Each week, the Record (using a script in R) randomly selects a student at the College for our One in Two Thousand feature, excluding current Record board members. This week, Katherine Kang ’27 discussed her hometown of Amherst, Mass., love of crossword puzzles, and advice for first-years. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Tess Halpern (TH): You’re on the ice hockey team. When did you start playing?

Katherine Kang (KK): I started playing when I was maybe four or five. My dad and brother both played, so it just naturally happened. I played all through elementary school, middle school, and high school. I live in Amherst, which is kind of far from anything super competitive, so I was driving out to Eastern Mass a lot. Then I got recruited to play here.

TH: How do you stay connected with your team during the off-season?

KK: I would say they’re definitely my best friends, and I spend the most time with them. It is weird, since you just naturally see people less out of season, but we still have lifts and workouts, and weekends are very team-based.

TH: You mentioned you’re from Amherst. How do people there feel about you going to the College?

KK: It’s funny. I should’ve anticipated more that people would find it so shocking that I’m from Amherst. Like, last year, during First Days, when I was meeting everyone, I think I probably said it 700 times. Then, I got the “Oh my god, Amherst!” Or, you know, “Why Williams?” So I definitely had to develop a “bit” for that, like a little line. But, my entire neighborhood at home is Amherst professors, or people who work at Amherst, so they’re always making fun of me when I’m wearing Williams merch. 

TH: What’s an obscure hobby you have?

KK: One thing about me is that I love a good crossword puzzle like The New York Times mini. I do that every morning when I wake up and try to finish it quicker than the day before. I have books of crossword puzzles that I can just spend hours on. Oh my gosh, it’s such a procrastination thing. 

TH: Do you play the Record crossword? 

KK: I do, yes. I like that it’s tailored to Williams in some ways, and includes little niche things that people wouldn’t know about, like Late Night. No one knows what Snar is outside of Williams.

TH: I’m so notoriously bad at crosswords.

KK: They’re pretty hard. I’m always impressed by people who can make crosswords.

TH: What are you majoring in?

KK: Literally just this morning, I finished declaring my major, so officially I can say I’m gonna be an environmental studies and French double major with a concentration in public health. 

TH: Congratulations! What’s your favorite French class you’ve taken at the College? 

KK: Probably anything with Brian Martin. He is just a joy of a human being and so encouraging. I love French, and he just makes you feel so confident and happy to be there.

TH: Since I’m a first-year, I’m wondering if you have any advice as someone who is nearing the end of your sophomore year.

KK: When I first got here, I had literally no idea what I wanted to study or do on campus. I think I spent a lot of my first year really worried about that, having this existential dread of “Who am I here?” But I would say, just keep taking classes that you genuinely find interesting, and you will find something that you’re really passionate about. Having just declared my major, I never thought that, by the end of my sophomore year, I would actually have found something I’m really interested in. But genuinely, even though everyone says it, you will figure it out. I was so sick of hearing that, but I really found it to be true. 

TH: That’s great advice. Did you go to Spring Fling? What did you think?

KK: So, I hadn’t heard of Del Water Gap, but he was much better than I was expecting. And the rain was timed perfectly. I watched the student performances from inside, and then the rain stopped just as Del Water Gap was coming on stage. As soon as his performance ended, it started raining again. I was like, “Wow. Couldn’t have planned it any better.”

TH: Speaking of weather, Williamstown fall or spring?

KK: I would have to say spring. The fall weather is elite, but spring — coming out of season, no more preseason — is a time where you can really just have fun and enjoy it.

TH: What’s your favorite spot on Spring Street?

KK: Probably Spring Street Market for the vibes, but Papa C’s for some nice, affordable food. I’m notorious for going into Spring Street Market and not even buying anything and just doing work there. Vibes are good there, I’d say. 

TH: What’s your favorite order from ’82 Grill or Fresh-n-Go?

KK: Well, fun fact: I have never been through the Whitmans’ line for lunch. Every single day that I’ve been here, I have ordered from Fresh-n-Go for lunch, and it’s been consistently the same thing. It’s a little weird: a grain bowl with turkey, egg salad, and all the toppings. It’s just one thing I know is consistent, and I can count on. [Laughs.] I’m a person of habit.

