Hockey Valley had a lot of eyes on it for the 2025-26 season with forward Gavin McKenna joining the squad after a historic season.
At the time of his commitment last summer, McKenna was just 17 years old, but felt he like he had a lot in common with Penn State men's hockey. McKenna sought out a young team, not necessarily roster-wise but one that was making a name for itself in the NCAA hockey landscape. The Nittany Lions and Michigan State Spartans were his finalists, and only the former fit that "young and developing" team McKenna felt he fit in with.
Penn State just came off its first Frozen Four appearance in history after a 2024-25 season that seemed like playoff contention was a pipe dream, never mind being one of the last four teams standing. Despite losing in the semifinals to Boston University, that season was a turning point in Nittany Lion history.
With McKenna, a generational talent and future NHL star, repping the blue and white the following season, a playoff appearance was the bare minimum expectation. Even after securing their spot in the NCAA Tournament, though, the Nittany Lions didn't look like they had the same heart and drive to make a second consecutive Frozen Four appearance. They ultimately lost in the first round of the tournament, falling 3-1 to Minnesota-Duluth.
McKenna, who used to be a Medicine Hat Tiger in the Western Hockey League before his Penn State stop, was back at the Memorial Cup on Wednesday, May 27 and spoke on TSN. He reflected on his time in the WHL, why coming to the NCAA was the right choice, his development as a true freshman, and what's next in his career.
WHL Player of the Year and 2025 WHL Champion, Gavin McKenna is in the house at #MemorialCup ! pic.twitter.com/e2Tr3oREP6
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) May 28, 2026
"It was fun, [but] obviously it didn't end the way we wanted it to end pretty early on there," McKenna said in regards to the 2025-26 season and his first taste of the NCAA. "But it was a fun ride with Penn State and I'll remember that place forever."
McKenna mentioned the injuries the Nittany Lions sustained throughout the season and the general challenges for himself, in particular, adjusting to the next level of hockey. It was never going to be a smooth sailing ride for McKenna and with a competitive Big Ten conference in 2025-26, it wasn't going to be easy for the team as a whole either.
Michigan, Michigan State, and Wisconsin all made the NCAA Tournament alongside Penn State. The Wolverines were the No. 1 overall team in the country and the Spartans weren't very far behind as the No. 3 squad. They consistently gave the blue and white trouble throughout the regular season and the Nittany Lions always looked like the weaker team in games.
Though Penn State finished No. 9 in NPI rankings that determined the tournament bracket, the Badgers were the final Big Ten team standing and made it all the way to the National Championship Game. Denver defeated Wisconsin in the final matchup, but an underdog powering through and even knocking off Michigan State in the process goes to show how dominant and competitive the Big Ten was.
As McKenna has hinted at since Penn State lost in the first round, though, he will most likely not be there to help the Nittany Lions get back to the tournament in future seasons and accomplish their ultimate goal. It's not every day a generational talent comes through the NCAA, and it's even more rare to watch that level of skill stay longer than one season.
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