Gavin McKenna, the projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft and 2025 CHL Player of the Year, has committed to Penn State University for the 2025-26 season.

He announced his choice on the Tuesday evening edition of ESPN’s SportsCenter.

McKenna’s decision, which he narrowed down to Penn State or Michigan State (with Denver and Michigan as other considerations), had been widely anticipated for months and marks one of the biggest commitments in college hockey history.

McKenna has dominated the WHL over the last two years. He registered 103 points in 66 combined regular-season and playoff games two years ago, and 173 points split between 76 regular-season, playoff and Memorial Cup games last season, leading the Medicine Hat Tigers to a WHL title while stringing together a 51-game point streak. He was the third-youngest player ever to win CHL Player of the Year (behind Sidney Crosby and John Tavares) and could very well dominate college in a way that Macklin Celebrini, Jack Eichel and Adam Fantilli did, immediately becoming one of the preseason favorites for the Hobey Baker.

With McKenna and top 2026 D prospect Keaton Verhoeff — bound for North Dakota — now committed to play college hockey in their draft year, there is a very real chance that the top two picks in next year’s NHL Draft are both Canadians who chose to play in the NCAA, an indicator of the rapidly-changing landscape in junior and college hockey.

Why McKenna chose Penn State 

Michigan State is a historic program that has been rejuvenated since hiring head coach Adam Nightingale in the spring of 2022, and has assembled a loaded roster full of legitimate NHL prospects. Already a favorite in the Big Ten and nationally heading into the 2025-26 season, landing McKenna could have turned the Spartans into one of college hockey’s all-time juggernauts.

However, Penn State, fresh off its first appearance in the Frozen Four, has emerged as a rival in the now extremely competitive Big Ten and a leading contender for a lot of the top CHL names in this new world of college recruiting. With significant financial backing, Penn State has stepped up with major NIL offers in a push to land premier talent. It’s believed that despite a limited track record of producing NHL players, McKenna valued the opportunity to put his stamp on a program and look to help further lift the school’s college hockey standing under head coach Guy Gadowsky.

The Nittany Lions’ 2025-26 freshman class already included 2025 Blue Jackets first-rounder Jackson Smith and 2024 Flames draft pick Luke Misa. They’ve also added Mac Gadowsky, Guy’s son, who was one of the top players in the transfer portal, and are returning a core that includes Predators prospect Aiden Fink (who finished fourth in college hockey scoring last year) and 2025 Hurricanes second-rounder Charlie Cerrato.

Scouting reports

McKenna was one of the very best players in the CHL this season. He’s an electric forward with truly elite skill and offensive sense. He’s one of the most creative and skilled players I’ve seen in recent years. That McKenna is also a high-end skater who can make his difficult plays at quick tempos gives a lot of confidence about how his game could fare in the NHL. If teams were going to pick him apart, it would be that he’s an average-sized winger who doesn’t have a super high motor, but his talent and scoring are so good that it’s nitpicking. I wouldn’t call him a Macklin Celebrini/Connor Bedard-level prospect, but he’s not far off. — Corey Pronman, senior prospects writer

McKenna is a captivating offensive winger who had one of the most productive age-adjusted seasons in modern CHL history last season. He’s a fabulous, flowing skater with natural straight-line and corner speed, great edges and a rare ability to make plays while flying around out there. He’s impressive at carrying and dodging sticks through neutral ice to create entries. He has a first touch like glue where the puck just lands and sticks to his blade when he’s catching it, even when it’s coming in hot or into compromising positions. He’s a brilliant puck transporter, transition machine and get-out-of-jail-free card who routinely skates pucks out of the zone himself and relieves pressure. McKenna is so shifty with the puck, blending shoulder fakes into his playmaking. He has impressive maneuverability and adjustability from his hips down. He plays pucks into space and leads guys at an advanced level. He shields pucks extremely well from defenders’ sticks. He’s constantly changing directions and keeping defenders off him. He pre-scans and sees and reads the game at an elite level.

