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New York Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Inside 2026 NHL Draft sensation Gavin McKenna's path to Penn State, and his big season ahead
On a warm Wednesday summer evening in late July, Gavin McKenna is in Calgary. After announcing his groundbreaking commitment to play at Penn State University on ESPN's SportsCenter earlier this month, he had just spent a week at home in Whitehorse, Yukon, where the 2026 NHL Draft's No. 1 prospect pitched in at a hockey camp for First Nations youth. Advertisement His older sister, Madison, helps organize the camp through her work at Council of Yukon First Nations, and McKenna says he gave 'a little speech' and helped out on the ice. 'This is my first time this year getting home and it'll be my last probably,' McKenna said in a one-on-one interview with The Athletic. He misses home — his parents, Willy and Krystal, Madison and his 14-year-old sister, Kasey — and wishes the stay hadn't been so short. 'I love being up north and kind of away from everything. And when I'm there, I love dirt biking, I love fishing, I love golfing. It helps me get away from the game and resets me in the summertime,' he said. But in what's already been a busy summer schedule for McKenna, he's chosen to squeeze in some skates and workouts in Calgary. He's there for his first summer of training with DASH (Dynamic Athletic Strength & Hockey), skating and working out with the likes of Cale Makar. He's staying with his girlfriend (who is from Calgary) and her family for the time being. Then, on Saturday, he'll join Hockey Canada in Minnesota for the World Junior Summer Showcase. After a week in Minneapolis, he'll return to Calgary for a couple more weeks of training before heading to Penn State on Aug. 15 to begin prep for his freshman year in college — a freshman year that may be the most hotly anticipated in NCAA hockey history. All eyes were always going to be on him. He knows that. But in choosing Penn State, a program that has only played at the Division I level since 2011, and that only made its first appearance in the Frozen Four a few months ago, all eyes will be on the Nittany Lions, really for the first time in the program's history, as well. He says that he just felt a pull toward Hockey Valley, and that he's ready for all of the bright lights. Advertisement 'From the start of this whole entire process, I got the feeling that it was going to be Penn State that I was going to go to,' McKenna said. 'And then once I toured the area and I got to see the facilities and meet some of the people there and some of the guys, it was just a place that I knew right away I could call home and then on top of that they have a great team and they have a chance of winning it, and obviously that's the goal next year.' He admits that he was nervous for the SportsCenter announcement — a first for a college hockey player. 'It was a little bit more pressure and higher stakes' than even he was used to, he said. When he arrives on campus, he'll jump right into university classes as well. Though it'll be a for-one-year-only situation, 'the school part comes with it and I've got to take some course,' McKenna said. 'It's all part of the college experience, so I'm looking forward to it,' he added. He knows new teammates Jackson Smith, Shea Van Olm and Aiden Fink a little, which he hopes will help with the transition. Once he pulls on a Nittany Lions jersey and the puck drops on the season, the hockey part will come much easier. It always has. McKenna registered 174 in 123 games (1.41 points per game) in his age 15-16 seasons in the CHL, better than Connor McDavid's 165 points in 119 games (1.39 points per game) in his same seasons (their birthdays are less than a month apart). He registered 20 points in seven games as a double underager at U18 worlds, the most points ever by a U17 player in the tournament's history, surpassing Alex Ovechkin's 18 points in eight games (at the same age, McDavid had 14 points in seven games). In the gold medal game, he scored a hat trick in a come-from-behind win for Canada. Last year, he registered 129 points in 56 games, 30 more than the 99 that McDavid registered in the exact same number of games at that age. Advertisement He's the reigning CHL Player of the Year and was the reigning CHL Rookie of the Year before that. Last season, though he only turned 17 on Dec. 20, he led the WHL in assists (88) and plus-minus (plus-60). And he's only just beginning. In stepping into the next chapter of his career in college hockey, McKenna closed his last chapter with Medicine Hat in the WHL. The WHL, or Dub as he calls it, 'was a great league for me,' he says. 