TH: That’s a great answer. What’s one thing you wish more people knew about you?

KK: I think, a lot of times, it’s hard with teams because it can get very insular. I love my team more than anything, and I would still love to meet other people and be close with them. My roommate is on the women’s soccer team, and we’ve just gotten so close — that’s been amazing to have. I wish more people knew that I’m not just on a hockey team. I really do like having a wide variety of friends. 

LONDON — A man arrested on suspicion of manslaughter following the death of ice hockey player Adam Johnson has been told he will not face any charges, British prosecutors said Tuesday.

Johnson played for the Nottingham Panthers and died shortly after his neck had been sliced in a collision with Sheffield Steelers defenseman Matt Petgrave during a game on Oct. 28, 2023.

A man was arrested two weeks later and though South Yorkshire Police did not publicly identify him, Petgrave himself said in a crowdfunding appeal for legal fees that he was the subject of a police investigation.

On Tuesday, the Crown Prosecution Service announced it would not bring criminal charges against the man arrested following what it described as “a shocking and deeply upsetting incident.”

“The CPS and South Yorkshire Police have worked closely together to determine whether any criminal charges should be brought against the other ice hockey player involved,” Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor Michael Quinn said.

“Following a thorough police investigation and a comprehensive review of all the evidence by the CPS, we have concluded that there is not a realistic prospect of conviction for any criminal offense and so there will not be a prosecution. Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Adam Johnson.”

After his arrest, Petgrave had been re-bailed several times while the investigation took place. His agent declined to comment Tuesday.

During the game, Johnson had skated with the puck into Sheffield’s defensive zone when Petgrave collided with another Panthers player nearby. Petgrave’s left skate elevated as he began to fall and the blade hit Johnson in the neck.

The native of Hibbing, Minnesota, was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. The death of the 29-year-old former Pittsburgh Penguins player sparked debate across the sport about improving safety for players.

Chicago Blackhawks saddened by Adam Johnson’s death from a skate cut: ‘You get a pit in your stomach’

Petgrave, a 33-year-old Canadian, had support from some of Johnson’s teammates. Victor Björkung had told a Swedish newspaper there “isn’t a chance that it’s deliberate.” Björkung had played the pass to Johnson and said he was traumatized by what he saw.

Johnson — one of the “import” players in the Elite Ice Hockey League — was in his first season at Nottingham after stints in Germany and a handful of games for the Penguins in the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons.

Johnson was living with fiancée Ryan Wolfe and studying at Loughborough Business School.

The English Ice Hockey Association, which governs the sport below the Elite League, reacted to Johnson’s death by requiring all players in England to wear neck guards from the start of 2024.

Originally Published: April 29, 2025 at 12:38 PM CDT

GRAND FORKS — UND is bringing Zach Sandy home to North Dakota.

The former star goaltender from Fargo South-Shanley has committed to UND out of the NCAA transfer portal.

Sandy spent three years at Minnesota Duluth serving as the backup goaltender.

The 6-foot, 175-pound netminder is 2-2 with a 3.45 goals-against average and an .873 save percentage. Sandy started two games this season.

Sandy is expected to serve as UND’s third goaltender this season.

Sandy spent four years as the varsity goaltender for Fargo South-Shanley. He posted a .922 save percentage as a sophomore, .947 as a junior and .941 as a senior.

He helped South-Shanley reach the state championship game as a junior.

After high school, Sandy played one year for Minot in the North American Hockey League. He went 14-11-2 and posted a .932 save percentage.

Sandy mainly served as the third goaltender for Minnesota Duluth, but was thrust into a bigger role this season.

Sandy is close friends with UND senior forward Ben Strinden. They were high school classmates at Fargo Shanley.

When Sandy originally committed to Minnesota Duluth, he told The Forum: “We’ve always talked about what a great dream it would be if we could both play Division I hockey. And now seeing it unfold … we’ll still be best friends, even though we’ll be playing against each other. It’s all love at the end of the day.”

Now, they’ll be teammates again.

