Gavin McKenna’s Historic NIL Move from CHL to NCAA

Gavin McKenna, projected as the top pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, made headlines in June 2025 when he committed to Penn State University. The 17-year-old forward reportedly received the largest NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) deal in college hockey history — a six-figure offer that could reach up to $750,000 USD.

“This is the next step in my development toward reaching my ultimate goal of playing in the NHL,” the 6-foot Whitehorse, Yukon native said on ESPN’s SportsCenter. “It was an extremely difficult decision. There are many great options out there, but my family, my advisors, and I all agreed that Penn State is the best place for me next year.”

McKenna’s decision marks a significant shift in hockey development and the hockey card market. He spent just over two seasons in the Western Hockey League with the Medicine Hat Tigers, where he established himself as an elite talent. His junior career included exceptional performances and numerous awards: CHL Rookie of the Year, CHL and WHL Player of the Year, and selection to Canada’s 2024-25 World Junior team as a 2026 draft-eligible player.

“McKenna is in a special category that you only come across every few years,” said Dan Marr, NHL Central Scouting vice president and director, about McKenna’s talent on NHL.com. “His offensive instincts and playmaking game are truly exceptional and it’s his composure, compete and maturity that really sell you on his talent.”

Impact on Hockey Development

McKenna’s move to Penn State illustrates how recent NCAA rule changes are reshaping hockey’s development path. Previously, CHL players were ineligible for NCAA competition because the NCAA considered them professionals — they competed alongside teammates who had signed NHL contracts. The new rules allow players with QMJHL, OHL, and WHL experience to play NCAA hockey starting in the 2025-26 season.

This change creates new challenges for CHL teams trying to retain their top prospects. Rather than completing their full junior careers in the CHL, some players may now choose to transition to the NCAA after high school, often drawn by NIL opportunities. This could fundamentally reshape the traditional pipeline of Canadian junior players moving directly to professional hockey.

Penn State’s Championship Aspirations

McKenna joins a Penn State program coming off a Frozen Four appearance that has added significant talent, including defenseman Jackson Smith, the 14th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets and McKenna’s teammate on Team Canada at the 2006 World Junior Championships. With this recruiting class, the Nittany Lions are positioning themselves to compete for a National Championship.

McKenna’s commitment represents more than just a talent acquisition — it signals Penn State’s ambitions and the changing economics of college hockey. As the highest-profile recruit in NCAA hockey history, his decision could mark a turning point where top prospects increasingly view the NCAA as a viable alternative to the traditional junior hockey path.

Trading Card Market Implications

McKenna’s move from the CHL to NCAA hockey creates unique dynamics in the trading card market due to complex licensing arrangements. Upper Deck holds the CHL and Hockey Canada licenses, meaning his Medicine Hat Tigers and Team Canada cards fall under their umbrella. Meanwhile, Topps/Fanatics holds NCAA licenses, including an exclusive agreement with Penn State.

This licensing split creates both opportunities and challenges. His junior hockey cards from Medicine Hat will remain valuable collectibles documenting his early career, while his Penn State commitment opens the door for Topps to feature him in NCAA and Penn State-specific products. And that opportunity has now arrived.

Following McKenna’s Penn State debut on October 3rd, in which he tallied two assists in a 6-3 victory, Topps announced the release of his on-demand 2025-26 Bowman U Now card #1 (with an impressive print run of 14,060 copies). The card was available for sale from October 4th to 7th. Topps is clearly aware of McKenna’s potential impact on the hobby, offering randomly-inserted parallels, rare numbered parallels, memorabilia, and autograph cards for this Bowman U Now release. Here are the full details of this significant card, directly from Topps.

The move to NCAA hockey disrupts the traditional card release schedule, as college players typically appear in far fewer products than their CHL counterparts. This could create increased demand and anticipation for future collegiate hockey releases from Topps.

McKenna’s historic NIL deal and high-profile commitment may also influence how card companies approach other prospects making similar CHL-to-NCAA transitions. The precedent he’s setting could lead to more strategic card releases tied to major recruiting announcements, with multiple manufacturers competing for the most attractive college hockey talent. Panini America also holds licenses with several NCAA schools, adding another competitor to the mix.

Looking Forward

As of January 23, 2026, following an impressive hattrick versus #5 ranked Wisconsin, McKenna has recorded nine goals and 18 assists in 21 games with the Nittany Lions, ranking among the top NCAA freshmen in scoring. While these numbers might seem modest, and most of his points have come on the power play, it’s important to remember he was only 17 years old (until December 20th). He’s competing against older, more physically mature players.

Many believed McKenna would thrive when playing alongside top talent with Team Canada at the World Juniors, and they were right. In seven games, McKenna registered four goals and 10 assists for the red and white, leading them to a bronze medal.

After Team Canada announced its World Junior camp roster, TSN’s James Duthie asked McKenna about his experience at Penn State. McKenna said, “There’s less time and space out here. Guys are bigger, stronger, faster. Coming here, I wanted to challenge myself, and I think college has done that. This has been a big growth year for me.”

If this current wave of CHL-to-NCAA players succeeds, we could see more top prospects making the switch in future years. McKenna’s performance at Penn State will serve as a crucial test case for whether elite CHL prospects can successfully transition to NCAA hockey while earning NIL compensation and staying on track for NHL careers.

The hockey and collectibles communities will continue to watch closely to see if this move benefits both McKenna and Penn State — and potentially reshapes how future top prospects approach their development.

NOTE: this story has been updated with new information.