'I loved my time there and it was a lot of fun in Med Hat,' McKenna said. It was a great spot for me, and obviously having a coach like Willie (Desjardins) that has been through it all to guide me and mentor me through my Dub career, it for sure prepared me for this next step. And he has already coached in the NHL, so he knows the next step after that, too.' Desjardins talks about McKenna as a 'great kid (who) wants to be a great player.' On the ice, his greatness starts with his vision, according to Desjardins. 'He's got incredible vision, and he can see plays before they develop and when they develop,' Desjardins said. 'He sees plays really, really early.' He remembers spotting that the very first time he saw him play on a trip to Nashville. He'd already drafted him by then, but he went down to watch him at a spring hockey showcase and he 'couldn't believe what he could see.' Once he got to coach him, he noticed his developing leadership qualities and that he has 'an incredible stick both defensively and offensively.' 'He turns a lot of pucks over and generates a lot of takeaways with his stick. And then all of a sudden he has a chance for offense because of it,' Desjardins said. 'I think he's grown in being a leader. I think he wants to win. He'll do things for the team.' Desjardins' favorite McKenna story is from the 2023-24 season. It was Christmastime, and though he was first in his age group in scoring, he wasn't first among all rookies, and he showed up unannounced in Desjardins' office. Advertisement 'This isn't good enough,' McKenna told his head coach. 'I've got to be better than this.' From that point on, Desjardins said he watched video and started skating himself after practice 'every day.' 'He skated himself hard. And that translated from 1.3 points, which is what he was averaging, to I think 2.6 in January. That was a player that wasn't satisfied with being good, he wanted to be elite. You forget how young he is. You always forget. But he's way faster than people think,' Desjardins said. 'At times I'm surprised by how fast he is. He's pretty athletic, and he pushes himself, but things also just come to him.' Predators first-rounder Tanner Molendyk played against McKenna with the Saskatoon Blades and then with him at the 2025 World Juniors and in Medicine Hat following the trade deadline. He saw him register 38 points in 16 WHL playoff games en route to a WHL title and a 54-game point streak. He's also been on the other end of it. 'Seeing it first person, I've probably been a victim of him walking me sometimes. It's pretty special,' Molendyk said. One longtime scout said, 'his hockey IQ is off the charts.' 'He sees plays that others don't see and he can make passes that other players can't make so he's got a combo pack of being able to read, see situations, and at an elite level know who's open and when they're open and then he's got the puck skills to move the puck to those people before sometimes they're even ready for it. His vision and his creativity are high, high-end,' the scout said. 'And he's a lot more competitive than people would expect without the puck. He's a guy that angles and picks people's pockets when they're not expecting it because he's got such a quick stick. He defends not like most people think of defending, where you knock other players off the puck or you run people through the boards, but he's always got his stick in lanes deflecting pucks and picking people's pockets by lifting blades and being in good spots to intercept pucks. So he's an elite offensive mind and then a good defensive player as well.' Advertisement Alan Millar, the new general manager of Canada's 2026 World Junior team, saw it in his previous role as general manager of the Regina Pats, too. He uses the same word Molendyk did: special. 'You just look at his talent level, you look at his offensive abilities, you look at what he did in the WHL as a 17-year-old, really impressive young man, really special player. He's going to be a real important player for us, and I think Gavin's the kind of kid who, along with a Porter Martone, those guys are going to be real motivated through this process based on the results a year ago (a quarterfinal defeat at the 2025 World Juniors in Ottawa). We'll look for Gavin to be a focal point for us. He's exciting, he's dynamic, it's obviously a big year for him with the change that he has made, but we look forward to him being a big part of our team,' Millar said. McKenna looks forward to that challenge, and to all the others that will come in his draft year under the microscope — and his career beyond that. 'There's a lot of things to be excited about next season,' he said. 'Heading to college, playing my first game. That'll be pretty amazing. And then with the World Juniors, last year wasn't the best way to go out, and I know a lot of us will have a big chip on our shoulders this year, and that's going to be exciting. And then for us, I know there's a lot of talk around Penn State and how good the team's going to be, and hopefully we can win a national championship. That's on the bucket list, and I know with my draft year there's going to be a lot of attention, but it'll be fun.'
