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.<\/p>\n
The court documents<\/a> state that the Canadian hockey player, who turned 18 years old on Dec. 20, was also charged with misdemeanor assault, harassment and disorderly conduct.\n<\/p>\n McKenna, who plays for Penn State, was charged by police in State College, Pa., according to the court documents.<\/p>\n If convicted, McKenna faces up to 20 years in prison.\n<\/p>\n In a Wednesday night statement<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n Authorities alleged that McKenna struck the man in the face, “resulting in facial injuries requiring corrective surgery.”<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n During the Saturday afternoon prior to the incident, Penn State played Michigan in an outdoor game<\/a> before nearly 75,000 people at Beaver Stadium. McKenna had three points, a goal and two assists, in the 5-4 overtime loss.\n<\/p>\n A Penn State Athletics spokesperson told Onward State<\/a>, a Penn State student news organization, which was the first to report on the charges, that they are aware that charges have been filed.<\/p>\n “As this is an ongoing legal matter, we will not have any further comment,” the spokesperson<\/a> said.<\/p>\n The Yukon-born McKenna has 11 goals and 21 assists in 24 games<\/a> this season with Penn State.<\/p>\n