Gavin McKenna's time has arrived.

The Penn State freshman forward, the most coveted recruit in NCAA hockey history and favorite to be the No. 1 pick of the 2026 NHL Draft, will make his season debut against Arizona State at Mullett Arena in Tempe, Arizona, on Friday.

How much hype is there around McKenna? The game will be broadcast live on NHL Network at 10 p.m. ET on Friday.

McKenna is fired up for a different reason.

"Seeing what these guys did last year, making it to the Frozen Four, I think that was obviously a big influence on me," McKenna said. "There's a lot of excitement around our team, and obviously I'm pumped for this year."

The arrival of the 17-year-old in State College, Pennsylvania, has skyrocketed already high excitement levels for a team that returns its top four scor

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