Crucial update drops in Gavin McKenna case, Penn State waits for next move
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Daniel Lucente
Feb 6, 2026 (1:50 PM)
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Photo credit: Dan Rainville / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Gavin McKenna just caught a massive break, Centre County prosecutors say they’ll withdraw the felony charge, and the whole Penn State story shifts fast.
That does not mean it’s over.
The same report says lesser charges remain, and his preliminary hearing is still set for Tuesday, February 11.
This started with an alleged January 31 incident in downtown State College.
Police originally charged McKenna with felony aggravated a**ault, plus simple a**ault, harassment, and disorderly conduct.
On the ice, the kid has been a problem for opponents all season.
He has 11-21-32 in 24 games for the Penn State Nittany Lions, which is ridiculous production for a freshman living under a microscope.
Here’s the part that makes scouts and fans exhale, then immediately tense up again.
McKenna is 18, draft eligible in 2026, and he was a 2022 first-round, first overall WHL Bantam Draft pick by the Medicine Hat Tigers.
That’s the profile teams build a future around, and it’s why every headline hits louder.
Gavin McKenna puts Penn State Nittany Lions in limbo
If you’re a Penn State fan, you’re probably feeling that mix of relief and dread, because the “felony dropped” line sounds clean, but the week ahead won’t be.
Roster-wise, the coaching staff still has to decide what “available” even means right now.
Tactically, losing your best driver changes everything, especially your top-six matchups and your man advantage entries.
Even if he plays, the noise follows him onto every touch.
And if he sits, Penn State has to find offense in a hurry.
Either way, Tuesday is the next real checkpoint, not some tidy final chapter.
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| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 6|176 ANSWERS Crucial update drops in Gavin McKenna case, Penn State waits for next move Should Penn State keep Gavin McKenna in the lineup right now? | ||
| Yes | 139 | 79 % |
| No | 37 | 21 % |
| List of polls | ||