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Michigan-Based Universities Dominating Junior Hockey Transfers
High-end draft picks Porter Martone, Malcolm Spence join growing list of junior talent joining Michigan-based universities. The junior hockey landscape has been completely flipped on it's head as of late as the Canadian Hockey League, Comprised of leagues from Ontario, Quebec and Western Canada have changed their rules as naming their players professionals and not allowing them to attend NCAA schools. This was changed this past August and players are taking advantage. Universities all over are tripping over themselves trying to land the top junior talent in the sport and lure them to their school. These teams have far better facilities, money-making opportunities with Name, Image and Likeness Deals as well as bigger and more mature talent than the CHL. The biggest draw for the NCAA is the American college experience that many players would be interested in experiencing rather than staying with a billet family in rural Canada. The biggest story out of the shifting junior hockey world was 2026 top NHL prospect Gavin McKenna leaving the WHL and committing to joining Penn State. Besides losing out on McKenna, Michigan-based universities are dominating this process. The University of Michigan and Michigan State have lead the way in terms of new transfers with top talents like Malcolm Spence and Jack Ivankovic joining the Wolverines while top draft picks Porter Martone and Cayden Lindstrom both agreed to play for the Spartans. The NCAA National Ice Hockey Championship was just won by Western Michigan, who has become a mainstay in the picture for a national title. The recent adds by the other Michigan-based schools will certainly close the gap and make NCAA hockey far more competitive than ever before especially in the state of Michigan. Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. Spence was drafted 43rd overall in the second round during this year's draft and is coming off three stellar seasons with the Erie Otters. The Mississauga native put up 177 points through 195 games and will be a instant sparkplug for the Wolverines offence. They'll also get a reliable backstop with Ivankovic, who was drafted with the 58th overall pick in the second round by the Nashville Predators. After two season with the Mississauga/Brampton Steelheads, the 18-year-old posted a 39-17-9 record with a 2.93 goals against average and a .903 save percentage. He played with Team Canada on several occasions and will be an instant difference maker for Michigan. State got the higher end names however with Martone, who was projected to go as high as second overall in this year's draft but was ultimately selected sixth overall by the Philadelphia Flyers. Many expected his move to be to Penn State as they are also making splash adds but the 98-point producer last season instead chose the Spartans. Martone's 191 points through 149 games with the Steelheads make him a blockbuster add. The Spartans didn't stop their as they also added the fourth overall pick in last year's draft with Lindstrom. The BC native will be joining Martone after recording 88 points, including 46 goals and 42 assists, through 102 games with the Medicine Hat Tigers. Lindstrom was sidelined for all of last season with an injury but returned for the playoffs and averaged a point-per-game through four playoff games. Both schools made adds that could immediately make them national title contenders and more junior players are transferring in and out all the time. We could still see more players opt to committing with Michigan schools and could make the state a future force to be reckoned with in the collegiate hockey scene. Red Wings' Net Gets Crowded: Gibson Joins Fold as Cossa, Augustine Eye NHL Jobs Red Wings prospects Sebastian Cossa and Trey Augustine both could challenge for Detroit's backup job in the 2026-27 season. Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!
Calgary Herald
6 days ago
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Rules rewritten: How the NCAA is shaking up major junior hockey in Canada
Article content This month, the best player in major junior hockey chose a new development path. Medicine Hat Tigers star Gavin McKenna announced on ESPN SportsCenter he would play for the Penn State Nittany Lions this fall in his final season before likely being picked No. 1 in the 2026 NHL draft. This wouldn't have been possible except for the NCAA changing a long-standing – and frankly, archaic – rule last fall to let skaters with Canadian Hockey League experience join U.S. college teams. That's not all. They also can be paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for their services. The reported and repeated price tag for McKenna has been $700,000, though some agents and hockey observers don't think it's nearly that high in reality. The bottom line is Canada's most marketable hockey teen has opted to play south of the border and the Memorial Cup runner-up Tigers got nothing in return. It's a clear blow for the CHL, though its president believes it will take at least two or three years to determine the overall impact. 'When this rule change happened, universally, the (CHL) leadership group said it gave players more opportunity and choice,' Dan MacKenzie told Postmedia this week. 'We felt that was a good thing. I would stick by that. Gavin McKenna made the choice he felt was best for his career and it's within his rights to do that. 