Gavin McKenna, the projected first 2026 NHL Draft pick, officially commits to Penn State

Penn State hockey has officially landed the hockey world’s most coveted available player for the 2025-2026 season. Star forward, the projected next No. 1 NHL Draft pick, and Canadian Hockey League player of the year Gavin McKenna officially committed to the Nittany Lions on Tuesday. He announced his decision on ESPN during a live episode of ‘SportsCenter.’

McKenna played last season for Medicine Hat of the WHL, which is one of three elite junior leagues run by the CHL. McKenna, who was also named the WHL’s most valuable player, tallied 129 points (41 goals and 88 assists) over 56 regular-season games. He led his team to a title and had a 54-game point streak between the regular season and postseason, which is the CHL’s longest since 2000.

Rumors and reports began to circulate following the conclusion of the CHL season, suggesting that Guy Gadowsky’s program was competing with Michigan State, among others, for McKenna. Then, weeks went by without a decision. But that all changed on Monday, when  Cam Robinson of Elite Prospects first reported, citing sources, McKenna’s plan. He made it official a day later.

“It means a lot,” McKenna told the NHL’s official website when asked about winning the David Branch Award. “I think going into the year that was my goal. It’s pretty special to win that now. I know my family will be proud. And, so will my teammates. I couldn’t have done it without those guys.

“I don’t think you win an award like this without teammates and guys around you. You need them. Hockey’s not a one-man sport. You need every single guy and those guys all helped me, pushing me every single day in practice and helping me out in the games. Lot of credit to those guys.”

McKenna is a huge get for Penn State

He will immediately be considered one of college hockey’s best players before he even takes his first skate around Pegula Ice Arena as a Nittany Lion. That’s one of the reasons why the Lions opened as favorites to win the 2025-2026 NCAA Championship at DraftKings Monday night. In its recent mock draft, The Athletic raved about McKenna when putting him as the No. 1 overall pick.

“McKenna was one of the very best players in the CHL this season,” Corey Pronmen writes. “He’s an electric forward with truly elite skill and offensive sense. He’s one of the most creative and skilled players I’ve seen in recent years. That McKenna is also a high-end skater who can make his difficult plays at quick tempos gives a lot of confidence about how his game could fare in the NHL.

“If teams were going to pick him apart, it would be that he’s an average-sized winger who doesn’t have a super high motor, but his talent and scoring are so good that it’s nitpicking. I wouldn’t call him a Macklin Celebrini/Connor Bedard level prospect, but he’s not far off.”