Hockey phenom Gavin McKenna commits to Penn State for upcoming NCAA season
Gavin McKenna's long-rumoured move to the NCAA is official.
Article content
In a game-changing decision for junior hockey, the presumptive No. 1 overall pick in next year's NHL entry draft announced on ESPN's SportsCenter on Tuesday that he's leaving the Western Hockey League and committing to Penn State University.
Article content
Article content
'It was a super-tough decision,' McKenna said. 'Obviously there are a lot of great options out there. But me, my family and everyone who's part of my circle decided that the best spot for me next year would be Penn State University.'
Article content
Article content
McKenna said having the chance to go against 'older, heavier, stronger guys' in college will help prepare him for the NHL.
Article content
Article content
McKenna had 41 goals and 88 assists in 56 regular-season games for the Medicine Hat Tigers last season. He joins the Nittany Lions after helping Medicine Hat win its first WHL title since 2007 and reach the Memorial Cup final.
'Obviously, the (WHL) was a great spot, and I'm very grateful for what it did for me and my family,' he said. 'I think both options are great, but I just think that going to college and being in such a great conference, it'll really challenge me and prepare me.'
Article content
The 17-year-old from Whitehorse, who also played for Canada at the world junior hockey championship, has an exceptional blend of deceptive playmaking, elite stickhandling and shifty skating.
Article content
In June, the 6-foot winger became the third-youngest Canadian Hockey League player of the year behind Sidney Crosby and John Tavares.
Article content
Article content
McKenna is the latest — and biggest — talent exiting the Canadian ranks for the NCAA in a changing junior hockey landscape. The NCAA lifted a long-standing ban in November, allowing CHL players to compete at U.S. colleges starting next season.
Article content
Article content
A wave of CHL players nearing the end of their time in junior committed to American schools in the following months.
Article content
McKenna, meanwhile, joins a growing number of WHL, OHL and QMJHL prospects committing to the NCAA with their junior careers in full swing.
Article content
Keaton Verhoeff, another top 2026 draft prospect, is departing the WHL's Victoria Royals to join the University of North Dakota. Cayden Lindstrom, McKenna's Medicine Hat teammate and last year's fourth overall pick, is heading to Michigan State.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
2 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
American Amanda Anisimova faces Poland's Iga Swiatek in the Wimbledon women's final
LONDON (AP) — Amanda Anisimova and Iga Swiatek both will be aiming to win Wimbledon for the first time when they meet in the women's final. Saturday's title match at Centre Court is the first for Anisimova, a 23-year-old American, at any Grand Slam tournament. Swiatek, a 24-year-old from Poland, already owns five such trophies, going 5-0 in major finals, but never had been this far on the grass courts of the All England Club. She's been the champion on the French Open's red clay four times and on the U.S. Open's hard courts once. The final is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. local time, which is 11 a.m. EDT. Swiatek is listed as the money-line favorite at -250 by BetMGM Sportsbook. Anisimova is at +210. They've never played each other as pros; Anisimova beat Swiatek in 2016 when they were juniors. Both were stars at that level: Anisimova defeated Coco Gauff for the 2017 U.S. Open junior title, while Swiatek was the Wimbledon junior champion the next year. Whoever wins Saturday will be the eighth consecutive first-time Wimbledon champion. Swiatek spent most of 2022, 2023 and 2024 at No. 1 in the WTA rankings but is seeded No. 8 at Wimbledon after going more than a year without claiming a title anywhere. She served a one-month doping ban last year after failing an out-of-competition drug test; an investigation determined she was inadvertently exposed to a contaminated medical product used for trouble sleeping and jet lag. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Anisimova, who was born in New Jersey and grew up in Florida, was a semifinalist at age 17 at the 2019 French Open. She took time away from the tour a little more than two years ago because of burnout. A year ago, she tried to qualify for Wimbledon, because her ranking of 189th was too low to get into the field automatically, but lost in the preliminary event. Anisimova will break into the top 10 in the rankings for the first time next week, no matter what happens Saturday. ___ More AP tennis:
Winnipeg Free Press
5 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
U.S. dunks Canada 18-9 in men's water polo at World Aquatics Championships
SINGAPORE – The Canadian men's water polo team was dunked 18-9 by the United States in the opening game of preliminary round action on Saturday at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. The Americans held quarter leads of 3-0, 7-2 and 12-4. Canada is playing in a four-team pool comprised of Brazil, Singapore and the U.S. Canada's next game is Monday against Singapore, while the United States plays Brazil on Sunday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 11, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
6 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
China bumps Canada 3-1 in women's Volleyball Nations League
ARLINGTON – Life in the Volleyball Nations League continues to be long on lessons and short on victories for the Canadian women's team. China, which entered Friday's best-of-five match in seventh place, edged the 16th-place Canadians 25-22, 25-15, 22-25 and 25-23 at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas. Outside hitter Abagayle Guezen and opposite spiker Anna Smrek were Canada's top scorers with 14 points each, while Yushan Zhuan led China with 21. China led in attacks (59-51), ace serves (7-3), sets (130-126) and digs (97-96). Canada made four fewer unforced errors (27-23) and had more blocks (8-4). Canada will play the host United States on Saturday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 11, 2025.
