From the Dub to the Dorms: Gavin McKenna’s Bold NCAA Bet
In a move that’s already sending shockwaves through the junior hockey world, Gavin McKenna - one of Canada’s top prospects - has made his “decision” to bypass the traditional Canadian Hockey League (CHL) route and, like LeBron, take his talents south (of the border) to play in the NCAA for the 2025–26 season.
For a player of McKenna’s calibre, this is a headline-grabbing decision. The 2008-born phenom has dominated at every level, consistently drawing comparisons to the likes of Connor Bedard and Connor McDavid. Most assumed he’d follow in their footsteps - lighting up the WHL before making the leap to the NHL. Instead, McKenna is flipping the script and enrolling at Penn State, opting for college hockey and a campus-based development path.
So why the NCAA? And what does this decision mean for McKenna - and Canadian junior hockey as a whole?
Back to School
One of the clearest advantages of the NCAA route is the ability to pursue a post-secondary education while playing high-level hockey. Unlike CHL players, who are often juggling intense travel schedules and back-to-back games, NCAA athletes train and compete within an academic environment - one that encourages growth beyond the rink.
For players like McKenna, who are projected to play professional hockey, these advantages might seem irrelevant - but the NCAA pathway leaves doors open. Whether it's earning a degree, building a network, or simply maturing in a less pressured environment, the NCAA provides options that can pay off long after hockey.
Less Games, More Gains
The CHL regular season runs 68 games (plus playoffs), compared to around 35–40 for NCAA programs. While more games may sound good on paper, it often comes at the cost of rest, training time, and injury risk. The NCAA’s lighter schedule allows players to spend more time in the gym, focus on skill development, and build the physical tools required to compete at the next level.
This training time matters - especially for someone like McKenna, who’s already shown elite skill but may benefit from a year of building size and strength before entering the NHL.
“Senior” Competition
NCAA hockey is filled with 20–24-year-olds, many of whom are physically mature and battle-tested. This presents a unique challenge for younger players - and a big opportunity. Instead of dominating teens in the CHL, McKenna will have to adapt to facing stronger, more experienced competition. This mirrors the physicality and pace of professional hockey more closely than many junior leagues can.
From a long-term development standpoint, this accelerates McKenna’s readiness for the NHL.
NIL: Name, Image, and Likeness Rights
Perhaps the most compelling shift in recent years is the NCAA’s introduction of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights. Athletes can now profit from their personal brand - sign endorsement deals, sell merchandise, make public appearances - all while maintaining NCAA eligibility.
McKenna’s marketability is already high. By taking the NCAA route, he can begin building his brand and earning income before ever playing a professional hockey game.
Rumours indicate that McKenna may have obtained an NIL package worth up to $700,000 USD to play in the NCAA - the biggest package ever given to a college hockey player. In contrast, the CHL has continuously rejected the premise that their players are employees and, instead, pays players a stipend of about $250-$500 per month.
The Ripple Effect
This move could be more than just a personal choice - it might be a turning point. If McKenna’s model proves successful, he could inspire a wave of top-tier Canadian talent to rethink their paths. That, in turn, might pressure the CHL to revisit its eligibility rules, player compensation models, and development structure.
At the very least, it shows that players now have more power and more options than ever before - and that hockey development in North America is no longer a “one-size-fits-all” journey.
Final Thoughts
Gavin McKenna’s decision to go the NCAA route isn’t just bold - it’s smart, strategic, and potentially transformative. He’s playing chess, not checkers - building his body, brand, and bank - all while setting a new precedent for Canadian prospects. Whether this becomes a trend or remains an outlier, one thing is certain: the eyes of the hockey world (and the IRS) will be watching him closely next season.
