Gavin McKenna Facing Felony Charge After Incident On January 31

Penn State men’s hockey forward Gavin McKenna was charged following an alleged altercation in downtown State College late Saturday night. The incident occurred along the 100 block of South Pugh Street, with a report filed at 10:35 p.m.

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.

McKenna is considered a potential first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. He has recorded 32 points this season, tallying 11 goals and 21 assists, and scored against Michigan State at Beaver Stadium.

Onward State has reached out to Penn State Athletics for comment and will update this story if a response is received.

This story will be updated with more information as it is released.

James Russell, Alex Smith, and CJ Gill also reported on this story.