Gavin McKenna is almost certainly NHL-bound, but first, he's making a stop in the NCAA. 

The 17-year-old Yukoner has announced he's committing to the Penn State Nittany Lions, to play collegiate hockey.

McKenna made the official announcement on ESPN's SportsCenter Tuesday afternoon, saying it was a difficult decision but that Penn State seems like the "best spot for me in the next year."

Widely expected to be the No. 1 overall pick in next year's NHL draft, McKenna leaves the Western Hockey League's Medicine Hat Tigers to join the United States college ranks.

McKenna had 41 goals and 88 assists in 56 regular-season games last season and helped Medicine Hat win its first WHL title since 2007 and reach the Memorial Cup final.

In June, the six-foot winger became the third-youngest Canadian Hockey League player of the year, only Sidney Crosby and John Tavares were younger.

The NCAA lifted a long-standing ban in November, allowing CHL players to compete at U.S. colleges starting next season.

Speaking to CBC News on Tuesday, Craig Button, a senior hockey analyst with TSN and a former NHL general manager, said that change is good for players like McKenna, and schools like Penn State.

"They have more options rather than less options. And Gavin is taking advantage of an option that, when he started in the Western Hockey League last October and September, it wasn't there," Button said.

"Gavin's a player that can not only perform at an elite level, but can also help your program have a marquee player on it. It helps every player coming there be better. It's a real good scenario for Penn State."

A 'gut feeling' for Penn State

McKenna's parents, Willy and Krystal McKenna, couldn't be more proud. They agree that Penn State will be a good fit for Gavin.

Willy said that in the end, it came down to that school or Michigan State, and that after touring both schools Gavin just had a "gut feeling."

"He feels excited about the Penn State program. It's young, it's new, they're kind of not as well established as other programs," Willy said.

Krystal admits that she's still a bit nervous that her teenage son will be leaving Medicine Hat, where he always feel a lot of support and love, and that "he's going to be alone now."

"For me, having him go to the States, into a different country, is kind of a little bit worrisome," Krystal said.

Still, she believes he's "going to be in good hands" with the coaching staff and team at Penn State.

"But also, I trust Gav. We know he's a great kid, he makes good choices. I know that he'll be smart in the decisions that he makes on and off the ice — more importantly off the ice," Krystal said.

"So I'm super proud of him for being able to make this decision. He pretty much came to it on his own, which is pretty big. It's huge."