Gavin McKenna to Wear No. 72 Penn State Jersey, Projected No. 1 2026 NHL Draft Pick

Gavin McKenna is taking his former WHL number into NCAA hockey.

The projected top pick of the 2026 NHL draft will wear No. 72 during his first season with Penn State, the program announced on Tuesday.

McKenna wore No. 72 for the WHL's Medicine Hat Tigers last season, when he scored 129 points in 56 games.

No Penn State player has ever worn No. 72. The highest number previously worn by a Nittany Lions player was No. 35.

McKenna isn't the only incoming freshman breaking the program's previous trend of lower jersey numbers.

Pittsburgh Penguins prospect and freshman defenseman Nolan Collins will wear No. 77 next season. Former WHL standout and freshman forward Shea Van Olm will meanwhile set a new record for the highest jersey number in program history at No. 93, according to Penn State.

In contrast, freshman defenseman Jackson Smith will wear No. 7 as he joins the program after being selected in the first round of the 2025 NHL draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets.

A recent rule change allowing former CHL players to compete in NCAA hockey has set McKenna up to become arguably the most highly anticipated prospect to play college hockey before entering the NHL draft.

The 17-year-old forward announced his commitment to Penn State on July 8 after also reportedly considering Michigan State.

Penn State is coming off the program's first Frozen Four appearance, and Nashville Predators prospect Aiden Fink is set to return after finishing last season as a Hobey Baker award finalist.

With McKenna set to join Fink on the top line, the Nittany Lions will hope to contend for a national title next spring in what could potentially be McKenna's lone college season before entering the 2026 NHL draft.