Gavin McKenna commits to Penn State for 2025-26 season

Gavin McKenna has announced he'll play in the NCAA this fall. The move and others like it raise questions over the future of major junior hockey in Canada.

Gavin McKenna is taking his talents south of the border for his draft-eligible season.

The former Medicine Hat Tiger sees Penn State and the NCAA as his best path to prepare for the NHL.

“I think it honestly just makes the jump easier. Going against older, heavier, stronger guys, I think it really prepares you, and I think even in the locker room, you know, hanging around older guys and being around more mature guys, I think that will help me a lot,” said McKenna during an interview on ESPN announcing his commitment.

The projected 2026 first overall pick lit up the WHL with the Medicine Hat Tigers last season.

The 17-year-old from Whitehorse racked up 129 points in 56 regular season games en route to a WHL championship and Memorial Cup final appearance.

He’s arguably the most notable prospect to ever commit to an NCAA school.

“Don’t think it was a shock to see him commit. I think it had been going that direction for quite a while. From the U.S. perspective, it was more the team he committed to, because Penn State does not have this history of having a lot of really high-end NHL-type players,” said Brad Schlossman, a college hockey writer for the Grand Forks Herald.

NCAA schools can offer players money through name, image and likeness deals as well as direct payments.

McKenna will make a reported $700,000 this year to play for Penn State.

While most players won’t get anything close to that, most players are eyeing up the facilities NCAA schools can offer.

“Players are making decisions based on not only monetary and financial reasons, let’s be clear here. We can’t dismiss that either, but also for different development reasons,” said TSN director of scouting Craig Button.

McKenna was able to make the move after the NCAA made CHL players eligible last summer.

So far, more than 150 CHL players have committed to NCAA schools, with the vast majority being 19- and 20-year-olds.

At this point, CHL member leagues say they’re not worried.

“What I can tell you is we’re not going to sit here with our arms crossed. We’re going to continue to fuel the player development experience and put players in a position to advance their career to pro,” said WHL commissioner Dan Near.

McKenna is one of four former Medicine Hat Tigers players who will be playing in the NCAA this fall.