Penn State Men’s Hockey Players Receive National Recognition
Forwards JJ Wiebusch and Gavin McKenna have played key roles in Penn State’s impressive 9-1-0 start this season, earning national awards from the Hockey Commissioners Association (HCA) for October.
JJ Wiebusch’s Accomplishments
- Named National Co-Forward of the Month, sharing the honor with Minnesota Duluth’s Max Plante.
- Leads the NCAA with 11 goals and is tied for second in points with 18.
- Received two Big Ten Star of the Week awards.
- Selected to the U.S. Collegiate Selects Team for the 2025 Spangler Cup.
Gavin McKenna’s Achievements
- Awarded National Rookie of the Month.
- Leads the conference freshman scoring with 13 points (3 goals and 10 assists).
- Recorded the highest assist total in the nation for freshmen in October.
- Scored the game-winning and series-clinching goal against Arizona State in the season opener.
Historical Context
Wiebusch and McKenna are the third and fourth players in Penn State program history to earn HCA honors, and the first since Aiden Fink received Rookie of the Month in 2023.
Upcoming Game Details
The two will play in East Lansing, Michigan, on Friday, November 7, facing the No. 1 ranked team, with the game broadcast on Big Ten Plus.
“This marks the first time a Penn Stater has received HCA honors since Aiden Fink in 2023.”
Jamie, a third-year statistics student from Chappaqua, NY, is part of the team’s supporting community.
Summary: JJ Wiebusch and Gavin McKenna’s outstanding performances have earned rare national awards, highlighting Penn State men’s hockey strong start and historic achievements this season.