Pennsylvania prosecutors have withdrawn a felony aggravated assault charge against Canada-born hockey player Gavin McKenna, a top prospect for the 2026 NHL Draft.
McKenna, 18, had a criminal complaint filed against him on Feb. 4 and was charged with first-degree felony aggravated assault and several other offences by the State College Police Department in State College, Pa., which is located about a three hours’ drive northwest of Philadelphia.
Police alleged at the time that McKenna, a left winger for the Penn State Nittany Lions NCAA hockey team, punched a man twice on the right side of the face during an altercation outside a State College bar in late January, breaking the man’s jaw and knocking out a tooth.
The incident was said to have occurred on the evening of Jan. 31, sometime after Penn State’s 5–4 overtime loss to visiting Michigan State in an outdoor game at Beaver Stadium. Police said witnesses recounted that McKenna punched the man’s face twice “following an exchange of words” between McKenna’s group and the man’s group. The complaint did not elaborate on what words were exchanged.
In a news release on Feb. 6, the Pennsylvania district attorney’s office said it would drop the felony aggravated assault charge against McKenna after its office and the police reviewed the video evidence and determined that the evidence “does not support a conclusion that Gavin McKenna acted with the intent to cause serious bodily injury or with reckless indifference to the value of human life.”
In Pennsylvania, conviction for first-degree felony aggravated assault carries a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison or a $25,000 fine or both.
The release also said the district attorney’s office will be “correcting the record regarding the injuries suffered by the victim.” The Feb. 4 complaint had alleged that the man lost one tooth and sustained fractures to both sides of his jaw that would require surgery.
“Follow-up by State College Police has confirmed that the victim suffered two fractures to one side of his jaw, as opposed to both sides of his jaw, and that he is not missing a tooth. The victim has had surgery and is recovering,” the district attorney’s office said.
McKenna, however, still faces charges of misdemeanour simple assault, summary harassment, and disorderly conduct related to “the serious injuries suffered by the victim,” the office added, noting that a preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for March 11.
McKenna is from Whitehorse, Yukon, and in mid-January was ranked the top North American skater eligible for the NHL Draft by NHL Central Scouting.
He also drew attention recently at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship in late December and early January in Minnesota, where he had four goals and 10 assists while helping Canada win a bronze medal.
McKenna has already racked up 11 goals and 21 assists in the 24 games so far this season with Penn State. Prior to his arrival at Penn State, the Yukon native spent parts of the past three seasons with the the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League.
McKenna is expected to play only one season at Penn State. The Nittany Lions’ next game is on Feb. 13 in Michigan.
Paul Rowan Brian, Reuters, and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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