By The Canadian Press

Top NHL prospect Gavin McKenna’s hearing in assault case pushed back to March

Feb 9, 2026 | 7:41 AM

STATE COLLEGE — The preliminary hearing for top NHL prospect Gavin McKenna in an alleged assault case in Pennsylvania has been postponed by a month.

The court in Centre County, Pa., where Penn State University is located and where McKenna plays for the school’s men’s hockey team, said in an email that the hearing scheduled for Wednesday has been stayed until March 11.

McKenna faces a misdemeanour simple assault charge after Pennsylvania’s district attorney’s office said last week it had withdrawn a previous felony aggravated assault charge against the 18-year-old from Whitehorse, Yukon.

The alleged assault is reported to have occurred Jan. 31 in State College, Pa., with the victim allegedly being punched and suffering two jaw fractures that required his jaw to be wired shut.

The felony aggravated assault charge was dropped after the district attorney’s office said Friday there was insufficient evidence, noting investigators determined there was no intent to cause serious bodily injury after reviewing video of the alleged incident.

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McKenna, who is also facing harassment and disorderly conduct charges, is widely regarded as one of the top two prospects for the upcoming NHL entry draft, along with Swedish forward Ivar Stenberg.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 9, 2026.

The Canadian Press