The biggest story in the hockey world right now is the Gavin McKenna case. The top prospect has been charged with several offenses and could face up to 20 years in prison. Now, a major update surrounding the incident adds more detail about what happened.
The incident occurred on January 31. Gavin McKenna was at a restaurant with his Penn State teammates and their families, including McKenna’s mother. The team was celebrating their outdoor game at Beaver Stadium in front of 74,575 fans.
READ MORE: Gavin McKenna backed by teammates after charges
Gavin McKenna got into a bar fight
During the night, McKenna allegedly got into an altercation with a 21-year-old man at the bar and then struck him in the face. The man later required hospital treatment. McKenna was subsequently charged with aggravated assault, misdemeanor simple assault, and two counts of disorderly conduct for harassment and fighting. Notably, these charges carry a maximum combined penalty of 20 years in prison.
Penn State issued a statement regarding the incident:
“We are aware that charges have been filed; however, as this is an ongoing legal matter, we will not have any further comment,” the statement said, according to ESPN.
New, major update
Now, more — though still unconfirmed — details about the night are circulating, offering additional insight into what may have happened.
An X (formerly Twitter) account that reports on Penn State University claims that the 21-year-old man approached Gavin McKenna and his mother and began harassing them, allegedly calling McKenna’s mother a wh*re. According to the account, McKenna had to be restrained by his teammates inside the restaurant. He and his mother then left to get away from the man.
The man reportedly followed them into the parking lot and continued his harassment, at which point McKenna struck him in the face. The account further alleges that the man acted intentionally, calling it “a classic cash-grab,” implying that he hoped to provoke McKenna into hitting him in order to seek financial compensation from the projected first-overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
More info will follow.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Gavin McKenna
