Hockey Star Gavin McKenna Says, 'I'm a Penn Stater For Life'

The Nittany Lion reflected on his year with the Nittany Lions after a loss in the NCAA Hockey Tournament.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 8:37pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the chaotic final moments of a hockey game, with players and the rink broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of navy, red, and white.The emotional final moments of Gavin McKenna's lone season with the Penn State Nittany Lions hockey team are captured in a cubist, fragmented visual style.Albany Today

Gavin McKenna, the consensus No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, joined the Penn State Nittany Lions in July with national-title hopes. But on Friday night, those ambitions were dashed when No. 2 seed Minnesota-Duluth defeated Penn State 3-1 in a hard-fought, first-round game of the NCAA Men's Hockey Tournament. While McKenna's time with the Nittany Lions likely will end after one season, the freshman from Yukon, Whitehorse, Canada, left a lasting impact on the program.

Why it matters

McKenna is expected to be the No. 1 overall pick of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, and his decision on whether to return to Penn State or turn pro will have major implications for the Nittany Lions hockey program. Despite playing just one season, McKenna set multiple Penn State and Big Ten records and became a fan favorite, underscoring the impact he had on the team.

The details

McKenna produced 51 points this season, second all-time in program history and a record among Penn State freshmen. He ranked second nationally in points per game (1.5) and set a Penn State record for assists (36). He set multiple Penn State and Big Ten records with his eight-point game against Ohio State in February. McKenna became just the second Penn State player to be named a top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, given to the top player in college hockey. He is the first Nittany Lion to win the Big Ten Freshman of the Year award and the first to win the conference's scoring title (38 points in 24 Big Ten games).

  • On Friday night, No. 2 seed Minnesota-Duluth defeated Penn State 3-1 in a hard-fought, first-round game of the NCAA Men's Hockey Tournament.
  • McKenna joined the Nittany Lions in July with national-title hopes.

The players

Gavin McKenna

A freshman from Yukon, Whitehorse, Canada, who is the consensus No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. He produced 51 points this season, second all-time in Penn State program history and a record among Penn State freshmen.

Guy Gadowsky

The Penn State hockey coach, who marveled at how personable McKenna is and trusted him in many situations throughout the season.

Dane Dowiak

A 24-year-old senior on the Penn State hockey team who became close friends with the 18-year-old McKenna, calling him 'one of my best boys this year'.

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What they’re saying

“'Obviously, my goal is to play in the NHL, and whether that happens next year or not, what Penn State has done for me, I can't thank this team enough. I can't thank the whole community of Penn State enough for what they've done for me. I'm a Penn Stater for life.'”

— Gavin McKenna

“'Honestly, man, playing with him was awesome, but just hanging out with him as a guy, he became one of my best boys this year. I just turned 24 today, and he just turned 18 a couple months ago, and I would have never thought I would become as close as I am with him. I'm just grateful to step on the ice with him, because he's going to be a special player for a long time.'”

— Dane Dowiak, Penn State Senior

“'He's just an absolute fun, chill guy who just wants to spend as much time with the team on the ice as he can. And this is sort of what it's about. You lose and you go home. He is more motivated to hang with the guys and go play on the ice. That might be his biggest motivation.'”

— Guy Gadowsky, Penn State Hockey Coach

What’s next

McKenna left open the door to return to Penn State, depending on what happens with the team that selects him in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. He said, 'My goal is to play in the NHL, and if my team wants me to sign, then that's my goal. So we'll see what happens after the draft.'

The takeaway

Despite the heartbreaking loss, McKenna's one-year tenure at Penn State left an indelible mark on the program. His record-breaking performance, leadership, and close bonds with teammates showcase the impact he had in a short time and the difficult decision he now faces between returning to college or turning pro.