Gavin McKenna is making waves in the hockey world, and his performance on Friday night was nothing short of spectacular.
In a dominant 11-4 victory, McKenna led Penn State against Ohio State, racking up an impressive eight points. This 2026 draft prospect was the driving force behind Penn State’s offensive onslaught.
The night kicked off with McKenna contributing to both of Penn State's first-period goals. He assisted on the opener and netted his own goal just over ten minutes into the game.
The second period saw Penn State explode with six goals, and McKenna was in the thick of it, notching four assists to bring his tally to six points. He wrapped up his remarkable night with two more assists in the third period, finishing with one goal and eight points.
McKenna’s performance shattered the previous Penn State record for points in a single game, which stood at five.
After a relatively quiet start to his collegiate season, by his standards, McKenna has found his stride. With 12 goals and 29 assists, he now boasts 41 points in just 27 games. His eight-point game catapulted him from 11th to 2nd in the NCAA for points per game, sitting at 1.51, trailing only Ethan Wyttenbach, a Calgary Flames 2025 fifth-round pick.
This uptick in McKenna's game is timely, especially with the 2026 NHL Draft on the horizon. Earlier in the season, there were whispers about whether he would secure the first overall pick.
Contenders like Keaton Verhoeff and Ivar Stenberg, the latter gaining momentum after Sweden’s gold at the 2026 World Juniors, were in the mix. However, McKenna's recent surge could give him the edge as draft day approaches-a point of interest for Vancouver Canucks fans, who currently have the best odds for the top pick.
McKenna’s journey to the NCAA last summer was facilitated by a new rule allowing CHL players to join collegiate ranks. Before this, he spent two seasons with the Medicine Hat Tigers. His transition to college hockey has been nothing short of impressive, setting the stage for what could be a defining moment in his budding career.