Top hockey prospect Gavin McKenna is facing a felony aggravated assault charge stemming from an arrest in State College, Pa., over the weekend, according to court records viewed by The Post.
The freshman Penn State hockey forward has also been charged with misdemeanor simple assault and two summary offenses — harassment and disorderly conduct — for the alleged Jan. 31 incident.
Under Pennsylvania law, McKenna, considered by many to be the favorite to go No. 1 overall in the 2026 NHL Draft, is facing up to 20 years in jail and/or a $25,000 fine for the first-degree felony aggravated assault charge.
State College police said in a statement Wednesday night that McKenna allegedly got into an altercation on the 100 block of South Pugh Street on Saturday at approximately 8:45 p.m., hours after Penn State’s outdoor game at Beaver Stadium against Michigan State.
Penn State Nittany Lions forward Gavin McKenna (72) looks to shoot the puck during the first period against the Michigan State Spartans at Beaver Stadium. Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images“It is alleged that McKenna struck a 21-year-old male in the face during the altercation resulting in facial injuries requiring corrective surgery,” police said.
The hockey prospect was arraigned on the charges and released on $20,000 unsecured bail.
McKenna is due back in court on February 11 at the Centre County Courthouse.
According to a criminal complaint filed by State College police, which was viewed by ABC27, officers were called to Mount Nittany Medical Center on Saturday night over the alleged assault.
The male victim was treated for a broken jaw and was missing a tooth, and responding officers noted that the man “could hardly speak.”
Two witnesses told State College PD that there was“an exchange of words between them” and the group that McKenna was with before the hockey star allegedly punched the man in the face twice, according to the report.
The alleged incident took place in front of the Pugh Street Parking Garage. Police said in the complaint that street cameras caught McKenna allegedly punching the man, while security footage from Doggie’s Pub showed the hockey player leaving just before the alleged assault.
The complaint also stated that the man had to undergo surgery on Monday night and that his jaw will be wired shut for roughly two weeks.
Canada forward Gavin McKenna (9) controls the puck during the second period of an IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship bronze medal game against Finland, Jan. 5, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. APA spokesperson for Penn State Athletics told The Post that the university is “aware that charges have been filed.”
“However, as this is an ongoing legal matter, we will not have any further comment,” the spokesperson added.
Onward State, a student-run online publication, was the first to report the charges.
McKenna scored Penn State’s second goal in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Spartans. His jersey from the game is being auctioned off, with the highest bid sitting at $8,000.
He leads the Nittany Lions with 32 points in 24 games.
Prior to arriving at Penn State, McKenna spent three seasons playing for the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers. He has represented Canada several times on the international stage, including this year’s World Junior Hockey Championship.
Penn State’s men’s hockey team is not scheduled to play again until Feb. 13.
