Jul. 10—Two days after 17-year-old hockey star Gavin McKenna announced his intentions to play for Penn State in the fall, the school confirmed the news via press release.

“His arrival to Hockey Valley is extremely significant not only to our hockey program, but to Penn State athletics and to college hockey as a whole,” coach Guy Gadowsky said in the release.

Gadowsky is not exaggerating.

McKenna’s commitment gives Penn State not only one of the most hyped recruits in college hockey history, but maybe also the most ballyhooed recruit in the history of the school’s athletic programs.

Part of that is because of McKenna’s abilities, of course. He’s a 6-foot, 170-pound scoring machine who took his aura to another level when he recorded at least one point in the last 40 games of the regular season and first 14 points of the playoffs for Medicine Hat of the Western Hockey League last year.

He ended up with 129 points in 56 regular-season games and 38 more in 16 playoff games.

It is also because of a major rule change in 2024. The NCAA ruled that playing Canadian major junior hockey no longer made a player ineligible to play college hockey. McKenna is the first major star to take advantage of the rule change.

Five college players have gone No. 1 overall in the NHL Draft in the past, like McKenna surely will next June, but none was nearly as acclaimed. They are Macklin Celebrini (2024), Owen Power (2021), Erik Johnson (2006), Rick DiPietro (2000) and Joe Murphy (1986).

It’s also easy to include McKenna on a short list of the most hyped recruits in any sport in Penn State history.

In football, the Nittany Lions have had two players go No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft — Ki-Jana Carter (1995) and Courtney Brown (2000) — but neither was considered a top player in the country coming out of high school.

The highest ranked football recruits in Penn State history — at least since prospect rankings became popular three or four decades ago — are wide receiver Derrick Williams and linebacker Micah Parsons. Williams was the No. 4 recruit in the country in 2005 and Parsons was No. 5 in 2018.

The closest thing to McKenna in terms of prospect hype in Penn State sports history might be a classmate of his. Wrestler P.J. Duke will be a freshman with the Nittany Lions next season, and last month, he defeated four-time NCAA champion Yanni Diakomihalis to win a spot on the U.S. national team for the world championships before wrestling his first college match.

Under Cael Sanderson, Penn State has snagged the No. 1 recruit in the country four other times — Morgan McIntosh (2011), Mark Hall (2016), Shayne Van Ness (2021) and Marcus Blaze (2024) — but that’s wrestling. It’s impossible to suggest any of those outstanding grapplers have the name value McKenna does.

Blue-and-white McKenna hockey jerseys are sure to be Happy Valley’s hottest fashion accessory any day now.

“He’s one of the most exciting young talents in the game and reflects the level of student-athletes we’re bringing to Penn State across all sports,” athletic director Pat Kraft said in Thursday’s press release, marking the rare occasion an AD comments on the addition of a single recruit.

“His commitment is a testament to the national reputation Guy Gadowsky and his staff have built, and we know he’ll thrive in the culture of excellence that surrounds our program. We can’t wait to see him compete alongside this incredible group and help push our program to even greater heights.”

Jonathan Bombulie is the TribLive assistant sports editor. A Greensburg native, he was a hockey reporter for two decades, covering the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for 17 seasons before joining the Trib in 2015 and covering the Penguins for four seasons, including Stanley Cup championships in 2016-17. He can be reached at jbombulie@triblive.com.

© 2025 The Tribune-Review (Greensburg, Pa.). Visit www.triblive.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Copyright 2025 Tribune Content Agency.

Arkansas basketball will enter this season with some pretty lofty expectations. Part of that is the four returning contributors from last year’s Sweet 16 team and two veteran transfer additions from the portal. Another big reason is the highly-touted freshman class, including consensus five-star and McDonald’s All-American, Meleek Thomas.

The Pittsburgh (Pa.) native was the second commitment for John Calipari‘s 2025 recruiting class and one of the most dynamic guards in the cycle. On Wednesday afternoon, media got to see the 2025-26 Razorbacks during an hour-long open practice and Thomas was one player who stood out, especially in the latter stages of the session.

Thomas showcased his elite shot-making ability, flashed as a cutter and showed promise as a fearless on-ball defender. His motor and hustle were both unmatched as the young freshman was 100% full throttle for every minute of the practice session. 

As is the case with any incoming freshman, though, there were no shortage of teachable moments and instances where Calipari needed to step in. One of Thomas strengths is being able to knock down difficult shots. Sometimes, those difficult shots are of his own creation due to poor selection and too many unnecessary dribbles. Calipari explained that’s one area he wants Thomas to clean up. 

“He’s different. He’s a basket-getter,” Calipari said. “But he is used to having the ball and then getting a basket, where we’re going to create opportunities for him to run downhill, to shoot floaters, come off a screen, pull up in transition, shoot. You’re not going to bounce it 50 times. And if you do … it better go in. Now, go ahead. You can do it. But if they don’t go in, you’re coming out. You’re not playing that way.

