Gavin McKenna enters plea with bold legal strategy in high-profile assault case

Earlier Wednesday, reports began circulating online that Gavin McKenna, a star forward for Penn State men’s hockey and projected No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, has been charged following an alleged incident last Saturday in State College, Pennsylvania.

State College Police say McKenna faces multiple charges, including aggravated assault involving “attempts to cause serious bodily injury or causing injury with extreme indifference,” along with simple assault, harassment, and disorderly conduct related to fighting. If convicted on the felony charge alone, he could face up to 20 years in prison. He was released on $20,000 bail.

Police reports indicate the altercation occurred outside a local establishment and required law enforcement intervention. Multiple sources and witnesses cited in online reports claim McKenna acted after allegedly seeing his mother being verbally harassed by a 21-year-old man, identified in multiple reports as Penn State immunology student Josh Coakley. The alleged victim reportedly shouted sexually degrading insults at McKenna’s mother, prompting McKenna to strike him twice, leaving him with a broken jaw.

On Friday, McKenna was arraigned, advised of the charges, and entered a plea presumed to be not guilty. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for February 11 to determine if there is enough evidence for trial. McKenna’s defense is expected to hinge on self-defense, and a plea deal is possible. Aggravated assault is a crime of moral turpitude, which could affect McKenna’s ability to travel internationally, a serious concern for an NHL prospect.

Scrutiny has increasingly turned toward the alleged victim, with unverified social media claims suggesting Coakley has appeared unbothered by the injury, including reports of him laughing and posing at Mt. Nittany Medical Center. These claims remain unverified.

As the legal process unfolds, McKenna’s hockey future remains uncertain, while the case raises difficult questions about accountability, provocation, self-defense and the blurred lines between personal defense and criminal liability.