Forwards JJ Wiebusch and Gavin McKenna have been fundamental to Penn State’s strong, 9-1-0 start this season and will add to their already impressive college hockey resumes.

Wiebusch was named the National Co-Forward of the Month, and McKenna was awarded National Rookie of the Month honors by the Hockey Commissioners Association for October.

BREAKING: JJ Wiebusch and Gavin McKenna garner national recognition for the month of October with HCA laurels following Penn State's 9-1-0 start!!

Read https://t.co/OyeMI0Hgzb#WeAre #HockeyValley pic.twitter.com/k9dEQ4zQJr

— Penn State Men’s Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) November 6, 2025

Wiebusch currently leads the NCAA in goals with 11, is tied for second in points with 18, and has already accumulated two Big Ten Star of the Week awards. He will share his latest recognition with Minnesota Duluth’s Max Plante.

In addition to National Co-Player of the Month, Wiebusch was also added to the U.S. Collegiate Selects Team for the 2025 Spangler Cup.

McKenna currently leads the conference in scoring for a freshman with 13 points, including three goals and 10 assists. His assist total in October also ranked first in the nation for his class.

He most notably scored the game-winning and sweep-clinching goal in the season-opening series against Arizona State.

The pair of Nittany Lion skaters marks the third and fourth Penn Staters in program history to earn HCA honors, and the most recent since Aiden Fink was named Rookie of the Month in 2023.

The two will hit the ice in East Lansing, Michigan, this weekend for a matchup against the No. 1-ranked Michigan State. The game will air at 7 p.m. on Friday, November 7, on Big Ten Plus.