“But he is a bucket-getter, and I’ll tell you what else he is – he’s a gym rat, and he lives in the gym. So, he’s going to be fine. I just got to kind of point him in the right direction and let him go figure it out.”

The work ethic, motor and hustle from Thomas were all on full display during Wednesday afternoon’s practice, so it’s not hard to agree with Calipari that the young freshman will be fine. Following the open practice session, Thomas was one of the player who spoke with media and admitted he’s still adjusting to the college game.

“(I’m) getting used to everything. Some things are new for me,” Thomas said. ” Just when it comes to college, everybody gets that college welcoming, but some things are new. I’m getting adjusted to everything. Nothing’s really too too fast or too sped up for me. Like, I’m going to handle everything the way I need to, but everything is going good and the way I feel should be going.

“I really wouldn’t say it’s been a welcome to college moment. I would just say coach Calipari is doing a great job at critiquing every little thing that needs to be critiqued. I mean, that’s just the guy he is. He wants to make sure everything’s perfect or in the best shape or form. He’s gonna make sure he keeps getting it through your head, make sure he’s making his message clear.”

One thing that can really help young guys such as Thomas is having veteran players around them, especially this early in summer practices. Junior guard DJ Wagner is entering his third season playing for Calipari and knows firsthand what Thomas is going through. According to Thomas, Wagner has been a major help as he gets adjusted to the college game. 

“DJ, he’s doing an amazing job of just teaching me to slow things down at times,” Thomas said. “Everything doesn’t need to be so sped up, and he’s learned that through multiple years of college, and just a lot of good talks. ‘Slow things down.’ He’s helping me be in better positions on the floor, helping me know where to be at on offense and defense, helping me to continue to communicate even though I already do that at a high level, I feel. Just add an extra gear, I would say, and be an amazing teammate.”

Two days after 17-year-old hockey star Gavin McKenna announced his intentions to play for Penn State in the fall, the school confirmed the news via press release.

“His arrival to Hockey Valley is extremely significant not only to our hockey program, but to Penn State athletics and to college hockey as a whole,” coach Guy Gadowsky said in the release.

Gadowsky is not exaggerating.

McKenna’s commitment gives Penn State not only one of the most hyped recruits in college hockey history, but maybe also the most ballyhooed recruit in the history of the school’s athletic programs.

Part of that is because of McKenna’s abilities, of course. He’s a 6-foot, 170-pound scoring machine who took his aura to another level when he recorded at least one point in the last 40 games of the regular season and first 14 points of the playoffs for Medicine Hat of the Western Hockey League last year.

He ended up with 129 points in 56 regular-season games and 38 more in 16 playoff games.

Please enjoy four and a half minutes of Gavin McKenna highlights after he officially announced his commitment to @PennStateMHKY. ????

The projected 2026 first overall pick is already a star.

(????: @tigershockey & @TheWHL) pic.twitter.com/m3iQaMAXZu

— NHL (@NHL) July 8, 2025

It is also because of a major rule change in 2024. The NCAA ruled that playing Canadian major junior hockey no longer made a player ineligible to play college hockey. McKenna is the first major star to take advantage of the rule change.

Five college players have gone No. 1 overall in the NHL Draft in the past, like McKenna surely will next June, but none was nearly as acclaimed. They are Macklin Celebrini (2024), Owen Power (2021), Erik Johnson (2006), Rick DiPietro (2000) and Joe Murphy (1986).

Penguins…
1984 Mario Lemieux 1st overall.
21 years later…
2005 Sidney Crosby 1st overall.
21 years later…
2026 Gavin McKenna 1st overall??
Could happen. Penguins look like they will be a lottery team.

— Jason Gregor (@JasonGregor) July 8, 2025

It’s also easy to include McKenna on a short list of the most hyped recruits in any sport in Penn State history.

In football, the Nittany Lions have had two players go No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft — Ki-Jana Carter (1995) and Courtney Brown (2000) — but neither was considered a top player in the country coming out of high school.

The highest ranked football recruits in Penn State history — at least since prospect rankings became popular three or four decades ago — are wide receiver Derrick Williams and linebacker Micah Parsons. Williams was the No. 4 recruit in the country in 2005 and Parsons was No. 5 in 2018.

17-year-old hockey phenom Gavin McKenna is heading to Penn State to continue his career pic.twitter.com/qrxxfILu9P

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 8, 2025

The closest thing to McKenna in terms of prospect hype in Penn State sports history might be a classmate of his. Wrestler P.J. Duke will be a freshman with the Nittany Lions next season, and last month, he defeated four-time NCAA champion Yanni Diakomihalis to win a spot on the U.S. national team for the world championships before wrestling his first college match.

Under Cael Sanderson, Penn State has snagged the No. 1 recruit in the country four other times — Morgan McIntosh (2011), Mark Hall (2016), Shayne Van Ness (2021) and Marcus Blaze (2024) — but that’s wrestling. It’s impossible to suggest any of those outstanding grapplers have the name value McKenna does.

