Gavin McKenna not expected to miss NCAA games after felony assault charge dropped

The Penn State Nittany Lions will likely be getting their star player back as the NCAA Tournament draws closer.

Sources have told Daily Faceoff‘s Steven Ellis that top 2026 NHL Draft prospect Gavin McKenna is expected to play for Penn State when they take on the University of Michigan this weekend.

McKenna, who was involved in an alleged off-ice incident at Doggie’s Pub in State College on Jan. 31, was arraigned last week and charged with felony aggravated assault, misdemeanor simple assault, harassment and disorderly conduct. Last Friday, prosecutors in Centre County withdrew the felony assault charge, which carried a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

According to the police report generated following the incident, McKenna accused of punching a male twice in the face, leading multiple jaw fractures that required surgery for the other party. In their reasoning for dropping the felony charge, prosecutors stated that they believe 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.”

In the latest Daily Faceoff 2026 NHL Draft prospect rankings, McKenna ranks second behind only Sweden’s Ivar Stenberg. McKenna was long viewed as the consensus top prospect in the draft, but others like Stenberg and defenseman Keaton Verhoeff has closed the gap since the start of the current season.

McKenna joined the Nittany Lions this year after spending the prior three seasons with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL. In his last campaign in Medicine Hat, McKenna racked up 129 points in 56 games played.

Seeking to face a higher level of competition in his draft year, McKenna has largely produced well for Penn State, as he’s compiled 32 points in 24 games played. He was also dynamic for Team Canada at the IIHF U-20 World Junior Championships, totaling 14 points in 7 games as the Canadians earned bronze.