Gavin McKenna, a notable figure in the world of junior hockey, is transitioning from the Western Hockey League (WHL) to the collegiate ranks, sporting his former number as he embarks on his freshman season at Penn State. The anticipated top pick for the 2026 NHL Draft will wear the jersey number 72, a number he donned while playing for the Medicine Hat Tigers in the WHL last season, where he notably racked up 129 points in just 56 games. This marks a significant moment for Penn State, as no player in the program's history has previously worn the number 72.

The shift in jersey numbers does not stop with McKenna. Incoming freshman defenseman Nolan Collins, a prospect associated with the Pittsburgh Penguins, will don number 77, further breaking the trend of lower jersey numbers that has characterized the Nittany Lions' program. Additionally, Shea Van Olm, another freshman forward with a strong WHL background, is set to make history by wearing number 93, which will represent the highest jersey number in Penn State hockey history. On the other hand, freshman defenseman Jackson Smith will return to a traditional number, wearing 7 as he joins the Nittany Lions after being selected in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The recent changes in NCAA eligibility rules permitting former Canadian Hockey League (CHL) players to join NCAA hockey programs have positioned McKenna to become one of the most highly anticipated prospects in college hockey. The 17-year-old forward made headlines with his commitment to Penn State on July 8, having reportedly also been in consideration for Michigan State. The Nittany Lions are coming off a historic season, marked by their first appearance in the Frozen Four, and they will welcome back Nashville Predators prospect Aiden Fink, who finished the previous season as a Hobey Baker Award finalist. With the addition of McKenna likely joining Fink on the top line, Penn State aims to contend for a national title in the upcoming spring, potentially marking McKenna's only season in college hockey before he enters the NHL Draft in 2026.