Penn State fans across the country celebrated this week as the NHL’s draft prospect Gavin McKenna committed to the Nittany Lions, ushering in a new era in Hockeyvalley. Penn State head coach Guy Gadowsky on Thursday called McKenna a “special player and a terrific young man.

In 1984, the Penguins had the No. 1 pick and chose Mario Lemieux. In 2005, 21 years later, the Penguins had the No. 1 pick and took Sidney Crosby. And heading into a draft 21 years after Crosby, Pittsburgh would be quite fortunate to get the No. 1 spot in the 2026 NHL Draft. That's because Gavin McKenna will be there for the taking.