[News] Gavin McKenna facing charges for assault UPD: felony charge withdrawn

[Tbull8]

Originally Posted by Goriders

I’m surprised none of his team mates were there. If I was out with my old teams in a situation like with their families that dummy would have been dealing with the whole team. He’s lucky he just got punched twice.

The problem with going and looking for trouble is that it eventually finds you.

Or the kid was looking for a payday and also got that

[868904]

It’s a sign that McKenna is destined to be a Flame, punching guys out at a bar follows a long tradition for Flames prospects!

[getbak]

Originally Posted by 868904

It’s a sign that McKenna is destined to be a Flame, punching guys out at a bar follows a long tradition for Flames prospects!

Conn Smythe trophy winner even.

[DJones]

Originally Posted by howard_the_duck

I can't discern if this tough guy narrative is just a general belief from many folks in this thread, which is astounding to me, or if it's just defending a potential Flame at all costs?

Like I don't know anyone that would just drop a guy based on this. Was the dude being a jerk? Abso########lutely, but the 'lesson' you teach this guy pales in comparison to the risk you're exposing yourself to. The vast majority of the population show restraint in these moments, not this eye for an eye highschool BS.

Factoring in how much these guys have a magnifying glass on their every action in a DRAFT year? It's ludicrous to defend this, and this kid should rightfully be pressed on this during every pre-draft interview.

People want to call this grit or truculence? No, it's stupidity.

He's an 18 year old hockey player. The baseline expectation should be for him to be a moron.

Was it stupid to punch the guy, of course it was. He's risking millions of dollars to teach a drunk guy a lesson. He let the pigeon bring him down to their level so to speak.

Does it detract from his value as a hockey player? No, he's likely going to see a boost from this

[Gugstanley]

Gavin needs to learn a lesson from this. He has the potential to be drafted 1st overall and should have his mom throw the punches.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Matty81

I feel like when this video surfaces it is going to be right up there with the ex goon throwing the drunk in the lake at the red deer golf course popularity wise - some obnoxious drunk getting into the face of a another person and getting KOed is internet catnip

The more that comes up here the less I feel like McKenna is going to have significant blowback career wise. There are photos of the penn state senior who had his jaw broke at the hospital circulating on X now and this is pretty far from a vicious beating.

Not smart by him there's no doubt, and I agree with those saying meeting words with violence is wrong, but I also feel like 80-90% of 18 year old boys take that swing on a night out if someone went as far as the idiot did. Maybe my friends I grew up with were not typical but I don't think so.

The TSN article indicates the guy who got his jaw broken and two friends were exchanging words with McKenna and some of his friend when McKenna punched him twice in the face. Caught on video from the parking garage they were in front of. Not sure he’s going to get off all that easy.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Gavin needs some Charles Dance-level tough love.

"A lion does not concern itself with the opinions of sheep"

"You are my SON"

[Reggie Dunlop]

You can bid on Gavin McKenna's Penn State game worn jersey here. Current bid $8500 USD.

Luke Misa's is currently $2000


https://desktop.livesourceapp.com/ho...rsey%20Auction

[The Fonz]

Where can I bid on the bar worn shirt from when he knocked this guy out

[Calgary Highlander]

I didn't know Lomberg had done something similar during his time in college. Sutter's incident was also so long ago I had completely forgotten about it.

At least from a distance, Lomberg and Sutter both seem like good humans.

McKenna is going to be fine.

[blankall]

https://onwardstate.com/2026/02/05/d...rest-released/

New Information: According to an affidavit of probable cause obtained from the office of Magisterial District Judge Casey McClain, officers were dispatched to Mount Nittany Medical Center on January 31 to speak with a patient being treated for injuries from the assault. Hospital staff informed police that the victim had been punched in the face and suffered fractures on both sides of his jaw that required surgery.

Upon arrival, officers observed significant swelling, dried blood, and a missing tooth, and said the victim was in substantial pain and had difficulty speaking. Two friends in the room told officers that McKenna punched the victim twice on the right side of his face after an exchange of words between their group and McKenna’s group.

Witnesses said the assault occurred around 8:45 p.m. in front of the Pugh Street Parking Garage and recalled seeing blood on the sidewalk afterward. They also suspected McKenna and his group had been coming from Doggie’s Pub following a hockey event after Penn State’s game at Beaver Stadium.

