A charge of felony aggravated assault against Penn State hockey star Gavin McKenna has been withdrawn by the Centre County, Pennsylvania district attorney.
McKenna, the potential No. 1 overall pick in the2026 NHL Draft, was arrested and charged with felony aggravated assault and a misdemeanor charge of simple assault, plus summary offenses for disorderly conduct and harassment following an altercation Saturday,according to Onward State.
The 18-year-old Penn State freshman forward was reportedly at a downtown State College, Pennsylvania, bar with the team and friends and family following theNittany Lions' outdoor game at Beaver Stadium against Michigan State. It's unknown how the altercation began, but McKenna reportedly broke the jaw of an unidentified individual.
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"A review of the video 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," District Attorney Bernie Cantorna said during a press conference on Friday,via StateCollege.com.
"In order to establish probable cause for the crime of Aggravated Assault, the Commonwealth must establish that a person acted with the intent to cause serious bodily injury or acted recklessly under circumstances showing an extreme indifference to the value of human life," Cantorna explained.
According to thePennsylvania court docket, McKenna is awaiting a preliminary hearing on Feb. 11 at Centre County Courthouse.The State College Police Department confirmed the charges in a statement released Wednesday night, adding that McKenna was released on $20,000 bail.
The Penn State athletic department released the following statement to Onward State a few hours after the arrest was reported:
"We are aware that charges have been filed; however, as this is an ongoing legal matter, we will not have any further comment."
In July, McKenna announced that he would be attending Penn State following three seasons with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League, one of three leagues that makes up the Canadian Hockey League. The move was made possible after theNCAA's ruling that allowed CHL players to play collegiately.
Through 24 games this season, McKenna has 11 goals and 32 points for the Nittany Lions, who are in third place in the Big Ten. He was recently ranked as theNo. 1 North American skater by NHL Central Scoutingahead of June's NHL draft.
