Gavin McKenna Waives Preliminary Hearing in Assault Case

Penn State hockey star Gavin McKenna on Friday waived his preliminary hearing on a misdemeanor assault charge stemming from a Jan. 31 altercation in downtown State College.

The case now advances in the Centre County Court of Common Pleas, with formal arraignment scheduled for April 8.

The preliminary hearing, which is used to determine if sufficient evidence exists to move a case toward trial, was originally scheduled for March 11, the first day of the Big Ten men’s hockey tournament, before being moved up to Friday and waived.

McKenna, a freshman forward from Yukon, Canada, is accused of punching and breaking a man’s jaw following what police described as “an exchange of words” between their respective groups on the 100 block of South Pugh Street. The criminal complaint did not elaborate on what words were exchanged, though some reporting has suggested the man insulted McKenna’s mother.

District Attorney Bernie Cantorna declined to discuss the specifics of the exchange, but said “a verbal argument never is justification for physical violence against another human being.”

According to an affidavit of probable cause, McKenna was attending a team gathering with family and friends at Doggie’s Pub following Penn State’s outdoor game at Beaver Stadium before the altercation. A State College police officer reviewed street camera video footage and observed McKenna punching the man twice in the face outside of the Pugh Street parking garage.

The officer also found blood on the pavement where the altercation occurred, according to the affidavit.

The man had surgery that was expected to require his jaw to be wired shut for two weeks, police wrote.

McKenna was initially also charged with felony aggravated assault, but Cantorna withdrew the count two days later, when he said a review of the evidence did not support it.

The 18-year-old McKenna also faces summary charges of physical harassment and disorderly conduct.

The highest-rated recruit in Penn State history, McKenna is widely expected to be a top pick in this year’s NHL Draft.

He was recently named Hockey Commissioners Association Rookie of the Month for February after he set single-game program records with eight points and seven assists in a win over Ohio State on Feb. 20.

Penn State hosts Wisconsin at 7 p.m. Friday in Pegula Ice Arena for the regular-season finale before starting the conference tournament next week.