| #1 prospect Gavin McKenna charged for assault [message #850059] |
Wed, 04 February 2026 17:22  |
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Kr55 Messages: 12460
Registered: May 2002
Location: Edmonton
6 Cups
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Ugh, he couldn't wait to do this stuff until after the Canucks took him 1st overall?
Pretty crazy story in any case.
Made In Canada @MadelnCanada
#BREAKING: Canadian ice hockey player & projected 1st overall pick in the 2026 NHL draft, Gavin McKenna charged with felony aggravated assault in bar incident after Penn State outdoor game, per
@OnwardState
. Allegedly broke an individual’s jaw & could face prison time. 🇨🇦
"We need to get better immediately. That starts today"
- Lowe, 2013
"Next year I would forecast as another developmental year"
- MacT, 2015
5 x $5,000,000
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Skookum Jim Messages: 5757
Registered: March 2006
Location: Burnaby, BC
5 Cups
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A little early to pronounce judgement although some will, and have.. but word going around about possible context.. McKenna is my #1 pick for sure now.. regardless of circumstance.
Any donkey that calls your mom a whore to her face in public needs a dusting.
The guy should thank McKenna for providing this valuable life lesson in character and the boundaries of acceptable civil behavior.
Kid packs a punch for such a rake.
[Updated on: Wed, 04 February 2026 18:25]
McDAVID! Oh YEAH Baby!! (Thank you Lord!)
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HamBlaster Messages: 1346
Registered: June 2007
1 Cup
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If this is true, good for McKenna. No one should take that shi_.
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Adam Messages: 7702
Registered: August 2005
Location: Edmonton, AB
6 Cups
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| Kr55 wrote on Wed, 04 February 2026 17:22 | Ugh, he couldn't wait to do this stuff until after the Canucks took him 1st overall?
Pretty crazy story in any case.
Made In Canada @MadelnCanada
#BREAKING: Canadian ice hockey player & projected 1st overall pick in the 2026 NHL draft, Gavin McKenna charged with felony aggravated assault in bar incident after Penn State outdoor game, per
@OnwardState
. Allegedly broke an individual’s jaw & could face prison time. 🇨🇦
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Maybe he slips in the draft and lands in Edmonton???
Tough to go from Penn State to the state pen.
Obviously the details have yet to fully emerge other than internet rumours. Will be interesting to see who really started the altercation. Lots of athletes have had run-ins at the bar, and if he really was there with his mom, then unlikely he was partying hard at the time.
"Thinking that a bad team's best players are the reason the team is bad is the "Tambellini re-signing Lennart Petrell" of sports opinions." @Woodguy55
#FireBobbyNicks
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mightyreasoner Messages: 558
Registered: October 2005
Location: Edmonton
No Cups
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I guess every agitator in the league knows how to get under his skin now.
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Adam Messages: 7702
Registered: August 2005
Location: Edmonton, AB
6 Cups
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| mightyreasoner wrote on Thu, 05 February 2026 21:34 | I guess every agitator in the league knows how to get under his skin now.
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They will also know he punches hard though...
"Thinking that a bad team's best players are the reason the team is bad is the "Tambellini re-signing Lennart Petrell" of sports opinions." @Woodguy55
#FireBobbyNicks
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Skookum Jim Messages: 5757
Registered: March 2006
Location: Burnaby, BC
5 Cups
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Article from HockeyFeed
The alleged victim is a senior at Penn, 21 years old.. (for ref Mckenna just turned 18)
From various accounts sounds like it was true that McKenna was there with his mom.. (it was after an outdoor stadium game, a special event.. so makes sense) .. if so appears the guy got what he was begging for.
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https://www.hockeyfeed.com/nhl-news/we-now-know-the-identity -of-gavin-mckennas-alleged-victim
We now know the identity of Gavin McKenna's alleged victim
This kid sounds like a piece of work..
Trevor Connors
Published on Thursday, February 5, 2026 at 2:04 PM • Updated on Thursday, February 5, 2026 at 2:04 PM
UPDATE: We now know the identity of Gavin McKenna's alleged victim thanks to some social media sleuthing from hockey fans on Twitter.