'We're going to cheer him on next year.' For decades, talented kids as young as 15 had to pick either major junior or the NCAA. Some, like McKenna, will get to experience both before making the jump to the NHL. But there remain big factors to consider: quality of team and competition, length of season, importance of education and advancement opportunities. 'It's going to be interesting – both sides – where it all ends up,' said Mark Hunter, GM of the defending Memorial Cup champion London Knights. 'If you have a good program and spend time on your development side and make sure the players are doing everything they can to get better as a person and hockey player, your program will be fine. The ones that are not, it could be a struggle. Players can come and go. Everyone thinks it's greener somewhere else. It's not always . . .and there's no crystal ball here. 'The lay of the land is interesting right now.' SHOW US THE MONEY THE CHL is banking on McKenna as a unicorn. The Yukon 17-year-old played two productive seasons in Medicine Hat, but wasn't eligible for this year's NHL draft because he was born in December. The NHL draft cutoff date is Sept. 15. He's hardly the first phenom affected by a late birth date. It happened to Auston Matthews 10 years ago. Instead of playing for the Western league's Everett Silvertips or a U.S. college, the future Toronto Maple Leafs captain opted to join Zurich in Switzerland for a reported $400,000 salary. McKenna has set the bar with his take-home pay at Penn State. Will there be a million-dollar NCAA hockey player at some point? Certainly, Connor McDavid would have commanded seven figures had he been in this situation in his junior days. Penn State's big-name donor is alumnus Terry Pegula, who owns both the Buffalo Sabres and the NFL's Bills. The Pegula Ice Arena where McKenna will play seats just over 6,000 – more than Medicine Hat, but not nearly the size of some other big junior teams. Still, a university's ability to raise money is not limited to ticket sales and sponsorship like most junior franchises. 'There are only a handful of brand-name schools in hockey,' said player agent Andrew Maloney, of Maloney & Thompson Sports Management. 'There are some things we already know, but there is still some uncertainty. How much of a chilling factor will (money) have on players leaving the CHL early? What does the CHL-NHL agreement look like down the road? And how much money will be thrown around at these schools? 'I feel like (the payments) are not going to go down. Those are things we don't know at this point.' One NHL scout, speaking on condition of anonymity, called this a 'test dummy year' in the NCAA's drive to recruit CHL blue-chippers. 'In my opinion, how many schools can afford to keep doing this?' the scout said. 'Are you only paying for first-liners, or will fourth-liners get NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) money, too? That's up in the air right now. And if this doesn't work out, how are you going to get kids to come back who aren't actually NHL players and are going for an education? 'There isn't an answer to that yet.' This leads to the obvious question: Will the CHL counter by relaxing its recruitment rules and letting players be paid salaries instead of weekly stipends? The three leagues have defended themselves from lawsuits by claiming their players are student-athletes who live with billets and earn tuition for years spent in the major junior ranks. MacKenzie noted that everything is currently 'on the table.' 'The financial element is something I think for the vast majority of players shouldn't be the context for a real decision-making factor,' he said. 'For the vast majority of those players, the money being offered isn't life-changing and . . . shouldn't alter your development path. If you believe playing in the CHL in your 19th year is what's best, but you will forego NIL money, you will probably make it back when you sign your NHL contract. The CHL figures the NCAA rule change resulted in 225-plus players from other leagues choosing major junior for the coming season, while 143 U.S.-born players were selected in the OHL, WHL and QMJHL drafts – the most in a decade. 'It's pretty clear at this point younger players that would have previously played in the BCHL (B.C. Hockey League) or otherwise are good enough to play major junior,' Maloney said. 'Those guys are coming into the league now at age 16 and 17. Some of the high-end 20-year-olds are not coming back for an over-age season. They're going to the NCAA. So are guys who previously went to Canadian university. Now they're getting a shot at U.S. college and all of that is very positive. 'What's less clear is what will happen with those high-end 17- to 19-year-olds. Gavin McKenna didn't win the Memorial Cup, but what else could he possibly do in junior?' THE TUG-OF-WAR The benefit of attracting a talent like McKenna is obvious. If you're a Nittany Lion, you get to play with him. If you're in the Big 10, you get to play against him and that's also good for your development. But by staying in the CHL, you can experience longer regular seasons and the intensity of traditional NHL-style playoffs. 'You can't teach how to play in a seven-game series,' MacKenzie said. 