On July 8, 2025, Gavin McKenna announced to the hockey world that he would be joining Penn State in pursuit of a national championship.

In October, he recorded his first collegiate points against Arizona State. The freshman phenom continued impressing Penn State, scouts, and fans from around the world. He went on to win bronze with Team Canada in the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championships.

The highly anticipated Beaver Stadium outdoor hockey game against Michigan State rolled around. McKenna scored in front of 75,000 fans in the overtime loss to the Spartans.

The night is filled with celebration despite the loss. That’s when everything changed.

McKenna was then charged with a felony for aggravated assault, along with other charges from an incident that Saturday night. Centre County prosecutors later dropped the felony. The Nittany Lions entered a bye week after the Michigan State series, which was timely given everything going on in the locker room.

As the team traveled to Ann Arbor, it was announced that McKenna would play against the Wolverines. Every time he touched the puck, the Children of Yost, Michigan’s student section, chanted “go to jail” and sounded police sirens.

The results were not what the Nittany Lions wanted as they returned to Pegula to face the Buckeyes in a home series. However, they would be met with history being made, especially for the 18-year-old juggling more in his personal life than he thought he could carry.

In the Friday night Ohio State game, McKenna recorded seven assists and one goal, setting the program’s single-season record for points in a game. After his goal, he celebrated with an ode to Conor McGregor. This was something that was planned before the game. McKenna even called his parents the night before the game to inform them of his celebration plan.

“So I called my parents last night and said, If I score, I’m doing it,” he said with a chuckle. “They had a good laugh. And yeah, the opportunity came. So I did.”

The next night, McKenna became the overtime hero against the Buckeyes. The entire team jumped out of the bench to celebrate with the freshman. While the support from his teammates was evident to anyone in Pegula, McKenna emphasized on Friday night what this team means to him.

“I think being at the rink, being with the guys, it’s kind of like a getaway and just, you know, playing the game I love,” he said. He also mentioned how leadership, the entire staff, and Penn State as a whole have supported him the past couple of weeks, thanking them for their support.

McKenna has dealt with media scrutiny and fans’ shouts, along with support from celebrities like Paul Bissonette. He still went out on home ice and recorded 10 points on the weekend. To him, it was just fun.

“I was just having fun out there, you know, like a lot of stuff going on in my life right now,” he said. “So being out of the rink, you know, being with the guys, that’s my happiness.”

It’s no secret that McKenna may only be skating in the blue and white for a season. When asked about his legacy and what he wanted to leave at Penn State, he was clear on what he wanted to be remembered for.

“I don’t want to be remembered as a bad teammate or anything. So, yeah, I think it’s pretty easy to gel with guys in that locker room,” he answered. “It’s a group that I’ll love forever. They’re my brother’s in there, so I just want to be remembered as a good teammate with these guys.”