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Gavin McKenna Commits to Penn State Under Landmark NCAA Eligibility Change

McKenna’s choice underscores how the NCAA’s lift on CHL restrictions is reshaping prospects’ routes to the NHL

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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 projected first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft announced on July 8 that he will play for Penn State in the 2025-26 season after final visits to Happy Valley and Michigan State.
  • An NCAA Division I Council vote in November 2024 granted major junior players college eligibility beginning next season, reversing a long-standing ban on CHL athletes.
  • McKenna posted 129 points in 56 WHL games last year, earned CHL and WHL Player of the Year honors and set a modern CHL record with a 54-game playoff point streak.
  • Penn State’s program has gained momentum under coach Guy Gadowsky, reaching its first Frozen Four in March and benefiting from the Pegula family’s $102 million investment and robust NIL support.
  • As the highest-profile junior star to use the new rule, McKenna’s move is expected to prompt more top CHL prospects to consider the NCAA path for their draft-eligible seasons.