'NHL teams like to see their drafted players go through it. It's a grind and it becomes a tell. It's harder to identify for players who only play 34 games and could get knocked out after two games in March (in college).' Reigning Calder Trophy winner Lane Hutson of the Canadiens and the Sharks' 2024 NHL first overall pick Macklin Celebrini were ousted early while together at Boston University. Unless things change dramatically, you still need quality third- and fourth-year players to win a national title. It's the same as requiring top-notch 19-year-olds to win the Memorial Cup. 'You interview the kids before the draft and ask them about their plans,' the NHL scout said. 'No team will try to sway them, because this is 2025 and it's their career. Some say they have options and will know what to do after they're picked. 'All of them are promised rainbows and lollipops by teams and schools, but they have to see what it's like when they get there. It might not end up being what they thought and we'll see in November if some players go kicking and screaming back to where they were.' It will take time for most CHL markets to offer what many NCAA programs do in terms of dressing room, gym and facilities. The OHL recently showed off the Oshawa Generals' gorgeous home space on social media, but that's more the exception than the rule. Eight CHL teams, including Oshawa, Kitchener, Barrie and London, are upgrading facilities while three more – Sudbury, Brantford and Ottawa – plan new arenas. The CHL also expanded its import draft to three rounds, resulting in about 20 more players being selected. 'Our teams were keen on making sure we continue to have the calibre of play as high as it can be,' MacKenzie said. 'The third import was designed to do that. There are always topics on the agenda to make sure we're developing players in the best way and have the right environment – be it facilities, training and staff – as they get older. 'We want to continue to be a place where 19-year-olds can thrive.' Sam Dickinson was the CHL's top defenceman last season. If the 19-year-old doesn't make the Sharks this fall, he'll be sent back to the London Knights, just like Easton Cowan of the Maple Leafs when he was the same age. The American league is not available to CHL players like Dickinson or this year's top picks, such as Michael Misa and Porter Martone, until they're in their age-20 year. The NCAA is only an option for players who remained unsigned by their NHL teams. 'I don't know why it's a rule (anymore), because they've professionalized themselves in every way,' Maloney said of U.S. colleges. 'But you still can't go back to school after signing a contract. The CHL and NHL will negotiate at some point and we'll see what happens after that.'
Toronto Sun
6 days ago
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
Rules rewritten: How the NCAA is shaking up major junior hockey in Canada
This month, the best player in major junior hockey chose a new development path. Medicine Hat Tigers star Gavin McKenna warms up before a Memorial Cup game in Rimouski, Que., on Friday, May 23, 2025. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov) This month, the best player in major junior hockey chose a new development path. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. 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Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Medicine Hat Tigers star Gavin McKenna announced on ESPN SportsCenter he would play for the Penn State Nittany Lions this fall in his final season before likely being picked No. 1 in the 2026 NHL draft. This wouldn't have been possible except for the NCAA changing a long-standing – and frankly, archaic – rule last fall to let skaters with Canadian Hockey League experience join U.S. college teams. That's not all. They also can be paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for their services. The reported and repeated price tag for McKenna has been $700,000, though some agents and hockey observers don't think it's nearly that high in reality. The bottom line is Canada's most marketable hockey teen has opted to play south of the border and the Memorial Cup runner-up Tigers got nothing in return. It's a clear blow for the CHL, though its president believes it will take at least two or three years to determine the overall impact. 'When this rule change happened, universally, the (CHL) leadership group said it gave players more opportunity and choice,' Dan MacKenzie told Postmedia this week. 'We felt that was a good thing. I would stick by that. Gavin McKenna made the choice he felt was best for his career and it's within his rights to do that. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'We're going to cheer him on next year.' For decades, talented kids as young as 15 had to pick either major junior or the NCAA. Some, like McKenna, will get to experience both before making the jump to the NHL. But there remain big factors to consider: quality of team and competition, length of season, importance of education and advancement opportunities. London Knights general manager Mark Hunter. (File photo) 'It's going to be interesting – both sides – where it all ends up,' said Mark Hunter, GM of the defending Memorial Cup champion London Knights. 'If you have a good program and spend time on your development side and make sure the players are doing everything they can to get better as a person and hockey player, your program will be fine. The ones that are not, it could be a struggle. Players can come and go. Everyone thinks it's greener somewhere else. It's not always . . .and there's no crystal ball here. 