When he’s on the ice, the talent divide is always clear, even when he has played with top players. Though he’s a natural playmaker first, he’s also got scoring elements, has tons of pre-shot deception in his movements, attacks the middle and goes downhill, and has been one of the WHL’s leaders in shots on goal since entering the league. He can beat you to the middle or the outside if you give it to him. And while he’s lean, he’s also got a really good stick defensively, taking back and lifting a lot of pucks (though there is the odd time when he doesn’t pick up assignments and can puck watch/drive-by instead of stopping on pucks). He projects as a first-line, star and maybe even superstar winger. — Scott Wheeler, national prospects writer

(Photo: Jonathan Kozub / Getty Images)

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) announced their 2024-25 GNAC Faculty Athletic Representative Scholar-Athletes, presented by Barnes & Noble College, and the Alaska Nanooks had 45 recipients. For a third year in a row, the GNAC recorded a record total of student-athletes earning the FAR honors, as 426 individuals were named on Tuesday.

Click here to view the entire 2024-25 list.

This number broke the previous record-breaking number of 394, set back in 2023-24. The GNAC FAR Scholar Athlete Award is presented to all student-athletes listed on any squad at a GNAC institution, regardless of whether the sport is a GNAC championship sport, who have compiled a cumulative grade point average of 3.85 or greater. Conference affiliate members could nominate only student-athletes from the sport in which they compete within the GNAC.

A faculty athletic representative (FAR) is a member of the faculty at an NCAA member institution who has been designated to serve as a liaison between the institution’s faculty and the athletic department. The FAR serves as a representative of the institution in conference and NCAA affairs.

The role of the FAR is “to ensure that the academic institution establishes and maintains the appropriate balance between academics and athletics.”

Female Recipients

Name	Sport	Academic Major	Year	GPA	Hometown
Rachael Charles	Rifle	Biological Sciences	Jr.	3.90	Urbandale, Iowa
Kinley Erickson **	Volleyball	Communication	Sr.	3.92	North Pole, Alaska
Elena Guc	Volleyball	Homeland Security	Jr.	4.00	East China, Mich.
Sára Karasová ***	Rifle	Sport & Recreation Business	Sr.	3.96	Šenov, Czech Republic
Lucie Kissenberger	Rifle	Biological Sciences	Fr.	4.00	Neuves-Maisons, France
Kendall Kramer *	Cross Country/Nordic Ski	Biological Sciences	Sr.	3.89	Fairbanks, Alaska
Miranda Lomax	Basketball	Business Administration	Jr.	3.85	Cathlamet, Wash.
Haylee Lyons	Volleyball	Business	Fr.	3.90	Kaimuki, Hawaii
Olivia Manley	Cross Country	Psychology	Fr.	3.87	Fairbanks, Alaska
Tristian Martin *	Basketball	Homeland Security	Sr.	3.86	Fairbanks, Alaska
Jordan O’Connor	Swimming	Marine Studies	Sr.	3.95	Jersey Shore, Pa.
Cecelia Ossi	Rifle	Business Administration	Sr.	3.96	Annandale, N.J.
Janci Pangburn	Swimming	Undeclared	Fr.	3.93	Tulsa, Okla.
Hazel Probst	Cross Country	Anthropology	Fr.	3.86	Fairbanks, Alaska
Sariah Rodgers	Swimming	Undeclared	Fr.	3.88	Fairbanks, Alaska
Larissa Scatamburlo	Volleyball	Biological Sciences	Jr.	4.00	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Cosima Schmeidel	Swimming	Biology	Fr.	3.87	Dusseldorf, Germany
Madison Schuh	Cross Country	Wildlife Biology	Fr.	3.89	Anchorage, Alaska
Jayda Van Dyke *	Basketball	Business Administration	Sr.	3.90	Herriman, Utah
Ashlyn White	Volleyball	Civil Engineering	Fr.	4.00	Goodyear, Ariz.
Delainey Zock ***	Cross Country	Wildlife Biology & Conservation	Jr.	3.88	Anchorage, Alaska
Rilee White ****	Volleyball	Biological Sciences	Sr.	4.00	Goodyear, Ariz.

