The biggest story out of the shifting junior hockey world was 2026 top NHL prospect Gavin McKenna leaving the WHL and committing to joining Penn State. Besides losing out on McKenna, Michigan-based universities are dominating this process. The University of Michigan and Michigan State have led the way in terms of new transfers with top talents like Malcolm Spence and Jack Ivankovic joining the Wolverines while top draft picks Porter Martone and Cayden Lindstrom both agreed to play for the Spartans.

The 2025 NCAA National Ice Hockey Championship was just won by Western Michigan, who has become a mainstay in the picture for a national title. The recent adds by the other Michigan-based schools will certainly close the gap and make NCAA hockey far more competitive than ever before especially in the state of Michigan.