The ice at Mullett Arena in Tempe crackled with extra tension Friday night as No. 5 Penn State kicked off its season against No. 14 Arizona State, all eyes glued to freshman phenom Gavin McKenna. The 18-year-old Canadian forward, already tabbed as the projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, stepped onto the NCAA rink for the first time, carrying the weight of a summer-long commitment that shook up college hockey circles. McKenna, fresh from dominating the Western Hockey League with the Medicine Hat Tigers—where he notched 97 points last season—chose Penn State over other paths, a move that bolstered the Nittany Lions' offense overnight and drew scouts from every corner.
Indeed, the broadcast partnership with the NHL elevated this opener to national spectacle status. Streamed live on YouTube and aired on NHL Network, the game pulled in viewers worldwide, blending local Phoenix commentary with NHL studio buzz. Penn State, returning 75 percent of its scoring punch from a Frozen Four run last year, leaned on McKenna's arrival to challenge ASU's gritty Sun Devils, who finished 21-14-2 in their NCHC debut. However, early play showed McKenna adjusting to the college grind—his speed and vision evident, but the physicality a notch up from juniors. ASU pushed back hard, capitalizing on home ice with disciplined penalty kills that ranked them 12th nationally at 83.5 percent last season.
Moreover, McKenna's integration hasn't been seamless; coaches note his "cool kid" demeanor masking the pressure of instant expectations. Penn State's preseason All-Big Ten nods for Aiden Fink and Mac Gadowsky set a high bar, yet McKenna's second-team selection as a rookie underscores the hype. Saturday's rematch at 8 p.m. ET promises more fireworks, with both teams eyeing early conference momentum. The Sun Devils, under coach Greg Powers, boast shorthanded scoring threats like Ryan Schimek, keeping things unpredictable.
Still, in a sport where prospects sometimes falter under the spotlight, McKenna's poise hints at bigger things. As these two programs collide in the desert heat, it raises questions about how the NCAA path truly grooms the next wave of NHL stars.