Penn State hockey standout Gavin McKenna has found himself in the spotlight for the wrong reasons. The highly touted NHL prospect was initially hit with a felony aggravated assault charge stemming from an incident that occurred after the Nittany Lions’ overtime loss to Michigan State in an outdoor game at Beaver Stadium on Saturday night.
Since then, a significant update has emerged in McKenna’s legal situation.
Gavin McKenna’s Felony Charge Dropped After Review
Centre County District Attorney Bernie Cantorna confirmed on Friday that his office has dropped the most serious charge against McKenna. He will no longer face a first-degree felony aggravated assault charge, which could have carried a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison under Pennsylvania law.
McKenna still faces a misdemeanor charge of simple assault, along with summary offenses for harassment and disorderly conduct. A preliminary hearing on the remaining charges is set for March 11.
According to Cantorna, the decision to drop the felony charge followed prosecutors’ review of video evidence of the alleged incident.
“Both our office and the State College Police Department have reviewed video of this incident,” Cantorna said. “Viewing that video, we have reached the conclusion it does not support the felony charge of aggravated assult. Our office will be moving to withdraw the aggravated assault charge with the district justice and correcting the record to accurately depict the injuries suffered.”
The incident reportedly took place around 9:45 p.m. outside a parking garage in downtown State College. Police say McKenna and his group had been at Doggie’s Pub, which hosted an event following the hockey game.
According to the criminal complaint, a verbal dispute between two groups escalated, and McKenna is accused of punching another man twice on the right side of the face. Initial reports said the victim suffered fractures on both sides of his jaw and lost a tooth, injuries that were believed to require surgery.
State College Police later corrected that information. It confirmed the victim had two fractures on one side of his jaw, no missing tooth, and has since undergone surgery and is recovering.
While the felony charge is off the table, the case is not over.
McKenna’s legal situation has drawn widespread attention because of his status in the hockey world. In his first season with Penn State, he is widely viewed as the top prospect for the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.
The former CHL Player of the Year stunned many last season by leaving the Canadian Hockey League to join Penn State. A move that only increased the spotlight on his development and future.
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For now, McKenna remains with the program as the legal process plays out, with his case still under review in the coming weeks.
