Feb. 4 (UPI) — Gavin McKenna, the projected first-overall pick in the upcoming 2026 NHL entry draft, was charged with felony aggravated assault on Wednesday, according to court documents.
The court documents state that the Canadian hockey player, who turned 18 years old on Dec. 20, was also charged with misdemeanor assault, harassment and disorderly conduct.
McKenna, who plays for Penn State, was charged by police in State College, Pa., according to the court documents.
If convicted, McKenna faces up to 20 years in prison.
In a Wednesday night statement, the State College Police Department said the charges stem from an altercation between McKenna and a 21-year-old man at about 8:45 p.m. EST Saturday in the 100 block of South Pugh Street, in the borough of State College.
Authorities alleged that McKenna struck the man in the face, “resulting in facial injuries requiring corrective surgery.”
McKenna was arraigned and released on a $20,000 unsecured bail, the police said, adding that a preliminary hearing in the case has been scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Feb. 11.
During the Saturday afternoon prior to the incident, Penn State played Michigan in an outdoor game before nearly 75,000 people at Beaver Stadium. McKenna had three points, a goal and two assists, in the 5-4 overtime loss.
A Penn State Athletics spokesperson told Onward State, a Penn State student news organization, which was the first to report on the charges, that they are aware that charges have been filed.
“As this is an ongoing legal matter, we will not have any further comment,” the spokesperson said.
The Yukon-born McKenna has 11 goals and 21 assists in 24 games this season with Penn State.
He is the projected first-overall pick in the upcoming NHL entry draft, according to the NHL’s prospect rankings.