On July 7, 2025, Gavin McKenna - the long anointed expected 2026 NHL Draft 1st overall pick - after a month of speculation and a visit to East Lansing, announced he was committing to Big Ten rival Penn State, live on ESPN.

This was a moment never seen before for the sport of college hockey, a sport where recruiting is often confusing and shrouded in cloak and dagger secrecy so as to not tip a hand to your competition.

Penn State, reportedly with a $700k NIL package far exceeding any other finalist (Denver and Michigan included with the Spartans), had made the decision to make a move to look to vault their program to the top for the first time in their young history, fresh off their first ever Frozen Four appearance.

When that news broke, you can be assured the returning players for Michigan State - and the soon to be committed Porter Martone - licked their chops for a chance to go toe-to-toe with the Nittany Lions.

Oddsmakers have put the Nittany Lions at the top of the national championship odds since that day, and Michigan State - a school never hurting to find disrespect as motivation - was served an opportunity on a silver platter, one not usually offered to two-time defending league champions.

Four months to the day later, the No. 3 Nittany Lions roll into town to face the No. 1 Spartans at a Munn Arena that will be packed not only with bloodthirsty fans, but possibly with NHL scouts from every team. It is not hyperbole to say that there has never been so much talent on display at Munn Arena as there will be tonight, when the puck drops at center ice.

While McKenna has gotten all of the national headlines, Penn State has shown a depth that runs deep, especially offensively. The Nittany Lions rank second in the country with 41 goals scored in 10 games played (Michigan leads the country with 53 in 10 played).

Sophomore J.J. Wiebusch is first in the country with 11 goals scored so far and leads one of the best lines in the country - the "behind-the-back boys" with sophomore Charlie Cerrato (4G, 14A) and junior Matthew DiMarsico (8G, 7A).

Outside of an impressive road sweep in their opening series with Arizona State, Penn State had played a pretty easy schedule; however, they did shut some people up by sweeping No. 19 Ohio State in Columbus last weekend.

Under head coach Guy Gadowsky, the Nittany Lions have long been known for playing an aggressive offensive style that includes throwing every shot they can at the net, regardless of if the shooter is in a prime scoring position or not.

The difference is they now have players these last few seasons who have been able to use their skating and hands to get into prime scoring chances and their waves of pressure can break most opponents.

Penn State can break through with scoring or force their opponent into penalties - which is not much better than surrendering a goal. In fact, the Nittany Lions operate a power play with a 26.8% success rate. Nine of McKenna's 13 points, and two of his three goals, have come on the power play, and he becomes most dangerous to the Spartans this weekend when PSU has the man advantage.

Keys to the Weekend

Discipline

As mentioned above, avoiding the Nittany Lions' power play will be huge focal point for the Spartans this weekend. It will also be a test for the young Spartans, the third most penalized team in the country so far (Penn State is the second most penalized).