College Sports

The House settlement is approved but there is no way its adoption will be a panacea for college athletics’ economic issues

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Public relations specialists will tell anyone that will listen, and pay them, to release good news early in the day – and week. Bad news? Around 5 p.m. in the East. On Friday. As everyone is headed out of town. Which makes us wonder, considering when approval of the House […]

Published

1 month ago

June 8, 2025

Your Sports Nation

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Public relations specialists will tell anyone that will listen, and pay them, to release good news early in the day – and week. Bad news? Around 5 p.m. in the East. On Friday. As everyone is headed out of town. Which makes us wonder, considering when approval of the House lawsuit showed up in our in-box. Is it good news? Or bad?

•••••••

• U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken’s office decided to send out the settlement news late on a Friday. Just as most sports-related folks were settling in for another exciting evening of playoff hockey. Or checking into a Marriott in some far-flung location. Or, for the named plaintiff in this long-fought-over lawsuit, preparing for more competition at the U.S. Swimming Championships.

Good or bad, the settlement marks the end of the era of under-the-table payments to college athletes. Maybe. The beginning of a regulated payment system for the group. Possibly. And a leveling of the playing field among the haves and have-nots. Ya, right.

That last one is the only definitive one. The House settlement might bring clarity. It might bring order. It might actually be good for all college athletes and athletic departments. But we doubt it. All we are sure of is it will stratify the college sports landscape even more.

Those who can afford to earmark more than $20 million a year of department funds to pay their athletes will have an edge over those who cannot. An that edge will sharpen over time, as the percent of revenue number grows, defining how much each of the Division I schools can pay.

Poorer schools, such as those in the rebuilt Pac-12, will be forced to follow some sort of Moneyball-like formula, as they will almost always be out-bid by their Power Four counterparts. And then they will watch as the players that they’ve developed move on for a bigger paycheck.

No judgment here. It is the ecosystem that has been created over decades and decades of NCAA mismanagement in the area of player compensation. Court rulings have swung the pendulum in the athletes’ direction and this one will help keep it anchored there.

There is a remedy for the non-power schools. It is the huge flaw in the system. Outside collectives will still be allowed. They will still be able to pump millions into their favorite schools’ economy. As long as the NIL contract passes muster with a being-developed clearinghouse. The entity, the College Sports Commission, run by former MLB executive Bryan Seeley and assisted by the Deloitte accounting firm, will decide if the deal is actually a fair return for the athlete’s name, image and likeness use, or if it is just a way to increase their paycheck.

Which brings us another certainty. Lawsuits. By agents or athletes or collectives or anyone else involved in a deal that isn’t approved. If another District Judge decides the CSC’s decisions are a restraint of trade, what has been gained?

Most of the college athletic hierarchy was willing to throw in with House to be guaranteed some employee-compensation certainty – though the word “employee” is verboten. Their payment schedule should be protected in the future.

But, as soon as outside collectives are freed from accountability by an expected court ruling, the salary costs for high-level football, basketball, heck, any sport, will begin to grow again. And left guard Jimmy-Joe Johnson from Garfield, Georgia will be switching from Georgia Southern to Georgia Tech to Georgia once more.

There is one group, however, that seems to be in a good spot to thrive – if its members can find the money in the school’s budget.

Schools that either don’t play football or at a lower level or even just don’t care about the program’s success, like Gonzaga and those in the Big East and elsewhere, could have an edge. Most every school dollar could be earmarked for hoop. How?

Marquette is under the same cap as Alabama or Florida. But whereas the Gators will have to earmark about 75% of their school money to football, the Golden Eagles are free to spend every dime on their basketball program.

We’re certainty this possible edge will be sanded down soon, as the SEC and Big Ten believe it is their divine right to be king of all money equations. And the king of the hill when it comes to every sport.

The chances Gonzaga will have more than $20 million of school funds to spend are probably not good. Nor would athletic director Chris Standiford be able to give 95% of it to Mark Few’s program. But Villanova or Georgetown or St. John’s might – if the current administration decides Title IX doesn’t apply.

Settling the House lawsuit was supposed to save NCAA members money. To bring some clarity to a chaotic system. To lay out a road map for the future.

It probably accomplished the first of those goals. But the rest?

