{"id":115414,"date":"2025-07-08T02:01:11","date_gmt":"2025-07-08T02:01:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/115414\/"},"modified":"2025-07-08T02:01:11","modified_gmt":"2025-07-08T02:01:11","slug":"penn-state-hockey-will-land-chl-player-of-the-year-generational-recruit-gavin-mckenna-reports-say","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/115414\/","title":{"rendered":"Penn State hockey will land CHL player of the year, generational recruit Gavin McKenna, reports say"},"content":{"rendered":"

Penn State hockey is reportedly on the cusp of earningsits biggest recruiting win in program history. Star forward Gavin McKenna will announce this week, possibly as soon as tomorrow, that he is signing with the Nittany Lions. Cam Robinson of Elite Prospects first reported, citing sources<\/a>. McKenna is the reigning David Branch Award winner as the Canadian Hockey League player of the year and projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. He is expected to announce his decision on social media officially later this week<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Rumors and reports began to circulate following the conclusion of the CHL season<\/a>, suggesting that Guy Gadowsky\u2019s program was competing with Michigan State<\/a>, among others, for McKenna. He played last season for Medicine Hat of the Western Hockey League. It is one of three elite junior leagues run by the CHL. McKenna, who was also named the WHL\u2019s most valuable player, tallied 129 points (41 goals and 88 assists) over 56 regular-season games. He led his team to a WHL title and had a point in 54 consecutive games between the regular season and postseason, which is the CHL\u2019s longest since 2000.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt means a lot,\u201d McKenna told the NHL\u2019s official website when asked about winning the David Branch Award. \u201cI think going into the year that was my goal. It\u2019s pretty special to win that now. I know my family will be proud. And, so will my teammates. I couldn\u2019t have done it without those guys.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think you win an award like this without teammates and guys around you. You need them. Hockey\u2019s not a one-man sport. You need every single guy and those guys all helped me, pushing me every single day in practice and helping me out in the games. Lot of credit to those guys.\u201d<\/p>\n

McKenna will be a historic win for Penn State<\/p>\n

And even to put it like that is probably an understatement. Simply put, he is a generational prospect who is seen as the probable next face of the NHL. He is expected to spend just one season in State College. It will be the first one that NCAA rules allow CHL players to compete in the college ranks. McKenna also had the option of staying in the WHL, of course.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s just the latest win for Penn State. The Lions made their first Frozen Four appearance earlier this year. Since, Gadowsky\u2019s side has landedJackson Smith, a defenseman who is a projected top 15 pick in this year\u2019s NHL Draft. Forward Luke Misa is committed too, among others.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe left-shot defenseman has NHL-ready size, skates well enough to be a one-man breakout and can make a smart first pass out of the zone,\u201d NHL.com deputy managing editor Adam Kimelman writes on Smith. \u201cThe 18-year-old has solid offensive skills, and was physical in the defensive zone while playing against other team\u2019s top lines.\u201d<\/p>\n