Gavin McKenna, the teen prospect who has the hockey world buzzing, is set to make his college debut this weekend.
The Yukon native, who doesn't turn 18 until December, already has two-plus seasons of junior hockey under his belt for Medicine Hat of the WHL and is projected to be the top pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. An NCAA rule change last year made CHL players eligible for college hockey for the first time, and Penn State won the recruiting race for McKenna.
The Nittany Lions open their season with a two-game series at Arizona State, and all eyes will be on McKenna as he takes the ice to begin a highly anticipated college career.
Why all the hype? McKenna tallied 79 goals and 165 assists (244 points) in just 133 games with Medicine Hat and earned WHL and CHL player of the year honors last season. He is also a rising star internationally, leading Canada to gold in last year's U18 World Championships as a 16-year-old with a hat trick in the final against the U.S.
While Penn State is hardly a traditional college hockey power, all eyes will be on McKenna and the Nittany Lions this season. Here's how to watch them get started:
How to watch Gavin McKenna's college hockey debut
- TV channel: NHL Network
- Live stream: Fubo, NCHC.tv, NHL YouTube
Fans will have multiple options to watch Gavin McKenna begin his college career with Penn State. NHL Network will air the Fox 10 Phoenix broadcast of both games this weekend live to a national audience.
Both games can be streamed live via Fubo, which offers a free trial for new subscribers so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and 100+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)
Fans can also stream the broadcast with a subscription to NCHC.tv, which will air most of Arizona State's games this season. The game will also stream internationally (Canada included) on the NHL's YouTube channel.
When is Gavin McKenna's first college game?
- Dates: Friday, Oct. 3 and Saturday, Oct. 4
- Times: 10 p.m. ET Friday and 8 p.m. ET Saturday
Puck drop for Penn State's season-opening series at Arizona State is set for 10 p.m. ET on Friday, Oct. 3. The teams will meet again Saturday, beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
Both games will be played at Mullett Arena in Tempe, Arizona.
Penn State hockey schedule 2025-26
Here's a look at upcoming games for the Nittany Lions:
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Fri., Oct. 3 | at Arizona State | 10 p.m. |
| Sat., Oct. 4 | at Arizona State | 8 p.m. |
| Thu., Oct. 9 | vs. Clarkson | 6:30 p.m. |
| Fri., Oct. 10 | vs. Clarkson | 7 p.m. |
| Fri., Oct. 17 | vs. LIU | 7:30 p.m. |
| Sat., Oct. 18 | vs. LIU | 6 p.m. |