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Penn State hockey player and top NHL prospect Gavin McKenna is reportedly facing felony assault charges after being arrested for an alleged incident in downtown State College, Pennsylvania on January 31.
On Wednesday, Penn State blog Onward State published a report that McKenna, 18, is facing aggravated assault charges alongside three other charges. The Daily Collegian reporter Evan Smith also published McKenna's criminal docket that was reportedly filed after Saturday night's incident.
McKenna is a freshman at Penn State and is set to be draft eligible for the NHL come summertime. In hockey circles, McKenna has been hailed as one of the top prospects of the 2026 class and has been billed as the potential No. 1 overall pick by many hockey insiders in recent years. Ahead of the 2024-25 season, McKenna committed to Penn State in a major moment for the program, deciding to join the NCAA after spending time in the WHL and CHL.
There's still a lot unknown about this breaking story, but here's everything we know about the alleged incident involving top NHL prospect McKenna.
According to Onward State, McKenna was involved in an alleged altercation around Doggie's Pub in downtown State College on Saturday night, with a report filed around 10:35 p.m. ET. Earlier on Saturday, Penn State hockey played in an outdoor game at Beaver Stadium against Michigan State where McKenna scored a goal and two assists.
The team was then reportedly seen at a bar downtown on Saturday night before McKenna allegedly assaulted a currently unknown individual, which left the victim with a broken jaw. Smith of The Daily Collegian also reported that McKenna allegedly assaulted a heckler after he was asked to leave the bar. McKenna was then reportedly arrested after the incident.
As of Wednesday, McKenna is reportedly being charged with felony aggravated assault, which “attempts to cause serious bodily injury or causes injury with extreme indifference." The other three charges McKenna is facing after this alleged incident are a misdemeanor simple assault, a summary offense for disorderly conduct and a summary offense for harassment.
According to Onward State, if McKenna is found guilty he would face up to 20 years in prison.
Greg Wyshynski of ESPN has reported that the NHL has been made aware of the charges, but has offered no comment.
Penn State released a statement on Wednesday afternoon, stating that they are aware of the charges but cannot "have any further comment" due to this incident being a legal matter.
According to the criminal docket, McKenna is awaiting a preliminary hearing on the charges he is reportedly facing. For now, that is the only information that has been made available, but we will continue to update this story with more information as it releases.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Top NHL prospect Gavin McKenna reportedly arrested: Everything we know
Continue reading...
On Wednesday, Penn State blog Onward State published a report that McKenna, 18, is facing aggravated assault charges alongside three other charges. The Daily Collegian reporter Evan Smith also published McKenna's criminal docket that was reportedly filed after Saturday night's incident.
McKenna is a freshman at Penn State and is set to be draft eligible for the NHL come summertime. In hockey circles, McKenna has been hailed as one of the top prospects of the 2026 class and has been billed as the potential No. 1 overall pick by many hockey insiders in recent years. Ahead of the 2024-25 season, McKenna committed to Penn State in a major moment for the program, deciding to join the NCAA after spending time in the WHL and CHL.
There's still a lot unknown about this breaking story, but here's everything we know about the alleged incident involving top NHL prospect McKenna.
What did Gavin McKenna allegedly do in this reported incident?
According to Onward State, McKenna was involved in an alleged altercation around Doggie's Pub in downtown State College on Saturday night, with a report filed around 10:35 p.m. ET. Earlier on Saturday, Penn State hockey played in an outdoor game at Beaver Stadium against Michigan State where McKenna scored a goal and two assists.
The team was then reportedly seen at a bar downtown on Saturday night before McKenna allegedly assaulted a currently unknown individual, which left the victim with a broken jaw. Smith of The Daily Collegian also reported that McKenna allegedly assaulted a heckler after he was asked to leave the bar. McKenna was then reportedly arrested after the incident.
What charges is Gavin McKenna currently facing?
As of Wednesday, McKenna is reportedly being charged with felony aggravated assault, which “attempts to cause serious bodily injury or causes injury with extreme indifference." The other three charges McKenna is facing after this alleged incident are a misdemeanor simple assault, a summary offense for disorderly conduct and a summary offense for harassment.
According to Onward State, if McKenna is found guilty he would face up to 20 years in prison.
Have Penn State or the NHL made a statement about Gavin McKenna's reported charges?
Greg Wyshynski of ESPN has reported that the NHL has been made aware of the charges, but has offered no comment.
Penn State released a statement on Wednesday afternoon, stating that they are aware of the charges but cannot "have any further comment" due to this incident being a legal matter.
What happens next for Gavin McKenna going forward?
According to the criminal docket, McKenna is awaiting a preliminary hearing on the charges he is reportedly facing. For now, that is the only information that has been made available, but we will continue to update this story with more information as it releases.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Top NHL prospect Gavin McKenna reportedly arrested: Everything we know
Continue reading...
