PUBLICATION
Sam Walker
February 5, 2026 (2:06 PM)
Photo credit: James Lang-Imagn Images
Gavin McKenna felony aggravated assault case just got uglier, Penn State hockey and the 2026 NHL Draft are staring at real fallout.
Police allege McKenna struck a 21-year-old male in the face, and that the injuries required corrective facial surgery.
Reporting around the case adds a brutal detail, the man’s jaw was broken and wired shut as part of treatment, according to State College Police.
McKenna was charged with felony aggravated assault plus simple assault, harassment, and disorderly conduct, per both police and Onward State.
He was released on $20,000 unsecured bail after arraignment, according to the police media release.
The preliminary hearing is set for Wednesday, February 11, in Centre County, and police say no further information will be released right now because it’s active.
This is where the hockey part gets messy fast.
Gavin McKenna and Penn State hockey feel the squeeze
If you’re a fan, you can feel the mood swing from “let’s see the facts” to “please don’t let this derail everything” in about two seconds.
On the ice, McKenna has been electric, 11 goals and 21 assists for 32 points in 24 games for Penn State.
That production is exactly why NHL front offices have been circling him as a potential 2026 first-overall pick.
Before campus, he torched the WHL with Medicine Hat, including a 41-88-129 season, which is video-game stuff.
But none of that insulates him from the real-world consequences of a criminal case.
Penn State now has to manage a roster, a spotlight, and a legal process that will not move at hockey speed.
Wednesday’s hearing is the next hard date to watch, because it’s the first time this story could shift from headlines to actual direction.
Previously on Chicago Hockey Insider
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Gavin McKenna assault case takes turn as police confirm surgery and Feb. 11 court hearing
Should Penn State suspend Gavin McKenna while the felony aggravated assault case plays out?