All Penn State

What They're Saying About Penn State Hockey Star Gavin McKenna

McKenna's masterful weekend featured 10 points and a game-winning goal for the Nittany Lions.
Mark Wogenrich|
Penn State Nittany Lions forward Gavin McKenna controls the puck in the first period of a game against the Clarkson Golden Knights at Pegula Ice Arena.
Penn State Nittany Lions forward Gavin McKenna controls the puck in the first period of a game against the Clarkson Golden Knights at Pegula Ice Arena. | Barry Reeger-Imagn Images

Penn State hockey need a star turn during its weekend series vs. Ohio State. Gavin McKenna arrived at the right time.

After his record-breaking performance Friday night, McKenna scored the game-winner in overtime Saturday, catapulting the Nittany Lions to a 5-4 win over the Buckeyes and an important series sweep. McKenna, Penn State's Canadian superstar, finished the weekend with 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in two games and cradled the spotlight of college hockey.

"You guys saw [McKenna's goal] in overtime. I don't even know what to say," Penn State coach Guy Gadowsky told reporters in State College after the game. "You guys can use all the superlatives you have. I’ve run out."

In overtime, McKenna sidestepped an Ohio State defender into the low slot, where he deftly shifted gears and wristed a shot for the game-winner. McKenna punctuated his 12th multi-point game of the season with this much-needed goal.

McKenna's goal completed Penn State's comeback from a 4-1 deficit against the Buckeyes under significant duress. The injury -depleted Nittany Lions were without another player, as defenseman Nick Fascia sustained a cut in Friday's game that forced him to miss Game 2.

“I was really impressed with the grit of this group tonight,” Gadowsky told reporters in State College. “... We started two guys down, lost another one during the game and had only nine forwards, and then got an unbelievable goal by Jarod Crespo to come back [and tie the game]."

McKenna's overtime heroics drew a blast of attention. "Gavin McKenna is a problem," ESPN's SportsCenter announced.

The weekend belonged to McKenna, who appeared to cement his status as the No. 1 overall pick of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. McKenna set Penn State and Big Ten single-game records for points (eight) and assists (seven) in a game during the Nittany Lions' 11-4 win over the Buckeyes on Friday. His totals were the most by a player in a game between conference teams.

After his goal Friday, McKenna celebrated with what's known as the "Billionaire Strut," started by Vince McMahon and re-popularized by Conor McGregor, who then introduced McKenna to his more than 10 million followers on X.

ESPN's John Buccigross, who has shared his McKenna fandom several times, announced that the Penn State forward will be a Canadian Olympian in 2030.

McKenna now leads the Big Ten, and ranks second nationally, in points by a freshman (43). He is tied for second in the Big Ten and fifth in the country in total points and ranks second nationally in points per game (1.52).

Gadowsky has spent the season marveling at McKenna's tradecraft on the ice, saying that the 18-year-old forward manipulates the pace of play.

“It's not that he picks up the pace; he manipulates the pace," Gadowsky said of McKenna. "So that's the most amazing thing about him. Obviously, his puck skills are elite. The skating is elite, his edges, but I really enjoy it, and I think the other players on the team have really enjoyed watching his mind work.”

In all, it was a pretty good three-day stretch for Penn State hockey. On Thursday, Tessa Janecke, the women's program's all-time leading scorer, became the first Penn State athlete to win a Winter Olympics gold medal.

Janecke was on the ice for Team USA's golden goal against Canada in the gold-medal game in Milan. Janecke, who finished the tournament with five assists, returns to the fourth-ranked Nittany Lions to pursue a national championship.

When can hockey fans watch McKenna next? The Nittany Lions visit Notre Dame for a two-game Feb. 27-28.

What happens next for Penn State? Stay on top of all the Nittany Lions news by subscribing to the Penn State on SI Daily Digest. The newsletter is your free daily window into Penn State sports.

More Penn State Sports

Published
Mark Wogenrich
MARK WOGENRICH

Mark Wogenrich is the editor and publisher of Penn State on SI, the site for Nittany Lions sports on the Sports Illustrated network. He has covered Penn State sports for more than two decades across three coaching staffs, three Rose Bowls and one College Football Playoff appearance.

Home/Hockey