In just under two months, the most anticipated season in Penn State men’s hockey history will kick off, and its widely anticipated recruiting class just received jersey number assignments, it was announced on Monday and Tuesday through the team’s social media.

Fresh faces

New digits

Coming #IsItOctoberYet pic.twitter.com/QU0yBdlP0I

— Penn State Men’s Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) August 5, 2025

The crown jewel of the recruiting class, freshman forward Gavin McKenna, will wear No. 72. McKenna, who made headlines with his commitment live on ESPN in July, is the projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Mac Gadowsky, a transfer defenseman from Army, will wear No. 4, previously worn by former captain Simon Mack last season. Gadowsky is the son of head coach Guy Gadowsky and was a Hobey Baker Award Finalist last season.

Freshman defenseman Jackson Smith will wear No. 7, last worn by Carson Dyck last season. Smith was selected with the No. 14 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets in June.

Freshman forward Luke Misa will wear No. 11, donned by then-true freshman Andrew Kuzma last season. Kuzma, who redshirted last season, has not yet been assigned a new number. Misa was picked in the fifth round of the 2024 NHL Draft by the Calgary Flames.

Freshman forward Lev Katzin will wear No. 33, last worn by junior goaltender Noah Grannan last season. Grannan left the program this offseason.

Freshman goaltender Josh Fleming will wear No. 34, last worn by goaltender Eamon McAdam in 2015-16. McAdam, prior to this year, was the highest drafted Nittany Lion in the history of the program.

Kevin Reidler, a transfer goaltender from Omaha, will wear No. 35, donned by Arsenii Sergeev during his remarkable 2024-25 campaign. Sergeev was signed to an entry-level contract by the Flames following the program’s run to the Frozen Four.

Since the program gained varsity status in 2012-13, no player had ever worn a jersey number higher than No. 35. Three highly regarded incoming freshmen will buck that trend and wear numbers previously never worn in program history.

Along with McKenna, freshman defenseman Nolan Collins will wear No. 77, while freshman forward Shea Van Olm will wear No. 93, the highest number ever worn by a Penn State men’s hockey player.

Penn State men’s hockey kicks off its 2025-26 season on the road at Mullett Arena in Tempe, Arizona, against Arizona State on Friday, October 3, at 9 p.m. Broadcast information is to be determined.