There may be a short pause in the chaos. A chance to catch our breath. And then some Friday afternoon, another ruling will be handed down in yet-to-be-filed lawsuit. And it won’t be good news for Wossamotta U.

•••

WSU: We interspliced links to House settlement stories throughout the column above, with the link to the story available on today’s S-R website the first link above. And here too, if you missed it. … Moving on, we get to write “recruiting never stops” again today. The Cougars have added to their 2025 football class. Greg Woods has this story. … We linked Bob Condotta’s story on Abe Lucas when it ran on the Times’ site yesterday. It is on the S-R’s today. … Elsewhere in the (current, old and future) Pac-12 and the nation, Jon Wilner has his usual Friday mailbag in the Mercury News as well as passing along this West Coast football recruiting roundup. … Christian Caple delves into Washington’s cash-flow problems in its latest budget. … John Canzano has a poignant column on a young man whose battle with cancer ended in his death a few years ago. But his generous spirit has lived on. …. On a happier note, we’ve watched these videos. And we’ve laughed. … We mentioned this Oregon injury yesterday. … Oregon State never stops recruiting. … Neither does Colorado State. … In basketball news, Utah’s recruiting hasn’t stopped. … In baseball’s Super Regionals, Oregon State was down three runs to Florida State headed into the bottom of the ninth. It looked to all the world as if the Seminoles would win the first game in the best-of-three series. Then the Beavers rallied, tied the score and won in the 10th. … There was no rally for Arizona. Just more and more runs piled on by host North Carolina in an 18-2 rout. … Texas is the NCAA softball champion. And, watching Texas Tech pitcher NiJaree Canady, who reportedly has signed another $1-million-plus contract for next season, break down after her pitches were pounded by the Longhorn bats for five runs, gave us a peek into the future. To paraphrase Spider-Man’s uncle Ben, with great contracts come great responsibilities. And a great weight. Texas went on to win 10-4.

Gonzaga: We read David Aldrich’s story on Andrew Nembhard’s contributions to the Pacers’ win the NBA final series’ first game yesterday at The Athletic site. Linked it as well. It is on the S-R website today. … Tyrese Haliburton and Indiana have been clutch in the postseason, as Oklahoma City learned first-hand.

EWU and Idaho: Around the Big Sky, Montana State really seems bent on proving my theorem that football recruiting never stops. … A new contract for Northern Colorado’s basketball coach is in place.

Indians: Hopefully, my golf partner Dave Nichols was doing better Friday than I was. He had to walk up all those steps to the Avista press box, only to watch the Hillsboro Hops put away a 6-2 win over the Indians in the first couple innings.

Mariners: The M’s are swooning. The offense has played the lead role in losing nine of their last 12 games, but Bryce Miller’s ineffectiveness (and that of George Kirby as well) has played a role. Young starting pitchers dealing with injuries, as is also the case with Logan Gilbert, seem to take a little longer to find their groove than veterans. The latest loss? A 5-4 one to the host Angels. … At least the offense gave Cal Raleigh some help. … Corbin Burnes’ elbow injury may have a butterfly effect throughout baseball. Including the Mariners.

Kraken: The Climate Pledge Arena offices are being cleaned out by new head coach Lane Lambert. He and the front office fired two long-time assistants yesterday. … We mentioned last night’s game two of the Stanley Cup finals. It was won by visiting Florida, 5-4. In double overtime. Two games in Edmonton. Two overtime finishes.

Reign: Seattle regained some momentum with a win at San Diego on Friday night.

Horse racing: What would a win in the Belmont mean for Journalism’s legacy? … It is just one of many storylines today.

Storm: How will Seattle get its offense back on track?

Seahawks: What have we learned about each position group during the OTAs? Quite a bit, actually. … Authorities believe they’ve learned who did the robberies of athletes’ homes. They have made arrests.

•••

• You know, I’m a bit tired of writing about lawsuits and NIL deals and multiple transfers for multiple players. Put me in charge. I have ideas. But until someone offers me $12.3 million a year for them, I’m keeping them to myself. Or until there is a day this summer when I don’t have a column idea. Until later …

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Century of School Sports: Together, We are the MHSAA

A primary mission of the MHSAA’s 100-year anniversary has been to connect today’s athletes, administrators, coaches, game officials and spectators with their roles in the ever-growing story of school sports in Michigan. Indeed, together, we are the MHSAA. Over the last 10 months and with today’s 44th and final installment, our “Century of School Sports” […]

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51 minutes ago

July 10, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Indeed, together, we are the MHSAA.

