- Gavin McKenna dedicated to Penn State Tuesday evening, shifting the 2026 school hockey championship odds
- Penn State opened is listed as +400 favorites at DraftKings following the announcement
- Learn under for full 2026 school hockey betting odds following McKenna’s PSU dedication
The 2026 school hockey championship race took a significant flip Tuesday evening. Gavin McKenna, broadly thought of one of the best junior participant in Canada, introduced his dedication to Penn State on ESPN.
Oddsmakers wasted no time adjusting their numbers. DraftKings put in Penn State because the +400 favourite to win the 2026 NCAA Hockey Championship, with a number of conventional powers trailing behind.
Let’s take a look at how McKenna’s determination shakes issues up for betting on the faculty hockey championship.
2026 School Hockey Championship Odds
Odds through DraftKings Sportsbook as of July 8, 2025.
Penn State Lands Recreation-Altering Expertise
McKenna represents the most important recruiting win in Penn State hockey historical past. The 17-year-old ahead posted 129 factors in 56 video games final season with Medication Hat, numbers that exceeded Connor McDavid’s manufacturing on the identical age.
His credentials converse for themselves. McKenna received CHL Participant of the Yr honors, becoming a member of earlier winners like McDavid, Sidney Crosby and Mario Lemieux. He additionally set a CHL file with a 54-game level streak that carried from the common season into the playoffs.
The Whitehorse, Yukon native selected Penn State after visiting Michigan State and Denver. The Spartans had been thought of the favourite till late within the recruiting course of, however Man Gadowsky’s program sealed the deal.
Penn State already secured commitments from Jackson Smith (Columbus first-round choose) and ahead Luke Misa. Mixed with McKenna, the Nittany Lions have assembled a roster able to competing for his or her first nationwide championship.
Michigan State Returns Elite Core
Regardless of lacking on McKenna, Michigan State stays a critical contender at +800. The Spartans carry again arguably one of the best returning participant in school hockey.
Isaac Howard shocked the hockey world by turning down the Tampa Bay Lightning to return for an additional season. The dynamic ahead recorded 52 factors final yr and will contend for the Hobey Baker Award once more in 2026.
Trey Augustine additionally selected to delay his skilled profession, giving Michigan State an elite netminder. The Spartans added depth by way of the switch portal, touchdown St. Cloud State’s Colin Ralph.
Adam Nightingale’s squad dominated a lot of final season earlier than an early event exit. With their core intact, Michigan State has the expertise to make a championship run.
Terriers Convey Again Championship Recreation Expertise
Boston College matched Michigan State’s +800 odds after reaching final yr’s title recreation. Jay Pandolfo’s workforce returns nearly its whole roster from that runner-up squad.
Cole Eiserman emerged as one among school hockey’s premier purpose scorers, netting 25 as a freshman. With elevated ice time and confidence, he may problem for 35-40 objectives subsequent season.
Cole Hutson supplies elite manufacturing from the blue line after main all defensemen with 48 factors. Mikhail Yegorov proved himself within the event and offers BU stability in internet.
The Terriers performed an thrilling model of hockey that carried them deep into March. With one other yr of expertise, they’re positioned to take the ultimate step.
Defending Champions Face Historical past
Western Michigan captured their first nationwide championship final season however opened at +1800 to repeat. The percentages replicate a easy actuality: no workforce has received back-to-back titles since Denver in 2004-05.
The Broncos return key items together with Frozen 4 MVP Owen Michaels and goaltender Hampton Slukynsky. That’s a powerful basis for an additional event run.
Nonetheless, Western Michigan loses a number of contributors from their championship roster. They’ll additionally carry a goal all through the season as defending champions. The mixture of things explains their longer odds.
Early 2026 School Hockey Predictions
McKenna immediately lifts Penn State into the highest tier, and their +400 odds present that. However with the season nonetheless months away, there’s not a lot worth in that quantity until you actually imagine he’ll dominate out of the gate.
Michigan State at +800 may be the neatest play. They’ve bought top-end expertise in Howard and Augustine, plus a starvation to bounce again from final yr’s early exit.
Boston College provides comparable attraction at +800. They had been minutes from a championship final yr and return their whole core. The expertise gained from that run may show invaluable.
If you’d like longer odds, think about Western Michigan at +1800. Although historical past is towards them, getting again a championship-level goalie and your greatest scorer at 18-to-1 presents stellar worth.
The 2026 Frozen 4 heads to Las Vegas, an becoming vacation spot for what shapes up as school hockey’s best season in years. McKenna’s determination to go to Penn State makes the championship race a must-watch throughout a busy time within the sports activities calendar.
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