'The lay of the land is interesting right now.' SHOW US THE MONEY THE CHL is banking on McKenna as a unicorn. The Yukon 17-year-old played two productive seasons in Medicine Hat, but wasn't eligible for this year's NHL draft because he was born in December. The NHL draft cutoff date is Sept. 15. He's hardly the first phenom affected by a late birth date. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. It happened to Auston Matthews 10 years ago. Instead of playing for the Western league's Everett Silvertips or a U.S. college, the future Toronto Maple Leafs captain opted to join Zurich in Switzerland for a reported $400,000 salary. McKenna has set the bar with his take-home pay at Penn State. Will there be a million-dollar NCAA hockey player at some point? Certainly, Connor McDavid would have commanded seven figures had he been in this situation in his junior days. Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula walks onto the field during warmups before the preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on August 19, 2023 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by) Penn State's big-name donor is alumnus Terry Pegula, who owns both the Buffalo Sabres and the NFL's Bills. The Pegula Ice Arena where McKenna will play seats just over 6,000 – more than Medicine Hat, but not nearly the size of some other big junior teams. Still, a university's ability to raise money is not limited to ticket sales and sponsorship like most junior franchises. 'There are only a handful of brand-name schools in hockey,' said player agent Andrew Maloney, of Maloney & Thompson Sports Management. 'There are some things we already know, but there is still some uncertainty. How much of a chilling factor will (money) have on players leaving the CHL early? What does the CHL-NHL agreement look like down the road? And how much money will be thrown around at these schools? This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'I feel like (the payments) are not going to go down. Those are things we don't know at this point.' One NHL scout, speaking on condition of anonymity, called this a 'test dummy year' in the NCAA's drive to recruit CHL blue-chippers. 'In my opinion, how many schools can afford to keep doing this?' the scout said. 'Are you only paying for first-liners, or will fourth-liners get NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) money, too? That's up in the air right now. And if this doesn't work out, how are you going to get kids to come back who aren't actually NHL players and are going for an education? 'There isn't an answer to that yet.' This leads to the obvious question: Will the CHL counter by relaxing its recruitment rules and letting players be paid salaries instead of weekly stipends? The three leagues have defended themselves from lawsuits by claiming their players are student-athletes who live with billets and earn tuition for years spent in the major junior ranks. MacKenzie noted that everything is currently 'on the table.' 'The financial element is something I think for the vast majority of players shouldn't be the context for a real decision-making factor,' he said. 'For the vast majority of those players, the money being offered isn't life-changing and . . . shouldn't alter your development path. If you believe playing in the CHL in your 19th year is what's best, but you will forego NIL money, you will probably make it back when you sign your NHL contract. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'I think money is part of the equation. It's not all the equation.' THE HARD NUMBERS The CHL's biggest worry isn't just McKenna. Keaton Verhoeff, another sure-fire NHL top five pick in 2026, committed to North Dakota after two years with the WHL's Victoria Royals. The 17-year-old defenceman is an elite talent the CHL would like to retain for a few more seasons. So far, five major junior players have made the move to U.S. college this summer for what would be their 17- or 18-year-old seasons. Most NCAA commits from the CHL – 85 per cent – are forgoing their over-age season (20 years old) or graduates no longer eligible for junior hockey. That includes Memorial Cup-winning London Knights goalie Austin Elliott and CHL top netminder Jackson Parsons of the Kitchener Rangers. Austin Elliott of the London Knights makes a save during Game 1 of their OHL playoff series against the Owen Sound Attack at Canada Life Place in London on Friday March 28, 2025. (Derek Ruttan/The London Free Press) The CHL figures the NCAA rule change resulted in 225-plus players from other leagues choosing major junior for the coming season, while 143 U.S.-born players were selected in the OHL, WHL and QMJHL drafts – the most in a decade. 'It's pretty clear at this point younger players that would have previously played in the BCHL (B.C. Hockey League) or otherwise are good enough to play major junior,' Maloney said. 'Those guys are coming into the league now at age 16 and 17. Some of the high-end 20-year-olds are not coming back for an over-age season. They're going to the NCAA. So are guys who previously went to Canadian university. Now they're getting a shot at U.S. college and all of that is very positive. