As the NCAA college hockey season began on Friday night, many eyes turned their attentions to Tempe, Arizona, of all places. It was for good reason, though. 2026 draft prospect and potential top pick Gavin McKenna took the ice for the first time as a Nittany Lion as 5th-ranked Penn State battled #14 Arizona State.
McKenna's arrival was a massive deal for both Penn State and the NCAA after last year's announcement that CHL players would be eligible to play in college for the first time. With this new route to the NHL open for perennial prospects, it feels like the start of a new era for Division I college hockey.
To his credit, McKenna had an excellent opening 20 minutes to his college career, assisting on both of Penn State's goals as they took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission. While McKenna wouldn't find the scoresheet again over the final two periods, the Nittany Lions' second line was on a roll, anchored by a recent Hurricanes draft pick.
Charlie Cerrato torched on Sun Devils on Friday night
The goal scorer for McKenna's second assist was none other than the Hurricanes' 2025 2nd-round pick, Charlie Cerrato. The sophomore from Maryland added a secondary assist on Penn State's opening goal on the power play, but that was far from where his night would end. After Arizona State stormed back to score three unanswered in the middle frame, the second line took over the game.
Cerrato made, arguably, the play of the night on Penn State's tying goal. As he carried the puck behind the net from right to left, Cerrato looked over his right shoulder to find winger Matt DiMarsico for a beautiful assist against the grain. Before the halfway point in the frame, the pair connected a second time, with Cerrato setting up DiMarsico again for what would become the game-winning goal.
To add insult to injury, Cerrato scored his second goal of the night late in the contest on the power play, and DiMarsico completed his Opening Night hat trick into the empty net. The Nittany Lions stormed back with four goals in the third period to win the game, 6-3, over the Sun Devils.
The trio of Cerrato (2G, 3A), DiMarsico (3G), and JJ Wiebusch (3A) combined for five of the team's six goals and 11 points, and they could've had more. Cerrato and Wiebusch were each robbed during the second period by Arizona State goalie Connor Hasley, with Cerrato also setting up Wiebusch's chance.
Friday marked an impressive start to his sophomore campaign. With the Hurricanes drafting him as an over-ager in June's draft, this is part of what they must've seen in him after last season to feel confident in selecting him. Cerrato had 15 goals and 42 points last season, so this probably shouldn't come as much of a surprise.
Cerrato, McKenna, and the Nittany Lions will be in action again on Saturday night in Tempe at 7 pm EST. Like Friday's contest, the game will stream for free on the NHL's YouTube page. It might be worth checking out after the Hurricanes face the Nashville Predators on Saturday afternoon.