A felony assault charge against Penn State star and top 2026 NHL Draft prosect Gavin McKenna is being withdrawn, Centre County, Penn., prosecutors said on Friday.
The court filing has been made public.
The 18-year-old McKenna was charged after an alleged altercation outside of a bar in State College, Penn. on Jan. 31. His Nittany Lions played Michigan State in an outdoor game at Beaver Stadium, the home of PSU football, earlier in the day.
McKenna is alleged to have punched the complainant twice in the face following a dispute that began inside the bar, leaving the man with a broken jaw that required surgery.
During a review of the evidence, prosecutors determined that McKenna “did not act with the intent to cause serious bodily harm nor did he recklessly act with extreme indifference to the value of human life,” according to a statement released Friday.
The felony charge carried with it a maximum sentence of 20 years upon conviction.
McKenna still faces three lesser charges: a misdemeanour for simple assault and a pair of summary offences for disorderly conduct and harassment.
From Whitehorse, Yukon, McKenna enrolled at Penn State this past fall following three seasons with the Western Hockey League’s Medicine Hat Tigers.
In 24 games this season, McKenna has 11 goals and 32 points.
McKenna has represented Canada internationally on a number of occasions, including at back-to-back World Junior Hockey Championships.