points (11 goals, 26 assists) in 37 contests as an NCAA freshman, often battling against much older players. 'It's awesome being able to be in this spot,' said the 18-year-old from Hauppauge, N.Y., who also helped the U.S. win world junior gold. The NHL will hold its first decentralized draft — similar to the NFL and NBA — that will see teams' brain trusts make picks remotely instead of on the ground in L.A. It's unclear if this as-yet-untested format will continue beyond 2025. The league has said it will be inviting the top-50 prospects based on its final rankings to the showcase. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is slated to announce the first selection before the remaining 31 first-round picks will be called out by special guests with connections to individual clubs. The San Jose Sharks own the No. 2 selection, followed by the Chicago Blackhawks, Utah Mammoth and Nashville Predators. The Vancouver Canucks currently possess the highest pick among Canadian franchises at No. 15. The Montreal Canadiens have both the 16th and 17th selections — the first of which was part of the 2022 trade with the Calgary Flames for Sean Monahan. Calgary will select 18th with a pick acquired from the New Jersey Devils in the deal for goaltender Jacob Markstrom last June. The Ottawa Senators (21st) and Winnipeg Jets (28th) will look to stock their prospect cupboards before the Flames round out Friday's proceedings with the No. 32 pick, which originally belonged to the Florida Panthers and ties a bow on the Matthew Tkachuk trade. The Toronto Maple Leafs (No. 25) and Edmonton Oilers (No. 31) previously traded their first-round selections. The draft continues Saturday with rounds two through seven. Schaefer will be off the board long before then. And his mother will no doubt be in his thoughts as he climbs those draft stairs. 'My mindset has changed,' Schaefer said. 'What my mom went through, having a smile on her face with cancer and everything trying to bring her down … but she wouldn't let it bring her down. Someone I look up to, really strong. 'Wish I was as tough as her.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 25, 2025. Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press
