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22h ago

Gavin McKenna Commits to Penn State in CHL-to-NCAA Shift

The projected 2026 NHL top pick joins Penn State on a six-figure NIL deal as major junior stars head to college hockey

Gavin McKenna had 41 goals and 129 points while leading the Medicine Hat Tigers to the WHL championship last season.
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NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB Medicine Hat Tigers forward Gavin McKenna lifts the Ed Chynoweth Cup after the Tigers beat the Spokane Chiefs 4-3 on May 16 to capture the franchise's sixth title.
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Overview

  • The NCAA Division I Council approved a rule last November allowing players with CHL experience to maintain college eligibility for the 2025-26 season.
  • McKenna announced his commitment on July 8, securing what sources say is the largest NIL agreement in college hockey history.
  • Seventeen-year-old McKenna posted 129 points in 56 WHL games, set a modern CHL record with a 54-game point streak and is widely projected as the 2026 NHL Draft’s likely first overall pick.
  • Medicine Hat teammate Cayden Lindstrom and Tri-City’s Jackson Smith have also departed the CHL for Michigan State and Penn State, respectively, illustrating a broader prospect exodus.
  • In response, CHL leagues are investing in upgraded facilities, enhanced training programs and nutritional standards to retain elite talent.