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'What's less clear is what will happen with those high-end 17- to 19-year-olds. Gavin McKenna didn't win the Memorial Cup, but what else could he possibly do in junior?' THE TUG-OF-WAR The benefit of attracting a talent like McKenna is obvious. If you're a Nittany Lion, you get to play with him. If you're in the Big 10, you get to play against him and that's also good for your development. But by staying in the CHL, you can experience longer regular seasons and the intensity of traditional NHL-style playoffs. 'You can't teach how to play in a seven-game series,' MacKenzie said. 'NHL teams like to see their drafted players go through it. It's a grind and it becomes a tell. It's harder to identify for players who only play 34 games and could get knocked out after two games in March (in college).' Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson reacts in the third period of their NHL game against the New York Rangers on Nov. 30, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File) Reigning Calder Trophy winner Lane Hutson of the Canadiens and the Sharks' 2024 NHL first overall pick Macklin Celebrini were ousted early while together at Boston University. Unless things change dramatically, you still need quality third- and fourth-year players to win a national title. It's the same as requiring top-notch 19-year-olds to win the Memorial Cup. 'You interview the kids before the draft and ask them about their plans,' the NHL scout said. 'No team will try to sway them, because this is 2025 and it's their career. Some say they have options and will know what to do after they're picked. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'All of them are promised rainbows and lollipops by teams and schools, but they have to see what it's like when they get there. It might not end up being what they thought and we'll see in November if some players go kicking and screaming back to where they were.' It will take time for most CHL markets to offer what many NCAA programs do in terms of dressing room, gym and facilities. The OHL recently showed off the Oshawa Generals' gorgeous home space on social media, but that's more the exception than the rule. Eight CHL teams, including Oshawa, Kitchener, Barrie and London, are upgrading facilities while three more – Sudbury, Brantford and Ottawa – plan new arenas. The CHL also expanded its import draft to three rounds, resulting in about 20 more players being selected. 'Our teams were keen on making sure we continue to have the calibre of play as high as it can be,' MacKenzie said. 'The third import was designed to do that. There are always topics on the agenda to make sure we're developing players in the best way and have the right environment – be it facilities, training and staff – as they get older. 'We want to continue to be a place where 19-year-olds can thrive.' LOOSE ENDS Sam Dickinson was the CHL's top defenceman last season. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. If the 19-year-old doesn't make the Sharks this fall, he'll be sent back to the London Knights, just like Easton Cowan of the Maple Leafs when he was the same age. Sam Dickinson of the London Knights celebrates after scoring to give his team a 3-0 lead over the Owen Sound Attack in Game 1 of their OHL playoff series at Canada Life Place in London on Friday March 28, 2025. (Derek Ruttan/The London Free Press) The American league is not available to CHL players like Dickinson or this year's top picks, such as Michael Misa and Porter Martone, until they're in their age-20 year. The NCAA is only an option for players who remained unsigned by their NHL teams. 'I don't know why it's a rule (anymore), because they've professionalized themselves in every way,' Maloney said of U.S. colleges. 'But you still can't go back to school after signing a contract. The CHL and NHL will negotiate at some point and we'll see what happens after that.' There are two years remaining on the NHL-CHL deal, but that can be reopened to discuss teens playing in the American league. 'The NHL has not exercised that yet,' MacKenzie said. 'Based on the reporting around the CBA (collective bargaining agreement), that's on their minds. We have been partners with the NHL for a long time and will talk to them about this issue.' The CHL produced 90 selections (40 per cent) in the NHL draft last month – the most in nine years – and at least 21 first-round picks for the fifth time since 1969. But the big question is where they end up after hearing their name called. 'I think we'll see the best 17- and 18-year-olds playing against their draft class peers (in the CHL),' the scout said, 'but will we see them pushed against the best 19- and 20-year-olds trying to make it to the Memorial Cup? 'We don't know.' rpyette@ WILL THIS CHANGE? (2025 NHL draft picks by NHL teams) Canadian Hockey League: 90 United States Hockey League: 40 Sweden: 34 Russia: 22 NCAA: 9
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17-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Canadiens Could Send A 19-Year-Old To The AHL
There have been some crucial changes lately at the junior level. Players who skate in the CHL are no longer ineligible to play in the NCAA, and we've started seeing a bit of an exodus towards the American Collegiate League. Projected first-overall pick at the 2026 draft, Gavin McKenna, is leaving the Medicine Hat Tigers for Penn State this upcoming season, and he's not the only one defecting.
