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Gavin McKenna received some good news in recent days: the aggravated assault charge he was facing has been dropped. After reviewing video footage of the incident, the Attorney General's office ruled last Friday that there was insufficient evidence to support the claim that McKenna intended to cause serious bodily harm when he attacked the alleged victim.
However, McKenna remains charged with simple assault, harassment, and disorderly conduct. He will have to wait patiently to find out if he will be found guilty and, if so, whether he will have a criminal record. His preliminary hearing, originally scheduled for this week, has been postponed for a month. It will now take place on March 11, a date that could conflict with one of Penn State's games in the Big 10 Tournament.
If he has a record, McKenna will have to be sent back to Canada—meaning he would leave Penn State University—and he would most likely have to give up his chances of becoming a multimillionaire by playing in the NHL.
What will Gavin McKenna's life be like over the next few weeks as he awaits his preliminary hearing?
Well, the incident involving McKenna occurred on January 31, after an away game… and the team hasn't played since. They will resume action on Friday in Michigan. For now, all indications are that McKenna will take part in the game, as he is earning several hundred thousand dollars to represent Penn State, remember.
If his name were Garreth MacKinnon and he were just a student, not a paid athlete, one would think he would have been expelled from the university, but hey…
Will McKenna be able to put the whole situation behind him and celebrate as he did a few hours before his street fight? We'll see.
Incredible photography of Gavin McKenna in Happy Valley. #2026Draft pic.twitter.com/aTKRPzqdOY
— NHL News (@PuckReportNHL) January 31, 2026
It should be noted that McKenna was enjoying his best run of the season before throwing down the gloves and getting into a fight outside an American restaurant-bar.
Gavin McKenna in the last month:
• 14 points in 7 NCAA games
• 2nd on Team Canada in points at WJC
• had one of the coolest photos of all time at Beaver Stadium
• knocked a guy out and broke his jaw
• acquired and beat a felony caseHe's so showtime. pic.twitter.com/5Xb00tmf1G
— Big Head Hockey (@bigheadhockey) February 6, 2026
McKenna has 32 points in 24 games this season in the NCAA. Can't wait to see where he'll be drafted next June…
The Blackhawks aren't the only ones who aren't crazy about McKenna right now. However, we can all agree that he won't drop below 20th place. To be continued.
Overtime
– Tough break for Canada.
Ouch… Big and difficult news for the Canadian women, who will have to do without Marie-Philip Poulin against the Americans on Tuesday afternoon!
pic.twitter.com/eaXLWpDrjz
— RDS (@RDSca) February 10, 2026
– To be continued.
However, the contenders are not lining up at the door. https://t.co/D2haAKaGfO
— Passion MLB (@passion_mlb) February 10, 2026
– What would you do with him?
Arber Xhekaj brings a level of toughness the Canadiens otherwise lack. That said, his minutes remain limited. While he has developed, he does make mistakes. His unique profile makes him appealing to other teams, potentially positioning him as a trade chip.
— Eric Macramalla (@EricMacramalla) February 10, 2026
– He's capable of making jokes.
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