PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — It’s been a whirlwind offseason for Penn State men’s hockey. Just months after reaching their first-ever Frozen Four, the Nittany Lions have secured a commitment from one of the top young talents in the sport: Gavin McKenna.
“Our culture has always been ultra-competitive,” said head coach Guy Gadowsky.
That’s about to be even truer for the Nittany Lions. McKenna, considered a potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, is set to join the team.
“He is a very, very, special, special, special athlete who thinks very differently. And I’m just going to enjoy watching him,” said Gadowsky.
McKenna was honored as the most outstanding player across Canada’s major junior leagues, scoring 41 goals and dishing 88 assists in 56 games with Medicine Hat in the Western Hockey League. He earned the Canadian Hockey League’s David Branch Player of the Year award for the 2024-2025 season.
This year marks the first time players from Canada’s major junior leagues are eligible to play NCAA hockey, and McKenna committed to Penn State three months after the Nittany Lions reached their first-ever Frozen Four. The Division 1 men’s hockey program has only existed since 2012.
“For all the people that worked so hard to get this off the ground, your vision is correct. It’s working,” said the head coach.
Gadowsky’s been at the helm since the program’s D-1 inception. The relatively rapid rise has cast the program in a whole new light. McKenna’s being joined by first-round NHL draft pick Jackson Smith and Gadowsky’s son Mac, who was just named best defenseman in his conference at Army.
“We did not have these expectations when you start from a club program, well, I can tell you it’s better to have the expectations than not,” said Gadowsky.
“So this is where everyone wants to go.”