Gavin McKenna, 2026 No. 1 pick, reportedly dedicated to Penn State – Hockey Writer – NCAA

According to a report by Cam Robinson of Elite Prospects, Gavin McKenna, expected first choice at the 2026 NHL draft, reportedly decided to attend Penn State. The five-star commitment was the most important signing of a program that began in 1971, but restored the I-zone status in 2013 and added facilities on the Pegula Ice Arena. The decision comes down to Penn State fighting for McKenna’s service in a pre-game season after McKenna’s drug hats Tigers (WHL) in the Western Hockey League (WHL).

Break: Multiple Sources Show Gavin McKenna Will Dedicate to Penn State in 2025-26

One of the most exciting prospects is choosing Nittany Lions. PSU Hockey game changer.

Read more: pic.twitter.com/8koddoh5nw

– Cam Robinson (@hockey_robinson) July 7, 2025

The 17-year-old Center scored 41 goals in 56 games for the Tigers in its second full season for the club and scored a total of 129 points in 56 games. McKenna led the Tigers to the Ed Chynoweth Cup to become the WHL champion. Medicine Hat won a spot in the 2025 Memorial Cup but watched the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) London Cavaliers celebrated their 105th Memorial Cup victory lap.

Related: Cavaliers beat Tigers 4-1 to win the 2025 Memorial Cup

McKenna joins several other senior athletes to chase the NCAA Level I Men’s Hockey Championship this fall during the offseason. Forward Luke Misa, the Calgary Flames draft pick, left OHL’s Brampton Steelheads at Penn State earlier this summer. Defensive Jackson Smith announced that he intends to pick his Nittany Lions in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft. Smith, a tri-city American from the American Hockey League (USHL), is one of many NHL-Hope-Hope-Hope-Hope-Hope-Hope players, exploring the NCAA pathway to the NHL.

The three players are joining a hockey program that issued a statement in the last four games last spring. Nashville Predators averaged 1.32 points (p/g) in the 2023 trials, 53 points in 40 games, as a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, an honor for NCAA Level I My Men’s Ice Hockey. Charlie Cerrato, the Carolina State Hurricanes’ second round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, returned 15 goals and 42 points after the 1.11 p/g campaign.

Penn State now has a roster that can face to face with Michigan State, Boston University, Boston College and others. Nittany Lions will return to show up in April 2026 in Frozen Four in Las Vegas.

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