JUST IN: Gavin McKenna is facing four charges, including a felony of aggravated assault, after an alleged altercation downtown Saturday night. onwardstate.com/2026/02/04/gav…
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Projected 2026 NHL Draft 1st overall pick Gavin McKenna charged with aggravated assault
Photo credit: Steven Ellis
By Tyson Cole
Feb 4, 2026, 18:10 ESTUpdated: Feb 4, 2026, 22:09 EST
One of the top prospects in the 2026 NHL Draft is potentially facing criminal charges.
Penn State forward Gavin McKenna is facing four charges: aggravated assault, simple assault, harassment, and disorderly conduct, for an incident that occurred Saturday, January 31, following their outdoor game against the Michigan State Spartans.
Onward State first reported the news on Wednesday afternoon. Here are two paragraphs from the report:
“State College police charged McKenna, 18, with felony aggravated assault that “attempts to cause serious bodily injury or causes injury with extreme indifference,” misdemeanor simple assault, and two summary offenses for disorderly conduct and harassment. If found guilty, McKenna faces up to 20 years in prison on the felony charge alone.“According to sources, the team had been at a downtown bar with friends and family following the outdoor game at Beaver Stadium. During the incident, McKenna allegedly assaulted an unidentified individual, leaving the victim with a broken jaw.”
You can read the full report here!
After firmly cementing himself among one of the greatest seasons in WHL history, with 41 goals and 129 points in 56 games, and leading his team to a WHL Championship, McKenna wanted to challenge himself through the NCAA route, signing with the Penn State Nittany Lions.
Playing against an older age group, the 18-year-old struggled out of the gate. But has since turned it around, scoring 11 goals and 32 points through 24 games. McKenna’s turnaround came following the 2026 World Junior Championships, where he scored four goals and 10 assists for 14 points in just seven games. Since returning, the Whitehorse, Yukon native has scored seven goals and seven assists for 14 points in just eight games.
The McKenna case file from the Pennsylvania court website is attached below:
Gavin McKenna's case file from the Pennsylvania courts website. ujsportal.pacourts.us/casesearch
We will wait for more information on the matter. We will update as details surface, as the story particularly pertains to Vancouver Canucks fans, who currently sit 32nd in the NHL standings.
UPDATE
Evan Smith, a Penn State sports reporter, shared a statement regarding the Gavin McKenna situation from the State College Police Department:
State College Police Department releases statement on Gavin McKenna
McKenna was released on $20,000 bail. He has a preliminary hearing for the case at 8:30 AM on Wednesday, February 11, 2026.
More to come.
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