NCAA Match gamers to look at embody McKenna, Livanavage

Johnny Hicks, University of Denver

An damage to beginning goalie Quentin Miller opened the door for the freshman, who stepped in and went 12-0 with one tie,  a .958 save share and 1.14 GAA in 17 video games.

He made 41 saves in Denver’s 4-3 extra time win in opposition to Minnesota Duluth within the National Collegiate Hockey Conference championship recreation.

The 20-year-old undrafted free agent performed for Victoria of the Western Hockey League and Brooks of the British Columbia Hockey League in 2024-25.

T.J. Hughes, University of Michigan

The heart has been one of the constant scorers in faculty hockey throughout his 4 seasons at Michigan, with 175 factors (67 targets, 108 assists) in 153 video games.

He had a purpose and two assists in a win in opposition to Ohio State within the Big Ten championship recreation to assist Michigan earn the general No. 1 seed within the match.

This season has been his best with 53 factors (20 targets, 33 assists) in 37 video games. The 24-year-old is second within the nation in factors to Ethan Wyttenbach of Quinnipiac.

Hughes, an undrafted free agent, is certainly one of 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Award because the excellent males’s NCAA hockey participant.

Jake Livanavage, University of North Dakota

The junior defenseman earned All-NCHC First Team honors for the second straight season.

He has 25 factors (5 targets, 20 assists) in 37 video games, and the 21-year-old had three photographs on purpose in North Dakota’s 3-0 win in opposition to Merrimack within the Sioux Falls regional semifinals.

Livanavage, an undrafted free agent, additionally had one help in 4 video games with the U.S. Collegiate Selects within the Spengler Cup in December.

Gavin McKenna, Penn State University

McKenna has lived as much as the hype after making the transfer to varsity hockey from the Western Hockey League this previous offseason. 

The 18-year-old ahead is tied for third in third within the nation with 51 factors (15 targets, 36 assists) in 34 video games.

McKenna is a Hobey Baker Award Top 10 Finalist and was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year, and is No. 1 on NHL Central Scouting’s midterm rating of North American skaters for the 2026 NHL Draft.

Max Plante, University of Minnesota Duluth

A Hobey Baker Award Finalist, as was his father Derek for Minnesota Duluth in 1993, the 20-year-old sophomore was named NCHC Forward of the Year.

Plante, chosen by the Detroit Red Wings within the second spherical (No. 47) of the 2024 NHL Draft, is fifth within the nation in scoring with 49 factors (24 targets, 25 assists) in 38 video games.

Lukas Swedin, Bentley University

The freshman goalie has received 5 straight video games whereas permitting seven targets.

Swedin made 24 saves in a 3-2 win in opposition to Sacred Heart within the Atlantic Hockey championship recreation and was named Most Outstanding Player within the match.

The 21-year-old undrafted free agent is 14-6 with 4 occasions,  a .921 save share and a 2.02 GAA in 24 video games.

The junior ahead has 34 factors (19 targets, 15 assists) in 38 video games. He had two photographs on purpose in Western Michigan’s 3-1 win in opposition to Minnesota State within the Loveland regional semifinals Friday.

He started his faculty profession at Wisconsin in 2023-24, then spent final season at Michigan earlier than transferring to Western Michigan for this season.

The 21-year-old was chosen by the Columbus Blue Jackets within the third spherical (No. 66) of the 2023 NHL Draft.

The freshman ahead leads all NCAA gamers with 59 factors (25 targets, 34 assists) in 39 video games, together with a purpose in Quinnipiac’s 5-2 win in opposition to Providence within the Sioux Falls regional semifinals.

The 19-year-old is a Hobey Baker Award Top 10 Finalist, the ECAC Rookie of the Year and was named to the ECAC First All-Star Team.

Wyttenbach was drafted by the Calgary Flames within the fifth spherical (No. 144) within the 2025 draft.​