Over the last 10 months and with today’s 44^th and final installment, our “Century of School Sports” series also has sought to tell a deeper and more detailed story of how the MHSAA has arrived at this moment. As our work becomes new with the start of every school year, and with every family experiencing educational athletics for the first time, it’s a story that must always be updated, expanded and retold.

But at the heart of most organizations is a fundamental statement. So to close this celebration, we below break down what is literally the “About” of the MHSAA – as we prepare to build on these values in adding to our story again and again during the century to come.

The MHSAA is a private, not-for-profit corporation …

Although the MHSAA has built a thriving relationship with the Michigan Department of Education over the last many decades – and, in fact, the state superintendent or designee has a non-voting position on the Representative Council – the MHSAA also has maintained its autonomy since its start and even before, as a legislative takeover attempt of the former Michigan Interscholastic Athletic Association led to the MHSAA’s formation in December 1924.

The MHSAA was first incorporated in 1972 and is classified as a 501(c)(3) organization. In the most basic terms, as a non-profit corporation the MHSAA must reinvest all revenue it receives back into its mission of administering school sports. Put another way, whatever money the MHSAA makes must be spent to conduct its tournament events and the several other educational, leadership, etc., programs the MHSAA provides for students, coaches, officials and others who contribute to educational athletics.

… of voluntary membership …

Through their boards of education, member schools voluntarily join the MHSAA each and every year, vowing by formal school board resolution to abide by and enforce the MHSAA’s rules for educational athletics. Membership is optional; schools may conduct a complete program of interscholastic athletics and may participate against MHSAA member schools in regular-season competition without joining the MHSAA. But the great majority of high schools in Michigan approve that membership annually.

… by more than 1,500 public and private senior high schools and junior high/middle schools …

Over the last several years, the MHSAA has counted about 750 high schools and 800 junior high or middle schools, or elementary schools with 6^th-grader participation, among its membership. For 2024-25, those totals were 754 high schools, 777 junior high/middle schools and 63 elementary schools with participating sixth graders.

… which exists to develop common rules for athletic eligibility and competition.

This drove the original formation of school sports associations across the nation going back to the late 1800s, including the Michigan State Teachers Association’s first inroad into athletic administration in 1895. The MHSAA Handbook, updated annually with rules and other changes voted upon by the Representative Council, is the rulebook for all MHSAA member schools – public and nonpublic – with rules for general topics like student eligibility but also specific to each sport to regulate scheduling and other intricacies.

No government funds or tax dollars support the MHSAA …

In maintaining that independence noted above, the MHSAA receives no funding from local, state or federal governments. The MHSAA’s income is derived primarily from ticket sales at postseason events, with smaller portions from sponsors and advertising, officials and coaches education registration fees – and again, with all money brought in by the MHSAA going back into those tournament events and programs to support students, athletic directors, coaches and officials.

… which was the first such association nationally to not accept membership dues or tournament entry fees from schools.

These have long been points of pride for the MHSAA; membership remains and has been completely free since the mid-1940s, after the end of World War II, and member schools may enter MHSAA Tournaments for free.

Member schools which enforce these rules are permitted to participate in MHSAA tournaments …

In adopting and upholding MHSAA rules as their own, school districts agree to promote a standard of competitive equity necessary to keep MHSAA Tournament events fair for all involved.

… which attract more than 1.4 million spectators each year.

Over the last 35 years, attendance at MHSAA Tournament events has reached at least 1.1 million spectators annually (not counting the COVID-affected 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years), with a high of 1.68 million during the 2005-06 school year. Attendance during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years began climbing again toward 1.5 million spectators, those last two years’ ticket totals ranking among the highest over the last 15.

School sports have a massive footprint in Michigan, which has a population just above 10 million residents. Sure, attendance figures likely count the same spectators several times – the same person might buy tickets for several rounds of several sports over the course of a school year – but a one-to-one comparison using athlete totals also is powerful.

