Last season, the Nittany Lions fell just short of the championship game, losing to Boston University in the semifinals. In response to that defeat, Guy Gadowsky added nine elite players to his roster.
With the additions of those star players plus an already stacked roster, there are sure to be several players to watch throughout the upcoming 2025-26 season. Here are five players to keep a close eye on.
1) Gavin McKenna, left wing
The best offseason acquisition made by Gadowsky is Gavin McKenna. He’s currently the top prospect going into the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, and his impressive stats are the reason for that.
The incoming freshman led the Medicine Hat Tigers in all offensive categories, finished second in points in the Western Hockey League (WHL) and was named player of the year for the WHL. McKenna also won gold with Team Canada in the 2024 U18 World Championship.
These stats and accomplishments prove the player McKenna is. At only 17 years old, he shows off impressive moves only seen in the pros, and has explosive end-to-end speed with a very accurate left-handed wrist shot.
Get ready for highlight after highlight as he displays his elite puck handling skills and moves that get him past defenders in a second.
All players huddle before starting the Penn State men’s hockey game against Minnesota in Pegula Ice Arena on Saturday, Mar. 1, 2025 in University Park, Pa. The Gophers beat the Nittany Lions 5-3.
Samantha Oropeza
2) Aiden Fink, right wing
A familiar face is next on this list. Aiden Fink led the Big Ten in points with 53, and put up 23 goals and 30 assists, leading his team in both categories. He finished the season with an average of 1.32 points per game, and is the first player at Penn State to put up at least 50 points in a season since 2018-19.
Last year, Fink became the first Penn State player to be a top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, given annually to the top player in college hockey. He is a player who possesses great knowledge for the game and knows where to be on the ice.
Penn State forward Aiden Fink (18) turns during the NCAA Frozen Four ice hockey championship semifinal game against Boston University at the Enterprise Center on Thursday, April 10, 2025 in St. Louis, Mo. The Terriers beat the Nittany Lions 3-1.
Samantha Oropeza
Whether it’s scoring with a quick wrist shot from the slot or posting up in front of the crease netting rebounds, Fink made sure to find the back of the net. His high-energy forecheck paired with elite vision will continue to get eyes on him this season.
3) Charlie Cerrato, center
After an impressive freshman year, Charlie Cerrato earns his spot as one of the players to watch this season. He found himself second on the team in points with 42, led all Big Ten rookies in each offensive category and had the second most points all-time by a Penn State freshman. These impressive stats landed Cerrato on the Big Ten All-Freshmen team.
Penn State forward Charlie Cerrato (15) attempts to get the puck during the NCAA Regional Semifinals against Maine on Friday, March 28, 2025 in the PPL Center in Allentown, Pa. The Nittany Lions beat the Black Bears 5-1.
Megan Miller
The recent Carolina Hurricanes’ draft pick showcases a strong and accurate wrist shot he can pull from the faceoff circle. He seems to have eyes everywhere on the ice, which is shown through his passes and has breakaway speed with fast hands in close. This two-way center will draw the eyes of many throughout his sophomore campaign.
4) Jackson Smith, defenseman
From one elite prospect to the next, Jackson Smith is a player that should be watched all season. This two-way defenseman led his position in points on the Tri-City Americans with 54, and he won gold with Team Canada in the most recent U18 World Championship. Most notably, Smith was the 14th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.
Backed with elite level stats, Smith brings speed on the defense for Penn State. He defends very well against the forecheck, using his speed to stay with the attack. Smith has a positive offensive upside as shown from his goals from the blue line.
5) Shea Van Olm, forward
Rounding out the list is an outstanding forward out of the WHL — Shea Van Olm.
In his most recent season, Van Olm led the WHL in goals with 49 and finished with 92 points. He had an incredible playoff run where he made the championship series with the Spokane Chiefs, and he wasn’t quiet when it got to the postseason, as he put up 31 points in only 20 games.
Putting up points is not an issue when you are an elite goal scorer like Van Olm. He’s a strong, gritty forward who battles in front of the net. The freshman’s aggression leads to many scoring chances off the rebound or redirect, as Van Olm positions himself well and shows off a rocket of a wrist shot from the slot.
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