BUFFALO, N.Y. – Nittany Lion forward Gavin McKenna (Whitehorse, Yukon) heard his name called first overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs inside the KeyBank Center during the opening round of the 2026 NHL Draft in Buffalo on Friday night.

McKenna becomes just the fifth player from NCAA men’s college hockey to be drafted No. 1 and the second in the past three seasons after the San Jose Sharks selected Boston University forward Macklin Celebrini with the top pick in 2024.

The left-handed shot, No. 1 on NHL Central Scouting’s final ranking of North American skaters all season, was named a Second-Team All-American, a Hobey Baker Top-10 Finalist, a Big Ten All-Freshman Team and All-Big Ten Second Team selection as well as becoming the first-ever Nittany Lion to win the Big Ten Scoring title and earn Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors.

McKenna was also twice named the HCA National Rookie of the Month in October and February while earning four Big Ten weekly awards including First Star of the Week on a pair of occasions.

Back in February, McKenna set program records with eight points and seven assists in an 11-4 victory over Ohio State helping the Nittany Lions to their most goals scored in a Big Ten game all-time and tying the overall single-game program record for goals.

Five of McKenna’s seven assists were primary assists while the eight points were the most in an NCAA Division I game in 39 years. His seven assists that night were also the most in a game since 1983 and the most-ever by an individual on a Big Ten team both pre and post league inception.

The eight points and seven assists were each the most in a single-game all-time in the 13 years of the Big Ten Conference.

Overall, the rookie set nine program records this season and finished the year as just the third Nittany Lion all-time to hit the 50-point mark in a single season. Of note he set the freshman single-season record with 51 points, the second-most all-time, on 15 goals and a Penn State single-season record 36 assists.

McKenna finished the season third in the Big Ten and tied for fifth nationally with his 51 points while his 36 assists were good for second nationally only behind Michigan’s Michael Hage. The rookie also set the Penn State record by averaging 1.46 points per game, a mark good for tops in the Big Ten and second in the nation.