Sandy’s commitment rounds out UND’s goaltending group for 2025-26.

The Fighting Hawks received a commitment from Arizona State’s Gibson Homer out of the transfer portal. They’re also bringing in freshman Jan Špunar from the Dubuque Fighting Saints. Špunar is a finalist for the United States Hockey League’s Goaltender of the Year.

Committed recruit Caleb Heil of the USHL’s Madison Capitols will play one more year of junior hockey and come to campus in the fall of 2026.

UND sophomore Hobie Hedquist is expected to leave in the NCAA transfer portal, though he has not entered yet.

Last year’s starter, T.J. Semptimphelter, graduated and signed with the top minor-league affiliate of the New York Islanders. Last year’s third goalie, Kaleb Johnson, suffered a career-ending injury.

With all of that, the Fighting Hawks will turn over their entire goaltending group.

UND’s 2025-26 roster is inching toward completion.

The Fighting Hawks will likely add two forwards and one or two defensemen.

Clint Austin / Duluth Media Group

Schlossman has covered college hockey for the Grand Forks Herald since 2005. He has been recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors as the top beat writer for the Herald’s circulation division four times and the North Dakota sportswriter of the year twice. He resides in Grand Forks. Reach him at bschlossman@gfherald.com.

Over the last two weeks, fans have voted in the 2024-25 NCHC Play of the Year Tournament, and for the second straight year, the winning play comes from Western Michigan. Sophomore forward Alex Bump’s goal to win the 2025 Frozen Faceoff, the tournament’s No. 6 seed, was crowned the NCHC Play of the Year for the 2024-25 season by fans on Wednesday. This marks WMU’s third NCHC Play of the Year champion overall, with former Broncos forward Justin Kovacs winning the 2014-2015 title in the NCHC’s second season and goaltender Cameron Rowe claiming Play of the Year last season (2023-24).

In this season’s NCHC Play of the Year, Bump makes a strong defensive play along the wall and snipes an unassisted goal 22 seconds into double overtime to win the 2025 Frozen Faceoff for the Broncos over Denver, 4-3, at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn. The goal came on March 22, 2025 in the final Frozen Faceoff championship in the Twin Cities. It was also Western Michigan’s first Frozen Faceoff championship crown.

Bump narrowly won the final match-up in the Play of the Year Tournament over Omaha’s Cameron Mitchell, earning 52 percent of the more than 4,400 votes cast. Bump topped Mitchell in the championship by a slim margin of 192 votes, with Bump earning 2,323 and Mitchell receiving 2,131.

Previous winners for NCHC Play of the Year include (the year links to story/video):

2014 – Drake Caggiula, F, UND

2015 – Justin Kovacs, F, WMU

2016 – Nick Schmaltz, F, UND

2017 – Tyson Jost, F, UND

2018 – Ryan Poehling, F, SCSU

2019 – Sam Hentges, F, SCSU

2020 – Jordan Kawaguchi, F, UND

2021 – Adam Scheel, G, UND

2022 – Matt Vernon, G, CC

2023 – Hunter McKown, F, CC

2024 – Cameron Rowe, G, WMU

Video of Bump’s championship-winning goal is below, while the entire bracket can be seen at the bottom of the page.

–#NCHChockey–

Wyoming Area School Board at its regular meeting appointed a slew of head coaches for the 2025-2026 fall sports season.

The coaches approved include: Rhonda Pizano (cheerleading), Michael Branley (cross country), Bree Bednarski (field hockey), Randy Spencer (football), Gordon Williams (golf), Chris Tomlinson (boys soccer), Chad Kranson (girls soccer), Bill Roberts (tennis) and Sara Mazzitelli (volleyball).

Also at the meeting, the board approved several more items of note, including:

• Wyoming Area Girls Volleyball Parents Association to use the Secondary Center gym to hold a volleyball camp fundraiser.

• Sandra Weaver Charney, of Rep. Brenda Pugh’s Office, to rent the Secondary Center auditorium and lobby to hold a Drug and Alcohol Community Program.

• The appointment of Kathryn Sciandra as a long-term substitute through the end of the 2024-2025 school year.