Police reviewed State College Borough street camera footage that they say shows McKenna throwing two punches at the victim, causing him to stumble backward. Additional video reportedly captured McKenna leaving Doggie’s Pub shortly before the incident and walking eastbound on East Beaver Avenue before turning south on South Garner Street. In the footage, McKenna was observed wearing a white backwards hat, a puffer jacket, jeans, and white sneakers. Officers also photographed blood at the scene.

The victim underwent surgery on February 2 to repair the jaw fractures and his jaw will be wired shut for approximately two weeks unless further medical intervention is required.

So looks like it didn't happen directly outside the pub. McKenna had walked down the street. The part about all the parties being inside the same pub at one point, may be BS. Or perhaps everyone was at Doggies and just happen to run into each other again a block away. Doesn't necessarily sound like anyone was waiting for anyone else.

Edit: The details about the a white backwards hat and puffer jacket, definitely make me lean against McKenna in this one though. Based on my experience growing up in Calgary in the 90s, anyone wearing a puffer jacket and backwards hat was likely out looking for trouble.

[TheIronMaiden]

Getting into a dust up at 8:45pm? Good job getting the scrap in before team curfew.

[Tbull8]

I'm surprised the footage hasnt leaked anywhere online yet

[The EBUG's EBUG]

Confirms there was a verbal altercation between the two groups. Ugly situation all around and Mckenna needs to grow up and learn from this moving forward after he inevitably pleads down to a misdemeanor and cuts a cheque for a civil settlement.

That being said, if what's alleged is what indeed happened that's a tough look for the 21 year old that got hit:

"Oh man you needed surgery that's awful! I heard he was an athlete, was he some huge lineman? Had to be huge to do that to you."

"Uhh naa he's a 170lb guy that just turned 18"

"Huh...damn, was he just a psycho who snapped for no reason?"

"Uhh well I may have called his mom a whore in front of his family"

"Huh, you're kinda a bad guy eh?"

[dammage79]

Hit him twice on his feet and knocked him down with those two punches. No further actions reported after the kid got knocked down.

Maybe I'm coming off as an apologist maybe I'm not, but if you throw a couple shots someone's way in a situation, I don't think anybody's expecting the results.

I don't know if McKennas had martial training of any sort other than being a hockey player but generally two standing shots don't have that much damage associated to them unless you're bigger than your opponent, or Bruce Lee.

Real talk though, I don't see much of anything coming from this. I've seen worse and know less was done about it. But being a brand name is gonna cost him a few bucks.

[The EBUG's EBUG]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Hit him twice on his feet and knocked him down with those two punches. No further actions reported after the kid got knocked down.

Maybe I'm coming off as an apologist maybe I'm not, but if you throw a couple shots someone's way in a situation, I don't think anybody's expecting the results.

Cynically I don't even think this makes the news if the guys jaw doesn't break. Humans are so delicate, things can go wrong so fast.

Does go to show how stupid "bar" fights are, one hit at certain angle and 10 lawyers are hitting their Q1 billables and that's not even close to the worst case scenario.

[FlamesNightmare]

Uh Oh! I wonder if this will affect his spot in the 2026 Draft.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by blankall

https://onwardstate.com/2026/02/05/d...rest-released/



So looks like it didn't happen directly outside the pub. McKenna had walked down the street. The part about all the parties being inside the same pub at one point, may be BS. Or perhaps everyone was at Doggies and just happen to run into each other again a block away. Doesn't necessarily sound like anyone was waiting for anyone else.

Edit: The details about the a white backwards hat and puffer jacket, definitely make me lean against McKenna in this one though. Based on my experience growing up in Calgary in the 90s, anyone wearing a puffer jacket and backwards hat was likely out looking for trouble.

Looking at the map of the area, the Pugh Street Parking Garage just a block over on the same side of the street as Doggie's. It makes me wonder if one of them pursued the other from the bar entrance before the physical altercation started. If McKenna pursued him away from the bar entrance to the area in front of the garage, the narrative changes somewhat and probably makes convicting on one of the more serious charges easier. If the other guy pursued him, it probably makes a plea for lesser charges easier. It also doesn't say if the punches were in quick succession. If he punched him once and the guy tried to bail, and he hit him again, that would be bad for McKenna.

The video should clear some of that up.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

It just seems strange that McKenna, with his family, would go out and pursue a drunken idiot. I think far more likely that the other guy was either waiting for him, or they happened to run into each other and started chirping again.

From the probable cause affidavit, you only really get the side of the victim (air quotes?) so I get why McKenna would be charged, but I think there will be much more to the story.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Another black eye on the sport.