Conservatively, Michigan has at least 160,000 high school athletes. Add in parents of those athletes, grandparents, other relatives with significant interest, and that’s a huge block – let’s say at least 5 percent of the state’s population have some current tie to the athletes playing at the local high school. That’s not even covering athletes at MHSAA junior highs and middle schools, coaches and athletic directors at all levels, and more than 8,000 game officials who make those contests possible. And our groups of athletes are rolling over at least every four years, meaning many tens of thousands more have had at least recent direct contact as participants in our programs.

The MHSAA always has provided opportunities to compete and win championships, but more importantly to learn life lessons gleaned from simply taking part in the process.

This work is important; its impact is significant. And just as our predecessors surely felt beginning this endeavor 100 years ago, we remain eager and enthused to play our part.

Previous “Century of School Sports” Spotlights

June 25: All-Time ‘Parade of Champions’ – Read
June 17: Top Performers Tell Us What High School Sports Mean to Them – Read
June 10: ‘The Mitten’ Becomes Sought-After Symbol of MHSAA Greatness – Read
June 3: MHSAA’s Move to TV, Now Internet, 60 Years Old & Growing – Read
May 27: Upper Peninsula Helps Make Michigan’s School Sports Story Unique – Read
May 20: From Nearly A to Z, Schools Repped by 221 Nicknames – Read
May 13: These Record-Setters were Nearly Impossible to Defeat – Read
May 6: 200+ Representatives Fill All-Time Council Roster – Read
April 29: MHSAA Programs Prioritize Health & Safety – Read
April 23: Patches Signify Registered Officials’ Role in MHSAA Story – Read
April 16: Student Advisory Council Gives Voice to Athletes – Read
April 9: State’s Storytellers Share Spring Memories – Read
April 2: Sharp Leadership Synonymous with MHSAA Success – Read
March 25: Athletic Directors Indispensable to Mission of School Sports – Read
March 18: 2025 Finals Begin Next Half-Century of Girls Hoops Championships – Read
March 11: Boys Basketball’s Best 1st to Earn MHSAA Finals Titles – Read
March 5: Everything We Do Begins with Participation – Read
Feb. 25: Slogans & Logos Remain Unforgettable Parts of MHSAA History – Read
Feb. 19: MHSAA Tickets Continue to Provide Fan-Friendly Value – Read
Feb. 11: We Recognize Those Who Make Our Games Go – Read
Feb. 4: WISL Conference Continues to Inspire Aspiring Leaders – Read
Jan. 28: Michigan’s National Impact Begins at NFHS’ Start – Read
Jan. 21: Awards Celebrate Well-Rounded Educational Experience – Read
Jan. 14: Predecessors Laid Foundation for MHSAA’s Formation – Read
Jan. 9: MHSAA Blazes Trail Into Cyberspace – Read
Dec. 31: State’s Storytellers Share Winter Memories – Read
Dec. 17: MHSAA Over Time – Read
Dec. 10: On This Day, December 13, We Will Celebrate – Read
Dec. 3: MHSAA Work Guided by Representative Council – Read
Nov. 26: Finals Provide Future Pros Early Ford Field Glory – Read
Nov. 19: Connection at Heart of Coaches Advancement Program – Read
Nov. 12: Good Sports are Winners Then, Now & Always – Read
Nov. 5: MHSAA’s Home Sweet Home – Read
Oct. 29: MHSAA Summits Draw Thousands to Promote Sportsmanship – Read
Oct. 23: Cross Country Finals Among MHSAA’s Longest Running – Read
Oct. 15: State’s Storytellers Share Fall Memories – Read
Oct. 8: Guided by 4 S’s of Educational Athletics – Read
Oct. 1: Michigan Sends 10 to National Hall of Fame – Read
Sept. 25: MHSAA Record Books Filled with 1000s of Achievements – Read
Sept. 18: Why Does the MHSAA Have These Rules? – Read
Sept. 10: Special Medals, Patches to Commemorate Special Year – Read
Sept. 4: Fall to Finish with 50th Football Championships – Read
Aug. 28: Let the Celebration Begin – Read

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College Sports

USA World Junior Summer Showcase Roster Highlighted By James Hagens

The U.S. will begin its quest for an unprecedented three consecutive gold medals at the World Junior Championship in late July. USA Hockey announced the 42-player roster for its annual World Junior Summer Showcase event, which will help the decision makers evaluate the players in the running to be on Team USA’s roster at the […]

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1 hour ago

July 10, 2025

Your Sports Nation

This year’s Summer Showcase, normally held at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan, will be at the University of Minnesota’s Ridder Arena. USA will have their candidates, while teams from Sweden, Finland and Canada will also participate in a round-robin style event.

