The charge of aggravated assault against the projected no. 1 pick in this summer’s National Hockey League entry draft has been withdrawn.
In a press release from the district attorney’s office in Center County, Pennsylvania released on Friday, Feb. 6, it stated that after a review of video surveillance from the incident, it has been determined that the charge of aggravated assault against Gavin McKenna of Whitehorse was not supported by the evidence.
Both the district attorney and Penn State College Police Department reviewed the footage.
“A review of the video does not support a conclusion that Gavin McKenna acted with the intent to cause serious bodily injury or with reckless indifference to the value of human life,” reads the release.
McKenna, who plays with Penn State University’s (PSU) men’s hockey team, was also charged with a misdemeanor simple assault and two summary offences for disorderly conduct and harassment. The district attorney’s office indicated they will proceed with prosecution of those charges.
The incident took place on at a bar in State College, Penn. on Saturday, Jan. 31 after McKenna and his Nittany Lions teammates lost 5-4 to Michigan State.
The victim alleged McKenna punched him twice on the right side of his face after words were exchanged between the group McKenna was with and the group the victim was with.
As a result of the incident, the victim suffered two fractures on one side of his jaw. He required surgery and his recovering.
McKenna has 11 goals and 21 assists in 24 games for PSU, so far this season. He committed to the school after three seasons with the Medicine Hat Tigers in the Western Hockey League.
He also recently played for Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship, helping the team to the bronze medal.
In NHL Central Scouting’s midterm rankings, McKenna was listed as the top North American skater.