Gavin McKenna is set to bring his former WHL number to the NCAA stage as he begins his college hockey career at Penn State. The highly regarded prospect, projected to be the top pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, will wear jersey number 72 during his inaugural season, as announced by the Penn State hockey program.

Previously, McKenna donned the number 72 while playing for the Medicine Hat Tigers in the WHL, where he achieved an impressive record of 129 points in 56 games during the last season. Notably, this will be the first instance of a Penn State player wearing number 72, surpassing the program's previous highest number, which was 35. McKenna is not alone in breaking from the tradition of lower jersey numbers, as fellow incoming freshman Nolan Collins, a defenseman and Pittsburgh Penguins prospect, will take the ice in number 77, while freshman forward Shea Van Olm, a former WHL standout, will set a new program record by wearing number 93.

In contrast, defenseman Jackson Smith, selected in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets, will wear number 7. This shift in jersey number conventions comes in the wake of a recent rule change allowing former CHL players to compete in NCAA hockey, positioning McKenna as one of the most anticipated prospects in college hockey ahead of the NHL Draft. The 17-year-old forward announced his commitment to join Penn State on July 8, having also considered Michigan State. Coming off their first-ever Frozen Four appearance, the Nittany Lions will feature McKenna alongside Nashville Predators prospect Aiden Fink, a Hobey Baker Award finalist from the previous season, as they aim for a national title in the upcoming spring.