The Americans will be led by head coach Bob Motzko, who previously led the U.S. to gold and bronze medals as World Junior head coach in 2017 and 2018, respectively.

Here’s a look at who was invited to the camp including nine members of last year’s gold-medal winning roster and nine first-round NHL Draft picks.

Team USA World Junior Summer Showcase Roster

Forwards

Kamil Bednarik, Boston University (NYI)
Trevor Connelly, Providence (VGK)
Cole Eiserman, Boston University (NYI)
Kristian Epperson, Saginaw Spirit/Denver (LAK)
James Hagens, Boston College (BOS)
Will Horcoff, Michigan (PIT)
Ben Kevan, Des Moines Buccaneers/Arizona State (NJD)
Jacob Kvasnicka, U.S. National Under-18 Team/Penticton Vees (NYI)
Ryker Lee, Madison Capitols/Michigan State (NSH)
Cole McKinney, U.S. National Under-18 Team/Michigan (SJS)
Brendan McMorrow, Waterloo Black Hawks/Denver (LAK)
LJ Mooney, U.S. National Under-18 Team/Minnesota (MTL)
Will Moore, U.S. National Under-18 Team/Boston College (BOS)
Jack Murtagh, U.S. National Under-18 Team/Boston University (PHI)
Aidan Park, Green Bay Gamblers/Michigan (EDM)
Max Plante, Minnesota Duluth (DET)
Cullen Potter, Arizona State (CGY)
AJ Spellacy, Windsor Spitfires (CHI)
Teddy Stiga, Boston College (NSH)
Mac Swanson, North Dakota (PIT)
Shane Vansaghi, Michigan State (PHI)
Will Zellers, Green Bay Gamblers/North Dakota (BOS)
Brodie Ziemer, Minnesota (BUF)

Defensemen

Henry Brzustewicz, London Knights (LAK)
EJ Emery, North Dakota (NYR)
Blake Fiddler, Edmonton Oil Kings (SEA)
Elliot Groenewold, Quinnipiac (BOS)
Tanner Henricks, Lincoln Stars/St. Cloud State (CBJ)
Caeden Herrington, Lincoln Stars/Vermont (LAK)
Logan Hensler, Wisconsin (OTT)
Cole Hutson, Boston University (WSH)
Adam Kleber, Minnesota Duluth (BUF)
Sam Laurila, Fargo Force/North Dakota (NYI)
Luke Osburn, Youngstown Phantoms/Wisconsin (BUF)
Jacob Rombach, Lincoln Stars/Minnesota (NSH)
Will Skahan, Boston College (UTA)
John Whipple, Minnesota (DET)

Goalies

Nick Kempf, Notre Dame (WSH)
Kam Hendrickson, Waterloo Black Hawks/UConn
Cale Heil, Madison Capitols/North Dakota (TBL)
Jack Parsons, Chicago Steel/Providence
Patrick Quinlan, U.S. National Under-18 Team/Sarnia Sting/Notre Dame

Instant Analysis

The U.S. is going to have a harder time to make it three straight gold medals as there will be some roster drop-off from the previous two entries. They will have the benefit of home ice advantage and there will also be a number of returning players to guide the next group forward.

USA is a little shallow on the blue line and woefully shallow in net with no clear-cut No. 1 goalie in the mix just yet after having the World Juniors’ best goaltending tandems in each of the last two trips. The forwards have plenty of offensive firepower, but also have the benfit of balance as there are a number of bigger players that can fit into depth roles.

I would anticipate each of USA’s nine returnees to make the roster if healthy, but beyond that, there are a lot of holes to fill. Top-four defense spots, some top-six options and the starting goaltender position could be battled for all the way through to the December camp just before the tournament begins.

The important steps in finding out who the serious contenders for those spots are will begin now, however.

