Hurricanes prospect has new high-profile teammate at Penn State, eyes pro ranks

Charlie Cerrato will have a new teammate at Penn State this year, and he could be the best hockey player in North America.

Gavin McKenna, the projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL draft, recently announced he was committing to the Nittany Lions for next season. McKenna’s uncanny ability and his hockey notoriety also have gotten the Canadian forward an NIL package worth $700,000, according to various media reports.

That’s the price of doing business in college sports these days, and Cerrato is just glad to have him. Drafted this year in the second round by the Carolina Hurricanes, Cerrato wants to follow up the school’s first NCAA Frozen Four appearance with another.

“It was unbelievable, such a cool experience,” Cerrato recently said of the Lions’ NCAA run, which ended with a semifinal loss to Boston University in St. Louis.

“And going to the Frozen Four was an awesome learning experience. Obviously, it didn’t end the way we wanted it to end, but we had a lot of young guys and we learned a lot from that. We’re looking forward to going back and going in with a different mindset.”

And a different, potentially loaded team.

In addition to McKenna, the Lions also will have defenseman Jackson Smith, a first-round choice by the Columbus Blue Jackets this year.

Cerrato was at home with family, antsy but hopeful, when his name was called by the Hurricanes, 49th overall. He quickly started packing for the Canes’ prospect development camp, getting to Raleigh the day after the draft.

Pro sports pedigree

Cerrato, 20, was able to see how the Hurricanes do things, but already has had a pro sports indoctrination. He once roamed NFL locker rooms, observing players and coaches. His father, Vinny, was an executive with the San Francisco 49ers and Washington Commanders.

“He was a pro in a different sport, but I feel like all professional sports can piggy back off each other,” Charlie Cerrato said. “The professionalism, the work ethic it takes to get you to the next level, is something he has given to me since I was a young kid and started playing hockey. It’s so great being from a family so involved with sports.”

Vinny Cerrato played wide receiver at Iowa State and later was the recruiting coordinator for Lou Holtz at Notre Dame when the Irish won the 1988 national championship. Shifting to the pros, he was director of player personnel for both the 49ers (winning a Super Bowl) and Commanders, and also served as a college football analyst for ESPN before becoming a sports talk radio host.

Charlie Cerrato gave football a try, too — “I loved it,” he said — and was a quarterback until he was 15.

“But from Day One, it was always hockey,” he said. “I loved being at the rink, loved being in the gym. I loved football but those two-hour practices in 90-degree heat …”

Speaking of being indoctrinated, Cerrato became a diehard Washington Capitals fan. His father apparently enjoys telling the story of Charlie being able to meet Alex Ovechkin one day in the Caps locker room — Charlie 4 years old at the time. It’s a hazy memory to Charlie, but Ovechkin did become his favorite player and he said the Cerratos went to a “ton” of Caps games.

Fueling the fire

Growing up in Minnesota, Vinny Cerrato was a hockey player who found football to be his best sport. It was different for Charlie, who was a part of the USA Hockey National Team Development Program for two years and then spent a season with the Youngstown Phantoms in the USHL in 2023-24.

But was not drafted until this year.

“I went through some ups and downs, for sure, in junior hockey,” Cerrato said. “But I feel like everything that happened to me was a blessing in disguise. I feel like everything happens for a reason and you come out better from it. I’m happy where I’m at.”

But being passed over in the draft until he was 20 has further fueled the fire, he said.

“Absolutely,” he said. “Any time people doubt you, you can take it one of two ways. You can pout or you can use it as motivation. Just use it as a chip on your shoulder.

“When things go wrong, any time you pout and blame other people, it’s just a waste of time. You’re hurting yourself. Get back in the gym, get back on the ice, get back to work”

Off to college, and then ...?

Cerrato turned to college hockey and considered Michigan before choosing to go to Penn State. As a freshman, the guy called “Chucky” led all Big Ten rookies with 15 goals, 27 assists and 42 points in 38 games.

The Nittany Lions had their own ups and downs this past season but surged late to reach the Frozen Four. Cerrato had the primary assist on the overtime goal against Connecticut that got the Lions to St. Louis.

Cerrato had a quick response when asked about his strong points as a player – at least in his eyes – as well as his weaknesses.

“My competitiveness, my willingness to compete is something I’ve had my whole life,” he said. “Whether playing five or six minutes in junior or playing a lot in college, I feel my competitiveness will help me get to the next level.

“I think what I can work on are the small details. Especially being a center and making the jump to pro, you have to keep your stick on the ice, be on top of pucks and be in the right areas. Those small details make a huge difference, especially when you’re in the Eastern Conference final and trying to make it to the Stanley Cup.

“That’s what matters. That’s what Rod wants.’

That being Rod Brind’Amour, the Canes coach, who is all about doing all the details the proper way. Cerrato, of course, would like to be playing for Brind’Amour soon.

Cerrato has good size at 6-foot-1 and 196 pounds. He has grit to his game. He’s good on draws. He’s responsible defensively.

“I have so much to get better on, and I’m young and can continue to do that,” he said. “When my time is right, hopefully sooner rather than later, I’ll make the jump. But I don’t feel any sort of rush. I feel like I’m little more developed than most 17- and 18-year-olds being drafted.

“I feel like I’m in a great spot.”

This story was originally published July 15, 2025 at 6:00 AM.

Chip Alexander

The News & Observer

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In more than 40 years at The N&O, Chip Alexander has covered the N.C. State, UNC, Duke and East Carolina beats, and now is in his 15th season on the Carolina Hurricanes beat. Alexander, who has won numerous writing awards at the state and national level, covered the Hurricanes’ move to North Carolina in 1997 and was a part of The N&O’s coverage of the Canes’ 2006 Stanley Cup run.