All Signs Point To Gavin McKenna Playing For Penn State Next Season
There it is. JSwish from the top rope straight from the chin of Hockey Valley. Gavin McKenna will be playing hockey at Penn State next season for Guy Gadowsky and the Nittany Lions. A monumental get for college hockey, for the Big Ten and for the future of Penn State Hockey.
There have been rumors for months that McKenna was down to Michigan State, Michigan and Penn State. Then after the draft it was reported that McKenna held zoom interviews with the three schools, along with Denver then visiting Penn State and MSU in person.
McKenna is a generational talent. A one of one. A talent we haven't seen coming out of the draft since the likes of Connor McDavid. I think his 54 GAME POINT STREAK in the CHL this season was a testament of that. This season, in 56 games, he had 126 points. Thats like 2.2 points per game. He was also 16 years old for half of the season. He'll head into Penn State next season as a 17-year-old.
The White Horse, Yukon native will head to Pegula Ice Arena from Medicine Hat after 3 incredible seasons. In 133 games he had 244 points.
The minute this kid steps foot onto campus he is going to dominate this school. With the NIL that is being reported and the fact he’ll likely never pay for a drink at Champs in his life, State College is going to be a glimpse of heaven for this kid. He’s from the Yukon. For those who dont have a map handy, thats directly north of British Columbia, and EAST of Alaska. Not south of Alaska. East of it. So safe to say it’s up there.
It’s tough to grasp how big this is for college hockey. The fact McKenna chose Penn State, a school with a massive alumni network, a TV deal in the Big10 Network, (with the ability to get more national TV games) and massive, massive marketing dollars is such a win for EVERYONE. This will exponentially grow not only the game of college hockey, but hockey a whole. You are tapping into so many alumni who are going to get behind this team. Give me a PSU white out Gavin McKenna vs James Hagens on ESPN or ABC on a Friday Night and the ratings would be BANANAS.
There is no environment in college hockey like Penn State and from everything we have heard about Medicine Hat, they didn't disappoint this season either, but one thing he will most certainly see an upgrade in is the facilities. Penn State has a top 5 hockey facility in the country in college hockey. From the filet mignon for lunch, to the weight room, to the cold tubs and saunas, to the insane locker room….Terry Pegula didn't cheap out on ANYTHING at this arena.
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Penn State is going to be must watch TV next season. From McKenna, to Aiden Fink, Jackson Smith and Mac Gadowsky…Hockey Valley is here to stay.