Weekend Preview: McKenna, Penn State heading to Arizona State highlights opening weekend
Also: Weekly picks, a staff change at Notre Dame
College hockey returns this weekend, and the nation’s spotlight is fixed on the sport’s most obvious storyline.
Penn State freshman Gavin McKenna — the crown jewel of CHL recruits — is set to make his NCAA debut for the Nittany Lions against Arizona State. McKenna, widely projected as the No. 1 pick in next summer’s NHL Draft, will have his debut broadcast on NHL Network and streamed on the NHL’s YouTube channel.
In the words of Ron Burgundy, he’s “kind of a big deal.”
McKenna was, without question, the biggest name in college hockey’s summer news cycle. His recruitment came down to Penn State and Michigan State, with the Nittany Lions ultimately winning the sweepstakes.
But in a larger sense, college hockey won. For decades, the CHL and NCAA have vied for supremacy as the premier development path for future NHL stars.
The CHL long held the edge in producing NHL players, but the NCAA has steadily narrowed the gap over the last decade. Now, the balance is closer than ever. McKenna’s decision to leave the CHL for the NCAA was more than a recruiting victory for Penn State — it was a landmark win for the college game.
“I think there’s a lot less time and space,” McKenna said this week. “The guys are bigger, faster, older. But in terms of speed and size, I think that’s the biggest difference.”
That’s precisely why he’s here: to test himself against stronger, faster competition and to prepare for the NHL jump a year from now.
Perhaps he noticed how seamlessly Macklin Celebrini, the 2024 No. 1 pick, transitioned to the San Jose Sharks last season?
“I think where I’m going to be challenged is probably just the little amount of games, going from 68 games in a year to 33,” McKenna said. “But that’s part of the reason I came here [fewer games], more time in the gym. I want to put on weight, and that was part of the reason I came here.”
Penn State, fresh off its first Frozen Four appearance last season, also played a role in McKenna’s choice.
“Seeing what these guys did last year, making it to the Frozen Four, I think that was obviously a big influence on me,” he said. “There’s a lot of excitement around our team, and obviously I’m pumped for this year.”
It’s difficult to overstate what his arrival means. McKenna’s presence electrifies the sport, while the showcase series of the weekend — Penn State against Arizona State — has drawn enough buzz that the NHL chose to put it on its own networks. There’s a lot of other players to keep your eye on — on both teams — in that weekend matchup.
“I love how the NHL Network is starting out with Arizona State and Penn State, two places that didn’t have programs 20 years ago, and now they’re kicking off our season,” Providence head coach Nate Leaman said. “It’s what we need to do to grow the game.”
Welcome back, college hockey.
Weekly Picks: Taking some home underdogs
Let’s dive into some college hockey plays for opening weekend. Oddsmakers are sharp, but early in the season is when you can catch them leaning too heavily on last year’s numbers — and that’s where opportunity lives.
Colorado College over UConn (+105)
This is the kind of line that screams value. Colorado College is better than the market is giving them credit for, and this seems like a spot for a live home underdog in what feels like a coin-flip game. The Tigers are going to be a tougher out this season, and in a toss-up, I’ll happily take them at home. That’s a lot of travel for UConn, and they’ll have to deal with some elevation. Long travel on opening weekend always concerns me.
Arizona State over Penn State (+135)
Here’s another sneaky home underdog spot. Everyone’s talking about Penn State because of their loaded freshman class and high expectations — but hype brings pressure. The Nittany Lions are breaking in a new goaltender. I’ll give Penn State a slight edge on paper, but the Sun Devils aren’t far behind, and they’ve got the home crowd behind them. At +135, that’s value in what feels like another 50/50 matchup.
Michigan Tech +2.5 vs. Minnesota (-120)
Now here’s the fun one. It’s the debut of Bill Muckalt behind the bench for Michigan Tech, but this is a revenge game for Owen Bartoszkiewicz, who started his career at Minnesota, only to bounce to Lindenwood and now follow Muckalt to Houghton.
Bartoszkiewicz quietly put up a .919 save percentage last year for a Lindenwood team constantly under siege. He even kept the Lions within striking distance against Wisconsin on opening weekend. He played eight Big Ten games last season — two apiece against Wisconsin, Ohio State, Michigan State, and Notre Dame — and Lindenwood covered +2.5 in six of those starts. He knows how to keep his team in the fight.
Minnesota is the more talented roster, no doubt, but Michigan Tech catching 2.5 goals with a motivated goalie in net feels like a smart play.
Notebook: One more staff change before the year begins
— In one of the latest offseason staff changes I can remember, Andy Slaggert has stepped down as an assistant coach at Notre Dame to join the Edmonton Oilers as a free-agent scout.
Slaggert had served on the Irish bench since 1993.
The Irish aren’t standing still, though. In comes Tristan Musser, a sharp hockey mind who has been scouting for the Buffalo Sabres since 2020. Musser has history with Brock Sheahan, having worked together with the Chicago Steel in the USHL.
— Tickets for the Great Lakes Invitational officially went on sale today. This year’s tournament is set for Dec. 28–29 at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids. Michigan Tech once again serves as the host program, and the field is a strong one: Ferris State, Michigan State, and Miami will all make the trip.
— Holy Cross has landed a commitment from 2005-born defenseman Jack Martin, currently playing for Rimouski in the QMJHL. Martin already brings a wealth of experience, having logged 181 junior games to this point, and he’s on track to surpass the 200-game mark before arriving in Worcester. That level of seasoning is rare for an incoming recruit.