For the first time since the aftermath of the Beaver Stadium game, Penn State head coach Guy Gadowsky met with the media on Wednesday, with one glaring topic on everyone’s minds.
Gadowsky confirmed that Gavin McKenna will play in the No. 6 Nittany Lions’ series at No. 2 Michigan this weekend after he was charged with misdemeanor simple assault and summary offenses of harassment and disorderly conduct on Feb. 4.
McKenna “will continue to participate in all activities,” Gadowsky said. In response to multiple follow-up questions, Gadowsky said it would be “inappropriate” to comment further on an ongoing legal matter.
He added that he had not heard anything from the NCAA about a potential suspension.
McKenna was accused of breaking a 21-year-old man’s jaw in an altercation on South Pugh Street in State College on the night of Jan. 31 after the Nittany Lions’ last game, the outdoor contest against Michigan State at Beaver Stadium. A felony charge of aggravated assault initially filed by State College police was dropped two days later after Centre County District Attorney Bernie Cantorna said it was not supported by video evidence.
Friends of the man said that McKenna punched him in the face “following an exchange of words,” according to an affidavit of probable cause. Neither police nor Cantorna have elaborated on what words were exchanged.
“I would ask the public to refrain from speculating on what did or did not happen and remind people that the fact that there is a verbal argument never, never justifies physical violence,” Cantorna said during a press conference on Feb. 6.
McKenna’s preliminary hearing, originally scheduled for Wednesday, was continued to March 11, the first day of the Big Ten Tournament.
Power-play problem
After facing off against then-No. 2 Michigan State in its last series, the Nittany Lions will match up against current-No. 2 Michigan this weekend for a pivotal pair of road games. With Big Ten play nearing its end, chances to win the regular season conference title are slim but a series win could turn the tide.
“You want to play in the best conference in college hockey,” Gadowsky said. “You come to the Big Ten and you can see it, so it is daunting. However, that’s sort of what we wish for too, right? So we look at it as a great opportunity.”
One thing that stands out to Gadowsky is the Wolverines’ power-play unit, which ranks among the best nationally with 31 goals on 104 attempts, good for the third-highest scoring rate overall and second best in the Big Ten at 29.8%. Forward Will Horcoff is tied for the fourth-most power-play goals in the country with eight, making him a particularly large special teams threat.
“It’s certainly a big part of any series against Michigan, and it seems to be even bigger (this year),” Gadowsky said. “So there’s two ways to handle that: to play disciplined hockey, which we plan to do, and also, you are going to have to kill eventually, so we prepared (for that).”
Injury update
In the team’s most recent game against the Spartans, Alex Servagno, Keaton Peters, Charlie Cerrato and Braedon Ford were scratches. While none of those players are expected to return during the regular season, others who played while dinged up were able to use the bye week to rest and recover, according to Gadowsky.
Gadowsky did provide an update on Servagno, who underwent surgery earlier in the day, saying he’s “definitely out for the rest of the regular season” and possibly longer.