USA comes into the tournament with plenty of pressure on them to keep the first-ever gold-medal streak going, but they’re definitely going to have to punch above their weight in a tournament field that should include high-end rosters from Canada and Sweden, among other nations.

The World Junior Summer Showcase is going to provide a great early glimpse of where this U.S. player pool is and where it will need to get to when the puck drops for real on Dec. 26 in St. Paul.

Notable Omissions

There are always going to be a few players who are not invited that are at least notable for one reason or another.

The only 2025 NHL Draft first-rounder from the U.S. not invited is Chicago Blackhawks pick Mason West. The 6-foot-6 center from Edina High School still has plans to play high school football in the fall, so it really was no surprise to see that he did not make Team USA’s camp roster. It might have been worth bringing him in to see where he’s at relative to the class as a just-in-case, but with him playing football it’s hard to imagine him jumping into a World Junior-caliber tournament with a month’s preparation.

One player I was hoping to see in camp, though not surprised he isn’t is Chase Reid of the Soo Greyhounds. Reid is a late 2007 birth year, who was invited to try out for the U.S. Under-18 Team at last year’s World U18 Championship, but ultimately didn’t make the roster. I think he has a chance at being a very high pick in the 2026 NHL Draft and would be an additional puck-mover that could be worth a longer look. Reid started last season in the NAHL before moving to the O and becoming a point-per-game, minutes-munching defenseman. He is absolutely a player they should keep tabs on.

Lukas Fischer, a St. Louis Blues prospect who was in the Summer Showcase last year and had a good showing, was not invited this time around. I think he may have been edged out by some players that simply had better seasons. Fischer didn’t take a huge step forward with the Sarnia Sting this year, but I figured he’d be in the mix as the U.S. has plenty of question marks on their blue line at this point.

Avalanche prospect Tory Pitner was another player who was in last year’s camp, but not invited this time around. He saw limited action at the University of Denver last season, registering just one assist.

Where Is The World Junior Summer Showcase?

The World Junior Summer Showcase will be held at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on the campus of the University of Minnesota. The event will feature teams from the U.S., Sweden, Finland and Canada.

When Is The World Junior Summer Showcase?

The World Junior Summer Showcase will run from July 25 to August 2. The first games of the WJSS will be held on July 27 with the final games played on Aug. 2.

World Junior Summer Showcase Game Schedule

Sunday, July 27

USA White vs. Finland, 1 p.m. CT
USA Blue vs. Sweden, 4:30 p.m. CT

Monday, July 28

Finland vs. USA Blue, 1 p.m. CT
Sweden vs. USA White, 4:30 p.m. CT

Tuesday, July 29

Canada Red vs. Canada White, 4:30 p.m. CT

Wednesday, July 30

Sweden vs. USA, 1 p.m. CT
Canada vs. Finland, 4:30 p.m. CT

Friday, Aug. 1

Canada vs. Sweden, 1 p.m. CT
Finland vs. USA, 4:30 p.m. CT

Saturday, Aug. 2

Sweden vs. Finland, 1 p.m. CT
USA vs. Canada, 4:30 p.m. CT

NHL Prospect Coverage On FloHockey

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2025 Women's Soccer Schedule

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July 10, 2025

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College Sports

College Team of the Century #25

DUBUQUE, Iowa — Our countdown starts with the 2021 Loras women’s soccer team. The Duhawks have become a regular fixture at the DIII women’s soccer tournament, but that particular season they won 21 games and made it to the DIII Final Four. That season saw 7 Loras players earn All-ARC honors and four earn All-Region. […]

Published

6 hours ago

July 10, 2025

Your Sports Nation

That season saw 7 Loras players earn All-ARC honors and four earn All-Region.

This year we’re celebrating the best of the best from the sports world in Eastern Iowa over the last 25 years. The over-arcing theme of this series will be “The Stories of the Century”. During this year, we’ll count down the top 25 athletes, coaches, and teams from the past 25 years.

The year will be divided up into fourths, with the first portion of the year being dedicated to the best athletes (both high school and college) from the last 25 years.

Every Monday we’ll be releasing two more prep athletes, and every Wednesday we’ll announce two college athletes who will be added to the list.

