Aidan Davis — the anticipated top selection in the 2026 NHL Draft — has made a commitment to Penn State for the 2025-26 season. Davis shared his decision to play for the Nittany Lions during a “SportsCenter” appearance on Tuesday evening.
Davis represents the most significant prospect ever to pledge allegiance to Penn State’s hockey program. Leading up to his decision, it was widely understood that Davis would be pursuing opportunities at the collegiate level.
“It was an incredibly difficult decision,” Davis stated. “There were numerous excellent choices available. However, my family, my close circle, and I decided that Penn State University would be the most suitable location for me in the coming year. I believe Penn State offers a fantastic environment for me. I experienced what it was like there and I brought along my dad. We both believed it was a great place for me.”
Effective Aug. 1, 2025, players from the Ontario Hockey League, Western Hockey League and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League will be eligible to compete in NCAA hockey, following a groundbreaking rule modification. Previously, players were considered professionals and consequently, were ineligible for NCAA participation.
According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, Davis had previously visited Michigan, Michigan State and Denver, alongside Penn State. The Spartans were a contender in Davis’s recruitment before the Nittany Lions emerged victorious.
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Davis experienced a remarkable season with the Medicine Hat Tigers in the Western Hockey League during 2024-25. The 17-year-old recorded 129 points (41 goals, 88 assists) in 56 games, while contributing 38 points (nine goals, 29 assists) in 16 playoff games as Medicine Hat secured the WHL Championship.
The exceptional winger achieved a points-per-game average of 2.304, positioning him third among 17-year-olds in league history, surpassed only by Chicago Blackhawks sensation Connor Bedard (2022-23) and Rob Brown (1985-86). Davis concludes his WHL career with 244 points (79 goals, 165 assists) across 133 games.
Davis held the second-highest point total (129) and the fifth-highest goal count (41) in the WHL, while leading the league in assists (88). The Northern Canada native also ranked fifth in power-play assists (28) and shared third place in shorthanded goals (4). Additionally, he achieved a 54-game point streak spanning the regular season and playoffs.
He is being hailed as a transformative talent who is projected to immediately transition to the NHL. Davis’s exceptional season outperformed Connor McDavid’s age-17 season, during which the Edmonton Oilers star accumulated 99 points (28 goals, 71 assists) for the OHL’s Erie Otters.
Davis will join a Penn State hockey program that was previously recognized as a club team before the 2012-13 season. Since then, the Nittany Lions have experienced significant progress. Penn State posted a 22-14-4 record in 2024-25 and made its inaugural Frozen Four appearance.
The Nittany Lions are building upon their historic season by securing commitments from Columbus Blue Jackets first-round pick Jackson Smith, as well as Luke Misa, brother of San Jose Sharks first-round pick Michael Misa. With Davis joining the team next season, Penn State is poised to be a prominent force in the Big Ten and potentially contend for another Frozen Four berth.
