Penn State-Arizona State hockey to get worldwide spotlight this weekend for Gavin McKenna's debut; here's how

Penn State hockey, which is No. 5 in the preseason polls, will play on a national and worldwide stage when it opens its 2025-2026 season this weekend at No. 14 Arizona State. A partnership between the Sun Devils, the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC), and the NHL announced Wednesday will allow fans to watch top draft prospect and new Nittany Lion forward Gavin McKenna’s debut on NHL Network and on the NHL’s YouTube feed. Puck drop is set for 10 p.m. ET on Friday and 8 p.m. ET on Saturday.

“The game feed and call will be provided courtesy of FOX 10 Phoenix (Tyler Paley, play-by-play and Alex Coil, color analyst) with NHL Network’s studio team presenting all pre-puck drop and post-game coverage on NHL platforms as well as intermission reports for both games,” the NHL said in a news release.

“NHLN Host Tony Luftman and analyst E. J. Hradek will provide extensive coverage for Friday’s game, while Erika Wachter and Kevin Weekes will have all the news and analysis during Saturday’s matchup.”

Penn State has been the talk of the hockey world ever since it landed McKenna, who is the reigning CHL Player of the Year and projected No. 1 2026 NHL Draft pick, over the summer. He is seen as a once-in-a-generation player. He is able to play college hockey only after the NCAA lifted its ban on CHL alums for the 2025-2026 season.

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“I think there’s a lot less time and space,” McKenna said on Tuesday at the Lions’ media day, per NHL.com. “The guys are bigger, faster, older. It’s not too different in terms of skill and stuff. Obviously both leagues are very skilled, and guys can make plays and stuff. But in terms of speed and size, I think that’s the biggest difference.

“I think where I’m going to be challenged is probably just the little amount of games, going from 68 games in a year to 33. That’s going to be obviously a challenge. I love the game, and itch to play games. With that, though, the reason I came here is because [of] less games, more time in the gym. I’m not a big guy. So, I want to put on weight. And, that was part of the reason I came here.”

Added longtime Penn State head coach Guy Gadowsky:

“He does think the game differently. He’s a different animal when it comes to that, not only compared to any other freshman, just compared to anybody. He thinks the game in a very unique, quite amazing way. And you can see that when there’s drills that are game specific, that have a lot of traffic, he just somehow uses time and space in a very unique, just-make-it-so-easy way. So that’s been fun to watch.”