TEMPE, Ariz.— Through all of the boos and cacophony of Arizona State University’s Mullett Arena, freshman left wing Gavin McKenna took the ice for the first time in his NCAA career.
The projected No. 1 draft pick of the 2026 NHL draft announced in July that he’d make the move from the Western Hockey League of the Canadian Hockey League to the NCAA following the rule change regarding CHL athletes.
In his collegiate debut, the 17-year-old snagged two assists on the first two goals of the game that gave Penn State the lead in the first period.
With NHL scouts from far and wide in attendance, 5,270 sets of eyes in the crowd and the Sun Devils and Nittany Lions being broadcast on the NHL network, all eyes were on McKenna.
While most freshmen would falter under the pressure, McKenna continued to prove that he is different.
“Everything he does with the puck has a purpose. I haven’t seen him frantic ever,” Penn State head coach Guy Gadowsky said. “He is able to take everything in stride and just stay calm, and I think it is really good for the team.”
While McKenna is praised for how he handles the pressure, when he's on the ice, the noise goes quiet.
“I think when you’re out there, it’s quiet, you are just playing the game you love,” McKenna said. “Obviously, away from the rink, there’s a bit of pressure, but I think staying off social media and stuff helps out.”
Last year, McKenna appeared in 56 regular-season games for the Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL. In those 56 games, McKenna accumulated 129 points with 41 goals and 88 assists.
“I could have stayed in The Dub [WHL] and taken the easy route, but I wanted to challenge myself this year and come to the NCAA,” McKenna said. “Go against older guys, bigger guys, faster guys, and just prepare me for the next level.”
After ASU took a 3-2 lead at the end of the second period, the Nittany Lions silenced the Inferno, scoring four unanswered goals in the third and running away with a 6-3 victory.
Although the Sun Devils ultimately fell to the Lions, ASU head coach Greg Powers had nothing but good words to say about McKenna.
“If he touches the puck in the o-zone, you’re holding your breath,” Powers said. “He’s special, he’s young. He’s going to get better and better every game. I think we’re going to get a better effort out of him tomorrow.”
Although McKenna proves time and time again that his talent is out-of-this-world for a 17-year-old, he is just exactly that—a 17-year-old.
“I’m just a normal kid. Sometimes people don’t see that away from the rink,” McKenna said. “I like to have fun, I like to golf, hang out with my buddies.”
With his freshman season officially underway, McKenna will continue to prove exactly why he is the next big name for the NHL.