Photo credit: RocketFAN

By Regan Bartel

Is the NCAA grass really greener?

WHL’s grit and grind is unmatched

Jul 10, 2025 | 6:00 AM

Alright, hockey fans, it is official. Gavin McKenna is heading to Penn State.

Nope, he did not get cut, and no, he is not running off to join some wild frat party. He is chasing opportunity and a cool $700,000 thanks to a new NCAA rule that lets college athletes earn money from their name, image, and likeness.

Who would have thought? The worst-kept secret in junior hockey is finally out. The Medicine Hat Tigers star is leaving the WHL for college hockey and getting paid to do it. Not bad for a seventeen-year-old (turns 18 on December 20th) who probably still needs his mom to co-sign his phone plan.

But this isn’t just a career move for McKenna. He’s choosing a path that fits his style—and his long-term goals. Already a lock to go first overall in 2026, this isn’t about getting noticed. It’s about growing his game, making real money, and maybe skipping a few of those brutal bus rides through blizzards to nowhere.

Speaking of nowhere: That soul sucking stretch of Washington State Route 17 between Soap Lake and Highway 282 en route to Kennewick. If you know, you know.

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Jul 10, 2025

Now here is the kicker: going from sixty-eight games a season in the WHL to just thirty-four in college hockey is a big shift.

That means half the chances to impress scouts, half the time to shake off a bad game, and zero room for slacking.

If you are not on your game from puck drop, you might get left behind.

Luckily for McKenna, he has the talent and drive to handle it. But make no mistake, this is not a guaranteed cakewalk for others.

For others thinking about jumping ship, things get a bit tougher.

“Playing just 32 games at 18 years old doesn’t further a players develop,” Prospects Scout Sam Cosentino told 960 The FAN last month. “At that age, you need to play more games. For Cole Reschny, I don’t think this is the right move. He needs more games.”

Reschny, from Victoria, and Tigers forward Ryder Ritchie have both shown flashes of brilliance in the WHL, standing out with their speed and skill. But now they are stepping into a whole new world, with Reschny going to North Dakota and Ritchie suiting up for Boston University.

A world where the average NCAA player is between twenty-one and twenty-three years old. These guys are more mature, stronger, and have been around the block a few times. You are not just skating around teenagers anymore. You are banging bodies with men who have been grinding at a higher level for years. It is a whole different ball game.

As Kelowna Rockets GM Bruce Hamilton said, “these are men, not boys”.

And he is right. College hockey is a different beast. There are stronger players, fewer games, and a much tighter window to prove you belong.

But here is the thing. The WHL is where many NHL stars learned their trade. The pace is faster, the schedule tougher, and the style closer to what you see in the pros. Sixty-eight games a season means more game experience, and that experience is hard to replace. The grind builds resilience and toughness that no classroom or practice can match.

And don’t forget the school part. This is not just hockey. It is professors, essays, labs, and group projects with pre-med students who probably know more than you. The NCAA offers big chances now, especially with NIL money floating around, but it comes with textbooks and GPA rules. Writing a ten-page paper after a brutal six a.m. workout? That’s not everyone’s cup of tea.

McKenna is ready. He is built different. He will train hard, play fewer games, and still find a way to dominate.

But for those thinking college hockey means less wear and tear and more Instagram deals, pump the brakes.

The WHL’s grind might not pay up front, but there is no substitute for real game action.

You cannot fake experience.

So what does all this mean?

McKenna’s move is a big deal, and it’s probably just the start. More players will follow, no doubt. It is the power of suggestion.

Plus, at its core, money talks.

But this is not a shortcut to success. It’s a different path with its own hurdles and risks.

Unless you have McKenna’s talent, work ethic, tutor, and maybe his accountant, think twice before trading your CHL jersey for a college hoodie.

The grass might look greener, but it still needs watering.

And if you’re not ready to put in the work, you might end up just mowing your own lawn.