Why would the nation’s top NHL prospect pick Penn State over a fast track to the pros? Gavin McKenna made his decision, and everyone’s still buzzing. Most players with his hype jump straight to the league, but he’s taking a different path, and now he’s letting fans in on exactly why.
Why Did Gavin McKenna Choose Penn State Over Going Pro?
McKenna has never been one to play by the book. With multiple NHL teams already eyeing the left winger, you’d expect him to be focused on turning pro immediately. His work with the Medicine Hat Tigers in the Western Hockey League (WHL) during the 2024-25 campaign put doubts to rest about his potential. McKenna racked up 129 points, a clear jump from what he put up one season earlier.
With numbers like that, most thought he’d set his sights on the 2026 NHL Draft, where almost everyone has him as the front-runner for the first overall pick. Still, McKenna surprised fans and scouts alike by committing to Penn State instead. That was a big shock, especially given Penn State only started playing Division I hockey during the 2012-13 season. But in a recent interview with The Athletic, McKenna clarified this was his plan.
“From the start of this whole process, I got the feeling that it was going to be Penn State that I was going to go to,” said McKenna.
Even before his official move to Penn State, McKenna said he’d been working to prepare for what’s next.
Before the school year starts, McKenna is jumping into his first Dynamic Athletic Strength & Hockey (DASH) training session with Cale Makar. After that, he’s got a stint in Minnesota for the World Junior Summer Showcase with Hockey Canada. Once all that’s wrapped up, he’ll head to Penn State on August 15.
McKenna has some high praise for Penn State. He shared, “Once I toured the area and I got to see the facilities and meet some of the people there and some of the guys, it was just a place that I knew right away I could call home.”
What Are McKenna’s Goals With the Nittany Lions?
McKenna isn’t shy about what he wants. He’s already talking about chasing an NCAA title as a freshman.
“On top of that, they have a great team, and they have a chance of winning it, and that’s the goal next year,” McKenna said.
So even before stepping on the ice, the spotlight is on him. Penn State has only reached the Frozen Four once so far, but now that McKenna is in the mix, he’s instantly become the most talked-about newcomer in NCAA hockey. Even with all the hype, he’s honest about feeling some nerves: “It was a little more pressure and higher stakes.”
But he isn’t letting pressure hold him back. “It’s all part of the college experience, so I’m looking forward to it,” McKenna added. As his WHL career wraps up, all eyes are on how big a splash this star will make in the NCAA next year.
