Projected No. 1 NHL draft pick Gavin McKenna is suddenly facing the biggest fight of his life — and it has nothing to do with hockey.
The Penn State men’s hockey star has been slapped with a first-degree felony assault charge after an alleged bar brawl in downtown State College, according to new court filings. The allegations stem from a weekend dust-up that reportedly left a 21-year-old man with a broken jaw requiring surgery.
Along with the felony count for aggravated assault, McKenna is also facing misdemeanor simple assault, harassment, and disorderly conduct. If convicted on everything, the 18-year-old phenom could technically be staring down a maximum of 22 years in prison.
Police say McKenna was released on $20,000 bail, with a preliminary hearing set for February 11.
What triggered the fight is still murky, but several reports claim McKenna and his teammates were inside a private room at Doggie’s Pub when someone outside the group began verbally harassing one of McKenna’s family members. Moments later, a punch was allegedly thrown.
Witnesses told Onward State that the victim wasn’t connected to the team and that the injury was serious enough to need corrective surgery. Officials have not released the victim’s name.
The timing couldn’t be worse for McKenna, who entered the season as the most hyped NHL prospect in years. After a slow start at Penn State, he caught fire — racking up seven goals and 11 points in his last five games. He’s tallied 32 points in 24 games overall and recently helped Team Canada secure bronze at the World Juniors.
McKenna’s rise has been closely watched ever since the NCAA changed eligibility rules, allowing top Canadian major junior players to compete in Division I hockey. Before arriving at Penn State, he dominated the WHL with the Medicine Hat Tigers, scoring 41 goals and 129 points in just 56 games.
Now, instead of preparing for the draft spotlight, McKenna is preparing for a courtroom.
Penn State officials have not commented on the charges.
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