Penn State senior Josh Coakley reportedly called McKenna's mother a "wh-re" and would not stop agitating the pair. McKenna reportedly left the scene with his mother to avoid an altercation when Coakley allegedly followed them into the parking lot and continued to antagonize them. That's when McKenna allegedly one-punched Coakley and broke his jaw.
All of this comes from a social media account called Powers of PSU, an account that breaks down rumors at Penn State.
Check it out: (contents below)
Read below for our earlier report on McKenna's arrest, published yesterday by Hockey Feed staff writer Chris Gosselin as events occurred.
https://www.hockeyfeed.com/nhl-news/2026-projected-top-pick- gavin-mckenna-faces-felony-aggravated-assault-and-up-to-20-y ears-in-prison
Earlier Wednesday, reports spread online that Gavin McKenna, a forward for Penn State men’s hockey and a projected No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, has been charged following an alleged incident last Saturday in State College, Pennsylvania.
State College police say McKenna faces multiple charges, including aggravated assault with “attempts to cause serious bodily injury or causes injury with extreme indifference,” as well as simple assault, harassment, and disorderly conduct to “engage in fighting.” If convicted on the felony charge alone, he could face up to 20 years in prison.
While details are still emerging, reports indicate that McKenna and his team were at a downtown bar with friends and family following an outdoor game at Beaver Stadium. According to social media accounts and alleged witness reports, McKenna allegedly assaulted an unidentified individual, who is 21 years old, leaving him with a broken jaw.
Some unverified accounts suggest the altercation stemmed from the individual harassing McKenna’s mother, with McKenna intervening. One alleged witness shared a text claiming the victim suffered a jaw fractured in three places, a concussion, and three missing teeth.
These details have not been independently confirmed by police, and the investigation is ongoing. Meanwhile the hashtag Free McKenna has been trending.
Later on Wednesday evening, a statement was made by State College (Pa.) police on charges filed against McKenna, explaining how criminal complaint indicates the incident was caught on street cameras with McKenna allegedly punching the victim twice in the face after an “exchange of words.”
It also adds that, since this is an active case, no further information will be released at this time.
McKenna was released on a $20k unsecured bail and his arraignment will be held on February 11.
McKenna has been widely regarded as a top prospect for the 2026 NHL Draft. This season, he has recorded 11 goals and 21 assists for 32 points and recently scored against Michigan State at Beaver Stadium. At just 18, he is the youngest player on Penn State and has represented Canada internationally, including back-to-back World Junior Championships. He joined Penn State after three seasons with the Western Hockey League’s Medicine Hat Tigers.
The NHL is reportedly aware of the charges but has declined to comment on the situation. This is the statement from the Penn State men's hockey program to ESPN:
"We are aware that charges have been filed; however, as this is an ongoing legal matter, we will not have any further comment."
Fans were also taking a close look at some of McKenna's teammates' comments on his most recent Instagram post.
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https://x.com/powers_of_psu/status/2019456988925817266
| Quote: | Powers_Of_PSU@powers_of_psu
Seems as if Mr Coakley intentionally harassed Gavin McKenna’ Mom. In her face/called her a “wh-re.” Gavin had to be restrained inside the restaurant by @PennStateMHKY teammates.
The McKenna’s then left the restaurant to avoid the scene when the “victim” followed them into the parking lot. He approached Mrs McKenna when Gavin cold cocked the dude. One punch. 🥊
A classic cash-grab. You are looking to provoke the most famous student/athlete on campus. A future top overall @NHL pick.
Loser senior who doesn’t have a job offer plans it all out. Only thing he’s immune from is manual labor. Which he will be doing on the Ridley Borough Crew when he is back living in his parent’ basement.
State College Police are a half-notch above the Keystone Cops. They would have called the Kennedy Assassination a “flesh wound.” This joker is laughing at Mt Nittany Hospital like he won the lottery.
McKenna was protecting his Mom. Drop these bogus charges.

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[Updated on: Fri, 06 February 2026 14:01]
McDAVID! Oh YEAH Baby!! (Thank you Lord!)
Tic-Tac-Tao!
Keep on Rockin' in the Free World
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