There’s a quiet buzz of inevitability that surrounds Gavin McKenna as he glides across the ice at Pegula Ice Arena. Not the noise of arrogance, but something deeper and more assured.
At 17 years old, McKenna hasn’t just arrived at Penn State as a freshman; he’s arrived as the consensus No. 1 prospect for the 2026 NHL Draft, a generational talent already being whispered about in terms reserved for the sport’s elite.
For months, the expectations have swirled around McKenna. A product of the Canadian junior system, his offensive numbers and highlight-reel playmaking had long been the talk of NHL scouts and hockey media. His decision to take the college route surprised some, but for McKenna, Penn State always felt like the right fit, even before he had fully committed.
“I didn’t know if I was gonna go to college for a long time,” McKenna said on Monday. “But in January, I thought if I was ever gonna go to a college, it would be Penn State. I don’t know why, but I had that gut feeling. And obviously, as soon as I saw this place, I kind of knew I was coming here.”
Due to a rule change that came into effect for the first time this season, Canadian Hockey League players are allowed to play in the NCAA, broadening their opportunities for development. For phenom McKenna, he chose to be an early pioneer of that route.
A few months into his college life, McKenna is living on his own for the first time, adjusting to a routine that includes early practices, team meetings, weight room sessions and hanging out with teammates in his apartment complex. The transition hasn’t fazed him.
He said being on his own has been “a little different, not being with mom or family,” but he’s made fast friends and found comfort in the team’s tight-knit community.
“I got some guys in my apartment building that I hang out with, and it’s kind of nice that everything’s pretty close. So you can pretty much see guys whenever you want.”
Walking around campus, McKenna already gets recognized by Nittany Lion fans who ask for pictures. He called the support “amazing” and said everyone has been “very polite.”
Coaches and teammates alike have noticed how easily he’s found his place, operating on a different hockey plane than most players his age, or any age. Head coach Guy Gadowsky has coached talented players before, but he made no secret of how impressed he’s been with McKenna’s total package.
“He’s extremely quick. He’s extremely fast. He’s also in great shape,” Gadowsky said. “We do skating drills, and he’s right at the front. He’s not just a cerebral player … He’s fitting in extremely well because he’s just a really chill, easy hang, to be honest with you. He’s very respectful. He’s got great manners.”
Beyond the physical tools, McKenna’s mental prowess continues to fascinate the coaching staff.
“He does think of the game differently,” Gadowsky said. “He’s a different animal when it comes to that, not only compared to any other freshman, just compared to anybody. He thinks of the game in a very unique, quite amazing way … normally, you think you’re out of time and space, but he manipulates it. That’s what’s really amazing to watch.”
Gadowsky said that trait shines through most when the team simulates game-like scenarios, where McKenna has an uncanny ability to adjust the tempo at will through his understanding of the sport.
In moments where most players are forced into reaction, McKenna takes control. He slows the game down, speeds it up, creates angles that weren’t there and finds passing lanes no one else saw. That awareness has already left an impression on his teammates, including Mac Gadowsky, the coach’s son and one of the top defensemen in the country.
“I don’t think I can name one thing that really stands out,” Mac said. “Because just his whole game is phenomenal. He’s done so many things on the ice that you don’t see every day. He really just thinks the game on a different level.”
The staff has found themselves learning more about him not just in meetings or film sessions, but in spontaneous moments, whether bumping into him in the gym or catching him playing ping pong in the players’ lounge.
One of McKenna’s first personal interactions with Gadowsky came during his recruiting visit, when the two faced off at the table. McKenna lost. When they had a rematch after he officially arrived on campus, Gadowsky won again. The moment became a light-hearted symbol of their early connection — competitive, but relaxed.
But McKenna is all business when it comes to what happens on the ice. His offseason has been marked by a fierce drive to adapt quickly to the college level. Though he’s years younger than many of his teammates, his skating, puck control and edge work have already stood out as elite. What has perhaps surprised some in the program is how much McKenna talks about the team before himself.
That team-first mentality has resonated inside a locker room already known for its competitiveness. McKenna fits naturally with Penn State’s high-octane, fast-paced style. The team is built to push the pace offensively, and McKenna thrives in that environment.
Despite all the external hype, McKenna seems unfazed. He acknowledged the pressure, but he doesn’t carry it like a burden. He’s been part of teams before that were expected to win, and he’s learned how to thrive within that framework. The key, he said, is to never get complacent. Even when expectations are sky-high, the work doesn’t change. And though he’s already an attractive NHL prospect, McKenna doesn’t view Penn State as a stepping stone.
“He wants to be here; it’s not just a stop for him,” forward Dane Dowiak said. “He wants to win here.”
McKenna’s freshman season hasn’t started yet, but the story is already writing itself. A player with elite tools, a rare mind for the game and the character to carry it all with poise is preparing to take the ice in one of the most anticipated debuts in college hockey history against Arizona State this weekend.
“There’s a lot of excitement in all those barns that we go to,” McKenna said. “And here in State College, there’s a lot of hype around our team. So it should be fun to play the first one at home. And obviously ASU is a pretty cool spot to play your first game.”
He’s only just beginning, but already there’s a feeling from coaches, players and fans that something special is about to unfold. Penn State has had stars. It’s never had one quite like this.
