STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Gavin McKenna admits he didn’t watch a lot of college hockey growing up in Western Canada.

But the projected 2026 NHL draft’s top prospect saw enough last season to know he wanted to play for Penn State .

McKenna met with reporters Monday for the first time since shocking the hockey world in July by announcing his departure from the Western Hockey League to commit to Guy Gadowsky’s Nittany Lions.

“Seeing what these guys did last year, making it to the Frozen Four, that was a big influence on me,” McKenna said. “I wanted to come to a winning team and I thought this was the spot.”

The 17-year-old was already the main man for a winning program .

He finished second in the WHL with 129 points (41 goals, 88 assists) in 56 games last season and was the league’s

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