Inside Gavin McKenna's controversial arrest following NHL Draft Lottery

Six months before the 2026 NHL Draft, Gavin was arrested by Penn State's State College Police Department after an alleged altercation at Doggie's Pub – a Penn State favorite – following a game. The police alleged that Gavin punched a man twice on the right side of his face.

Further, the complaint against Gavin alleged that the man sustained fractures to both sides of his jaw, requiring surgery, and he was missing a tooth.

After the altercation and his arrest, Gavin was initially charged with first-degree felony aggravated assault, which according to the New York State Senate is when a person uses intent to cause serious physical injury to another person.

But, in early February, the charge against Gavin was dropped. The State College Police Department reviewed video footage from the pub and street cameras and confirmed that they did not believe the aggravated assault charge was supported by evidence.

In 2024, the NCAA announced it would allow Canadian Hockey League players to play in collegiate competition. And Gavin was immediately targeted by major American universities. On July 8, 2025, he committed to Pennsylvania State University, saying he wanted to play "against older, heavier, stronger guys" to prepare for the NHL.

Gavin reportedly received up to $700,000 for his recruitment. This season, the Penn State hockey team is having a good run, with 21 wins. And in January, Gavin scored his first collegiate hat-trick.

Gavin grew up in a remote area in Whitehorse, Yukon in Canada. He told ESPN: "Whitehorse is a small community where everybody kind of knows everybody. Everyone's quite supportive and really kind and very welcoming."

His dad, who also played ice hockey, constructed an outdoor ice rink for him to practice every winter. And as a kid, Gavin shot over 100 pucks daily to hone his skills.

The hockey player's mentor was his grandfather Joe, who inspired him to practice hard for his dream career. Joe is a member of the Trʼondëk Hwëchʼin First Nation who survived Canada's residential school system, which separated indigenous children from their families for more than 100 years.

And Gavin is very proud of his heritage. His mom, Krystal McKenna told ESPN: "When I grew up, being Indigenous meant you were ashamed of your culture," Krystal said. "So now we're trying to ingrain in our kids – no, be proud of who you are and where you come from. Hockey is super cool and it's fun and all of those great things. But for us to hear people tell us that he's a good human being, that is what's most important."