Blue-and-white McKenna hockey jerseys are sure to be Happy Valley’s hottest fashion accessory any day now.

“He’s one of the most exciting young talents in the game and reflects the level of student-athletes we’re bringing to Penn State across all sports,” athletic director Pat Kraft said in Thursday’s press release, marking the rare occasion an AD comments on the addition of a single recruit.

“His commitment is a testament to the national reputation Guy Gadowsky and his staff have built, and we know he’ll thrive in the culture of excellence that surrounds our program. We can’t wait to see him compete alongside this incredible group and help push our program to even greater heights.”

With yesterday’s commitment of 5 recruit and the consensus #1 pick for the 2026 NHL Draft, Gavin McKenna, we’ve truly entered a new era in Penn State hockey.

The Nittany Lions recruiting classes are loaded with 5 and 4 star recruits. pic.twitter.com/ghIPu7bzB2

— Puck Preps (@PuckPreps) July 9, 2025

The top division of NCAA hockey is gaining a new face for the first time in a few years. After beginning a feasibility study four years ago, Tennessee State University reaffirmed that it’s sponsoring a Division I men’s hockey program, which will begin play in the 2026-27 season. That was the initial plan, although they’re reverting to it now after previously attempting to launch DI play for the 2025-26 campaign.

The school began to ice a club hockey team in 2024-25 and will presumably do so again this year instead of making the jump to the top flight. Unlike recent new DI programs like Augustana and Lindenwood, there is no history of ACHA – a collegiate hockey association roughly equivalent to NCAA DIII play – representation at TSU. In this case, the program is truly being built from scratch in a brief period.

Tennessee State, located in Nashville with a total enrollment of just 8,198, will be the first historically Black college or university (HBCU) to introduce a DI hockey program, either men’s or women’s. In today’s announcement, Assistant Athletic Director Nick Guerriero stated that they’ve received a $ 250,000 grant from the NHL and NHLPA’s Industry Growth Fund, in addition to continued consultancy and support from the Predators and College Hockey, Inc.

While the club’s playing roster for its inaugural season isn’t yet secured, it does have its head coach. They tapped Duanté Abercrombie for the role in April 2024. The 28-year-old Washington, D.C. native previously worked as a development coach with the Maple Leafs during the 2022-23 season and served as an assistant coach for Stevenson University’s Division III program in 2023-24.

Like Lindenwood, TSU is expected to begin its life as an independent program.

In what may be a first and is certainly a sign of the times in college athletics, Penn State officially announced the signing of prized hockey prospect Gavin McKenna with a statement from both head coach Guy Gadowsky and athletic director Pat Kraft. The Nittany Lions landed the projected 2026 NHL Draft No. 1 overall pick, who has been described as a ‘generational talent’ over Michigan State and others. ‘Others’ includes his Canadian junior team, Medicine Hat. It would have loved to welcome the CHL Player of the Year back for another season before he turns pro. But, a new rule this year allows CHL players to compete at the NCAA level for the first time. McKenna, and Penn State, will both take advantage of it during the 2025-2026 season.

“Gavin is a special player and a terrific young man,” Gadowsky said in a news release. “Our staff could not have been more impressed with how he presented himself on his visit. His arrival to Hockey Valley is extremely significant not only to our hockey program, but to Penn State athletics and to college hockey as a whole. We are absolutely thrilled and excited to witness his contributions on the ice, to our locker room, and to the Penn State community. This is a great day to be a Nittany Lion!”

More: What are they saying about Gavin McKenna’s commitment to Penn State?

Added Kraft:

“We are so thrilled to have Gavin join our Hockey Valley family and become part of a special group of young men who represent everything great about Penn State. This team is built on character, work ethic and pride in wearing the Blue & White. And, Gavin is a perfect fit. He’s one of the most exciting young talents in the game and reflects the level of student-athletes we’re bringing to Penn State across all sports.

“His commitment is a testament to the national reputation Guy Gadowsky and his staff have built. And we know he’ll thrive in the culture of excellence that surrounds our program. We can’t wait to see him compete alongside this incredible group and help push our program to even greater heights.”

Both statements amount to what is essentially a recruiting pitch amid the NIL era of college athletics. Penn State did what it had to do to land the top recruit in one of its sports. And, it’s shouting about it from the proverbial rooftops.

McKenna recorded a point in 54 games during the 2024-2025 season, which is a record. Total, he tallied 129 points (88 assists and 41 goal) this past winter. He is the third youngest player to ever win the CHL Player of the Year trophy.

“I think the main goal is obviously to win a championship,” McKenna told ESPN. “I think you kind of saw what Penn State did this year, making it to the Frozen Four. They’ve come a long way. And I think next year, when I go there, obviously, that’s the goal, is to win a championship.”

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