Male Recipients

Name	Sport	Academic Major	Year	GPA	Hometown
Noah Barlage	Ice Hockey	Business Administration	Fr.	3.89	Humboldt, Sask.
Lars Tobias Bernhoft-Osa	Rifle	Accounting	Jr.	3.95	Rykkinn, Norway
Braden Birnie **	Ice Hockey	Business Administration	Jr.	3.89	Weyburn, Sask.
Benjamin Browning	Cross Country	Computer Science	Fr.	3.96	Kimberly, Idaho
Adam Cardona	Ice Hockey	Business Administration	So.	3.87	Beconsfield, Que.
Nicholas Grabko	Ice Hockey	Business Administration	Sr.	3.91	Channahon, Ill.
Blake Hanley	Cross Country/Skiing	Homeland Security	Fr.	3.93	Anchorage, Alaska
William Lawson-Body *	Ice Hockey	Accounting	So.	3.98	Grand Forks, N.D.
Bryce Monrean	Ice Hockey	Business Administration	Fr.	3.92	Anchorage, Alaska
Philipp Moosmayer **	Cross Country/Skiing	Digital Journalism	Jr.	3.89	Lutkritch, Germany
Paxson Ott	Cross Country	Biomedical Science	Fr.	3.96	Fairbanks, Alaska
Matteo Pecchia	Ice Hockey	Business Administration	So.	3.86	Nobleton, Ont.
Jace Peters	Cross Country/Skiing	Mechanical Engineering	So.	3.88	Leadville, Colo.
Peyton Platter	Ice Hockey	Business Administration	Fr.	3.92	Eau Claire, Wis.
Carson Reed	Ice Hockey	Business Administration	Fr.	3.94	Warroad, Minn.
Ruben Rhodes	Cross Country	Biochemistry	Fr.	3.90	Anchorage, Alaska
Matthew Rickard	Ice Hockey	Business Administration	Sr.	3.88	Coventry, R.I.
Gabriele Rigaudo	Cross Country/Skiing	Biological Sciences	Fr.	4.00	Raccavione, Italy
Brendan Ross	Ice Hockey	Accounting	Fr.	4.00	Calgary, Alta.
Broten Sabo *	Ice Hockey	Business Administration	So.	3.91	Rosemount, Minn.
Dean Spak	Ice Hockey	Business Administration	Fr.	3.94	Calgary, Alta.
Tyler Waram	Ice Hockey	Accounting	Fr.	3.94	Edmonds, Wash.

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GLOUCESTER, Mass. – Senior captain Alex Gagne (Bedford, N.H.) and senior defenseman Luke Reid (Warman, Saskatchewan) of the University of New Hampshire men’s hockey team have been named America Hockey Coaches Association Krampade All-American Scholars.
 
 
To earn recognition on this ninth annual list, a student-athlete had to attain a 3.75 or higher GPA in each semester of the 2024-25 academic year and had to play in 40 percent of the team’s games; exceptions were granted for injuries and backup goaltenders. The school is also required to be an AHCA member.
 
 

Both Gagne (Sport Management & Leadership) and Reid (Communication) posted perfect 4.00 GPAs during the 2024-25 season. Recently they both earned Hockey East Top Scholar Athlete honors for compiling the highest GPA at their position for the season. The two Wildcats were also named to the Academic All-Star Team.
 
 
This is the first time Gagne and Reid have earned this accolade.

 

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2025-26 UNH men’s hockey season tickets are now available and can be purchased at UNHWildcats.com/BuyTickets or by calling the ticket office at (603) 862-4000. Don’t miss the most exciting family entertainment in New Hampshire. 
 

Projected 2026 No. 1 overall NHL draft pick Gavin McKenna headlines a big group of Canadian hockey stars choosing to play college hockey next season — and he’s reportedly committed to Penn State for 2025-26.

The Nittany Lions are fresh off their first Frozen Four appearance in 2025, but one of the sport’s top prospects choosing to play for a program that’s younger than him certainly raises eyebrows. Were the Gophers even in the mix?

As of July 8, the Gophers have 24 players projected to be on their 2025-26 roster, none of whom come from the CHL (Canadian Hockey League) ranks. That’s an anomaly compared to their Big Ten rivals, all of whom have reportedly added at least one player from Canada’s top junior league.

Is it a money thing? We don’t have those answers, but McKenna will reportedly make around $700,000 to play for Penn State next season. Michigan State reportedly offered $200,000 to $300,000 as the other finalist in McKenna’s recruitment. Did the Gophers make him an offer?

There were plenty of rumors about McKenna’s college hockey future, but Minnesota not even being mentioned is baffling. The Gophers are a college hockey blue blood, making McKenna’s decision feel analogous to Luka Dončić wanting to play a year of college hoops without Duke or Kentucky being considered.

McKenna instantly makes Penn State the favorite to win the Big Ten next season, less than 15 years after the program turned Division I in 2012-13. Should the Gophers be concerned they’re getting lapped by programs with far less history and cachet?

