No. 6 Penn State men's hockey forward Gavin McKenna has been hot for the Nittany Lions at the end of the 2025-26 regular season, setting records and staying a consistent point-scorer for them even in the face of losses.
However, as the Big Ten Tournament and NCAA Men's Hockey Tournament roll around, McKenna also has legal matters to handle.
The forward was involved in an altercation on Saturday, Jan. 31. Following the incident, he faced four charges, including a felony of aggravated assault. The Centre County District Attorney's Office dropped the felony charge after reviewing evidence of the altercation, but McKenna still faces charges of misdemeanor simple assault and two summary counts of disorderly conduct.
He initially had a preliminary hearing scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 11. That date was postponed to Wednesday, March 11, which is the same day that the Big Ten Tournament kicks off. The latest update for his court appearance was pushed back even further as of Monday, March 9.
Oscar Orellana of Onward State reported Monday evening that McKenna waived his preliminary hearing. As a result, he is scheduled to appear in the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas on Wednesday, April 8.
By waiving the initial hearing, the legal process of his case gets sped up and he puts himself in a position of receiving less serious charges or a plea deal. Aside from not having the opportunity to challenge evidence early in the court case, McKenna faces another potential obstacle.
His preliminary hearing was scheduled for Wednesday morning, which would mean he could likely play in Penn State's first Big Ten Tournament game versus Minnesota that night. Now after waiving it, the true freshman is taking a big risk.
The regional rounds of the NCAA Tournament are slated for March 27-29 in at MVP Arena, Blue Arena, Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, and DCU Center. If the Nittany Lions win their regional site, they head back to the Frozen Four for the second consecutive season. The 2026 Frozen Four is in Las Vegas at the T-Mobile Arena on April 9 and April 11. McKenna appears in court on April 8. He will have to request to postpone that date, only prolonging the legal process.