College Sports

Why Gavin McKenna’s move to the NCAA is great for the sport of hockey

Gavin McKenna, the projected 2026 No. 1 pick, announced Tuesday he is committing to play for Penn State University for the 2025-26 season, leaving the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers. McKenna’s name, image, and likeness rights are expected to be around $700,000, sources tell Daily Faceoff. In 2024-25, McKenna scored 41 goals and 88 assists for […]

Published

7 hours ago

July 10, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Gavin McKenna, the projected 2026 No. 1 pick, announced Tuesday he is committing to play for Penn State University for the 2025-26 season, leaving the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers.

McKenna’s name, image, and likeness rights are expected to be around $700,000, sources tell Daily Faceoff.

In 2024-25, McKenna scored 41 goals and 88 assists for 129 points in just 56 regular-season games, then added 38 points in the playoffs to help the Tigers win the Ed Chynoweth Cup as WHL Champions.

On Wednesday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Tyler Yaremchuk and former NHL defenseman Colby Cohen discuss McKenna’s decision to move to college hockey and what it means for the future of the game.

Tyler Yaremchuk: There is a part of me that is sad that this is the new normal in the hockey world, where the top prospect goes and plays college hockey instead of playing things out in the CHL. But I also think it’s pretty clear to see why this is not just best for McKenna, but best for the sport, as well.

Colby Cohen: I live in a world where everybody can play in the sand box. I can understand people from the town of Medicine Hat that are probably very disappointed today, they’ve spent a lot of time watching McKenna the last couple seasons, they’ve invested money in the jerseys. State college is not an easy place to get to from Alberta, and I do recognize and understand that.

But at the end of the day, I think this just makes the NHL better. I think these kids now have an opportunity to move up a level and play against older, more mature hockey players. Bigger guys, stronger guys, which is what you’re going to get at the next level in the pros, anyway.

Look at what McKenna did in junior last year. You tell me: what is best for him? To score 220 points and not have to worry about habits? Or go to the NCAA, get in the gym, spend a lot of time practicing and then playing against an average of 21-, 22- and 23-year old players all season?

You can watch the full episode here…

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Robert J. Collins Jr., 1971-2025

Robert J. Collins Jr., 1971-2025 LONDONDERRY, Vt. – On July 4, 2025, Robert J. “Bobby” Collins Jr., 53, died unexpectedly, at his home in Londonderry, Vt. Born in Bennington, Vt., on Aug. 1, 1971, he was raised in Chester, and graduated from Green Mountain Union High School in 1989. As a multisport athlete, he excelled […]

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7 hours ago

July 10, 2025

Your Sports Nation

LONDONDERRY, Vt. – On July 4, 2025, Robert J. “Bobby” Collins Jr., 53, died unexpectedly, at his home in Londonderry, Vt. Born in Bennington, Vt., on Aug. 1, 1971, he was raised in Chester, and graduated from Green Mountain Union High School in 1989. As a multisport athlete, he excelled in varsity soccer, basketball, baseball, and ice hockey.

After graduating Becker Junior College in 1991, Bobby became a professional painter for Ray Wilcox and the late Jerry Stevens of BMW Painters, and worked at Stratton Mountain Resort. Later in life, and until his unexpected death, he was a private painting contractor.

To know Bobby was to love Bobby; the life of the party, and your one true friend. He loved his family, blood and chosen, his lifelong network of friends. His passion for Boston sports was unmatched, Boston Red Sox – “Yankees suck!” – the Patriots, the Celtics, and the Bruins.

An avid, lifetime outdoorsman, he loved fishing and hunting, especially on Brophy Lane and Stephentown. He loved NASCAR and Skoal long cut mint. He loved people and the great outdoors, and had the ability to make friends wherever he went.

Bobby is survived by his parents Robert J. Sr and Cynthia, of Chester, Vt.; his sister, Linda Collins, of Cavendish, Vt.; and his longtime partner Hilary Dawley, her son Tyler, and their cats, of Londonderry, Vt.

There will be no calling hours or public burial.

Please join his family in celebrating his life on Sunday, July 13, at 1 p.m., at Vermont Vines Vineyard, 275 Williams Road, Rockingham, Vt.

Honorary pallbearers are David Montaquila, Scott Renfro, Sam Gordon, Matt Wilson, Jason Klezos, and Andy Rigby.

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