Penn State hockey freshman Gavin McKenna, widely regarded as the presumptive No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, has been charged with felony aggravated assault, according to court records filed in Centre County.
McKenna, 18, is facing a felony count of aggravated assault, a misdemeanor charge of simple assault, and summary offenses of harassment and disorderly conduct involving fighting. The charges were filed by the State College Police Department on February 4 and stem from an alleged incident that occurred on January 31 the very same day Penn State hockey hosted Michigan State in an outdoor game at Beaver Stadium.
The case is currently assigned to Magisterial District Judge Casey McClain in State College Borough. Court records list the case status as “Inactive – Awaiting Preliminary Hearing.” No preliminary hearing date has been scheduled, and no dispositions have been entered, meaning none of the charges have been proven, dismissed, or withdrawn at this stage.
Under Pennsylvania law, aggravated assault graded as a felony of the first degree requires evidence that a defendant attempted to cause serious bodily injury or acted with extreme indifference to the value of human life. A preliminary hearing will determine whether prosecutors have established sufficient prima facie evidence for the case to proceed to the Court of Common Pleas. At that hearing, charges can be held for court, reduced, withdrawn, or dismissed.
McKenna has not requested a public defender, and court records do not indicate that fingerprinting has occurred, which can sometimes take place at a later procedural stage.
On the ice, McKenna has been one of the most productive players in college hockey this season. The Whitehorse, Yukon native is currently third on the Nittany Lions with 11 goals and leads the team with 32 points through 24 games. Prior to joining Penn State, McKenna was named both the WHL and CHL Player of the Year.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.McKenna scored a goal in Penn State’s outdoor game at Beaver Stadium, a 5–4 overtime loss to Michigan State. His game-worn jersey from that event is currently being auctioned, with bids totaling several thousand dollars.
Nittany Sports Now received comment from Penn State, “We are aware that charges have been filed; however, as this is an ongoing legal matter, we will not have any further comment.”
Penn State is scheduled to travel to Michigan on Friday, February 13, before returning home to face Ohio State on February 20. The Nittany Lions are currently 18–8 and aiming for a return to the Frozen Four.
UPDATE: According to a report of events reviewed by this outlet, Penn State’s team gathered in a private room at Doggies Pub following Saturday’s game. During the gathering, an individual who was not affiliated with the team allegedly verbally harassed a member of McKenna’s family, which escalated into a physical altercation. No further details regarding the incident have been released publicly, and authorities have not provided additional context beyond what is outlined in court records. The matter remains under review as the case proceeds through the legal process.
EDWARD M SAYLOR MD
February 4, 2026 at 6:40 pm
Very sorry to hear this and now we shall see how much the courts and lawyers will extract from this encounter. Let’s see what happens!