Gavin McKenna

July 2025 – Rumblings no more, potential first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, Gavin McKenna has committed to Penn State University for the 2025-26 season. A massive loss for the Canadian Hockey League, but McKenna had very little, if anything, left to prove in the Western Hockey League after his terrific 2024-25 campaign. With McKenna himself confirming this news on July 8, 2025, on ESPN, everyone wanting to catch a glimpse of the next NHL superstar will have to tune in to the NCAA Big Ten Conference’s Penn State Nittany Lions this season. McKenna joins Calgary Flames prospect Luke Misa (2024 5th round, 150th overall) and Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Jackson Smith (2025 1st round, 14th overall), who also committed to Penn State for the 2025-26 season on a Nittany Lions team who will be aiming to build off their semi-final loss in the 2025 Frozen Four. Mark Henry

June 2025- While we’ve heard his name for a while, 2024-25 cemented McKenna as THE talent of the 2026 class. While his hard skills (namely his shot and his hands) are the envy of most, it is his elite intelligence that allows him to dominate defenses.

Though his Medicine Hat Tiger came just short of a Memorial Cup, it’s hard to find any fault with McKenna, who led the tournament in points-per-game and had the Tigers’ lone goal in the 3-1 finals loss. This follows up an absurd WHL playoff run (9 goals and 38 points for a playoff-leading 2.375 points-per-game) and an equally ridiculous regular season (41-88-129 in 56 games). All year, he’s been a true leader for his team, their No.1 offensive catalyst, and their most relied-upon big-game player.

Wherever he plays next season (there have been some NCAA-related rumblings), he’s going to be so d*mn good. Luke Sweeney