In the short term, probably not. Minnesota just had five players selected in last month’s NHL Draft, and they’ll still be among the most talented teams in college hockey next season. But they’re no longer getting their pick of the litter in recruiting.

Penn State landing McKenna just months after its Frozen Four run signals they’ve officially arrived as a national power. Minnesota can no longer lean solely on tradition and a strong developmental track record when competing for the best players.

Did the Gophers even try to recruit McKenna? If the answer is no, that might be the bigger issue. At the end of the day, college sports have become a talent acquisition business, and programs around the country are getting creative with how they build rosters.

This isn’t a reason to panic in Minnesota, but it’s absolutely a reason to raise eyebrows — and maybe a warning sign that it’s going to cost significant money to lure the best talent in the future.

HANOVER, N.H. – The College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) announced that both the Dartmouth men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams have been named to the Scholar All-America team for the Spring 2025 semester.
 
The Big Green programs are two of 763 teams from 432 institutions to be recognized by the CSCAA. To receive the honor, teams must achieve a grade point average of 3.0 or higher during the Spring 2025 semester.
 
In addition, there were seven total individual Big Green swimmers and divers from the men’s and women’s teams who received the honor of Individual Scholar All-America. To qualify, the student-athletes must earn a 3.5 grade point average in the classroom while also meeting a “B” standard time in a swim event or qualify for Diving Zones in a diving event.
 
From the women’s side, Alyssa Palacios, Klara Johnsson Stjernström and Maggie Lambdin were recognized. Meanwhile on the men’s side, Aryeh Lesch, Everett Tai, Jacob Turner and McCoy Lyman were honored. All seven were named to the Second Team.
 

Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark is doubling down on his preference to stay with only five automatic qualifiers if the College Football Playoff does expand from 12 to 16 teams as many expect after this season, instead of each of the four power conferences being guaranteed multiple bids.

“We have the responsibility to do what’s right for college football … not what’s right for one or two or more conferences,” Yormark said Tuesday at Big 12 football media days. “I think 5-11 is fair. Earn it on the field, assuming we want to expand. I love the current format, but if we’re going to expand, let’s do it in a way that’s fair and equitable and gives everyone a chance.”

While the SEC and Big Ten will have more of a say on the playoff format starting in 2026, when ESPN’s $7.8 billion contract kicks in, Yormark believes the 5-11 format would be good for now and in the future. He said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips feels the same way, and is expected to express that during his league’s media days in two weeks.

“We do not need a professional model because we are not the NFL,” Yormark said. “We are college football and we must act like it.”

In the 12-team format still in place for this season, the five highest-ranked conference champions are guaranteed spots in the playoff. The difference this year is that the top four highest-ranked champions are no longer guaranteed the top four seeds that come with first-round byes.

Among potential 16-team formats would be four automatic qualifiers from both the SEC and Big Ten, and two each for the Big 12 and ACC. The Big 12 last season had only conference champion Arizona State make the playoff last season.

[Related: How 2024-25 CFP Would’ve Looked Under Proposed Expansion Formats]

“We want to earn it on the field,” Yormark said. “It might not be the best solution today for the Big 12, given your comments about (automatic qualifiers), but long term, knowing the progress we’re making, the investments we’re making, it’s the right format for us.”

Yormark, who is going into his fourth year as Big 12 commissioner, believes that the landmark NCAA House settlement will have a positive impact for all conferences, especially if the College Sports Commission works the way it is intended in enforcing the rules in the remade system.

“It will. I have a lot of faith in Bryan Seely,” Yormark said of the former Major League Baseball executive named CEO of the new CSC. “It should create a level playing field, and I’m not giving that up.”

The Big 12 was already in transition and still at 10 teams when Yormark arrived in 2022. BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF joined the league the following year.

Texas and Oklahoma, who won football national championships while in the Big 12, completed their long-planned move to the SEC last year. That is when Pac-12 schools Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah came into what is now a 16-team Big 12.

“I think parity matters, and I think ultimately over time, and that’s hopefully sooner than later, there’ll be a couple of our schools that will emerge, you know, as elite schools that are always part of the conversations at the highest levels. And that’s what we’re working towards,” Yormark said. “But it starts with parity and being competitive top to bottom. And I think we’re there.”

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