College Sports
ord minnett aussie sharks confirmed for oceania qualifier
Water Polo Australia is pleased to confirm the Ord Minnett Aussie Sharks team for the Water Polo World Championships Oceania Qualifier in Perth. The Ord Minnett Aussie Sharks will face New Zealand in a best of three series to determine the Oceania Qualifier for the 2025 World Aquatics Championships. The Oceania Qualifier will be held […]


Water Polo Australia is pleased to confirm the Ord Minnett Aussie Sharks team for the Water Polo World Championships Oceania Qualifier in Perth.
The Ord Minnett Aussie Sharks will face New Zealand in a best of three series to determine the Oceania Qualifier for the 2025 World Aquatics Championships.
The Oceania Qualifier will be held at Perth High Performance Centre on 17, 19 and 22 April, giving the next generation of water polo players the chance to see their heroes in action, with juniors from across the country descending on the west coast for the 2025 Australian Youth Water Polo Championships.
Tickets on sale – click here
After his debut Games in Paris, Ord Minnett Aussie Sharks Olympian, and Perth local, Luke Pavillard said he’s looking forward to heading back to where it all began.
“I’m always excited to play and represent Australia in front of a home crowd, it’s been several years since the last time I had the opportunity so it’s special that my family and friends can be there to support me.
“After Paris, I know everyone is excited for this next Olympic cycle and for it to really kick off against New Zealand in Perth is a feeling I can’t really put into words.
“The amount of belief the team has after Paris is still so strong and we all can’t wait to get back in the water together and continue our journey towards LA,” he said.
Tickets are on sale for all three games, starting at $19.80 per person. CLICK HERE to purchase
*PLEASE NOTE: Participants in the 2025 Australian Youth Water Polo Championships will need to purchase tickets to attend the games
Won’t be in Perth? Water Polo Australia is also pleased to announce Kayo Sports as the official broadcast partner of the Water Polo World Championships Oceania Qualifier. All three games will be broadcast LIVE on Kayo Sports from 7pm AWST/9pm AEST.
ORD MINNETT AUSSIE SHARKS TEAM
Matthew Byrnes (NSW)
John Hedges (WA)
Angus Lambie (NSW)
Milos Maksimovic (NSW)
Jacob Mercep (NSW)
Charlie Negus (NSW)
Luke Pavillard (WA)
Nathan Power (NSW)
Laurence Barker (NSW)
Tim Putt (WA)
Tristan Glanznig (NSW)
Daniel Magasanik (VIC)
Luka Krstic (NSW)
Tyson Mutsch (VIC)
Drew McJannett (NSW)
Zac Izzard (NSW)
WATER POLO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS OCEANIA QUALIFIER
- Ord Minnett Aussie Sharks v New Zealand
- Dates: 17, 19 and 22 April 2025
- Time: 7pm AWST/9pm AEST
- Location: Perth HPC, 100 Stephenson Avenue, Mount Claremont WA 6010
- Tickets on sale – click here
Passport to Perth
The Australian Youth Water Polo Championships will make a stunning return to Perth / Boorloo, Western Australia in April 2025.
Planning on joining us in Perth / Boorloo? CLICK HERE to check out the list of awesome spots and make your week of water polo one to remember.
College Sports
Penguins Coaching Search: 5 Under-the-Radar Names
It did not take former Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan long to land on his feet. Less than a week after he was politely walked to the door, the New York Rangers snapped him up, but the Penguins’ coaching search has at least a few weeks, if not most of the next couple of months, […]

It did not take former Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan long to land on his feet. Less than a week after he was politely walked to the door, the New York Rangers snapped him up, but the Penguins’ coaching search has at least a few weeks, if not most of the next couple of months, still ahead.
Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas, who ultimately took responsibility for the “mutual parting” with Sullivan, is currently Team Canada’s GM at the World Championships in Sweden. While that might make some interviews more difficult, some interesting candidates will be close by.
Dubas promised that the coaching search would be exhaustive, with coaches from all backgrounds, including Europe. While New York thirstily leaped at Sullivan, tossing an industry-leading contract at him, the Penguins don’t have a locked-in candidate or an immediate short list.
Read More: Penguins Coaching Search: 5 Preliminary Favorites; 3 New Names to Watch
We certainly like the backgrounds of potential candidates Mitch Love, Drew Bannister, who lost his job in St. Louis only because Jim Montgomery became available, and former Ottawa coach D.J. Smith. Dubas’s connection to Smith from their time together in Toronto shouldn’t be overlooked. Nor should the overwhelming support Smith received on his way out of Ottawa be glossed over. A lot of people in the Ottawa organization, including core players, thought very highly of him, personally and professionally.
However, that “wide net” that Dubas is casting over the hockey world will extend beyond former NHL coaches looking for a second bite at the apple.
There are some under-the-radar names, including one that should get a lot more consideration than he has previously.
5 Under-the-Radar Penguins Candidates
1. Nate Leaman, Providence College
Leaman has built a hockey blue blood in the shadow of Harvard, Northeastern, Boston College, and Boston U. It has been a while since the Penguins selected one of Leaman’s players, the last being Kasper Bjorkvist in 2016, but there is a line of his products in the NHL, including Brandon Tanev and Noel Acciari.
In other words, Providence has produced some gritty hockey players.
His track record is solid. First, Leaman built Union College into a hockey power. Then he did the same at Providence, where he’s been since 2011. He won the 2015 National Championship and guided Team USA to the 2021 World Juniors gold medal.
He’s now 52 years old. Industry sources said he’s been very selective when speaking to NHL teams, but it might be now or never.
Leaman self-describes his preferred style as hard, physical play with a mix of speed and skill. That’s not necessarily the Penguins’ DNA, but that’s winning hockey.
2. Nolan Pratt, Assistant Colorado Avalanche
The immediate drawback to Pratt is that he’s never been a head coach. He went from player to AHL assistant to NHL assistant in short order.
Pratt, 49, oversees the Colorado Avalanche defensemen, which hasn’t always been an easy task. The team hired the assistant in 2016 with new head coach Jared Bednar, and he’s been there ever since, keeping some sketchy bluelines intact.
Read More (Colorado Hockey Now): How Pratt Helped Turn Defense Into an Organizational Strength (+)
Not every coach needs to be a rock-jawed, rah-rah type or a task master. Perhaps Pratt is a lifer on the side of the bench, or perhaps it’s his time to shine. Every head coach needs a first job, and Pratt has paid his dues.
3. Rikard Gronborg
While in Sweden, Gronborg is worth a serious conversation. Coach Francis Anzalone (who coaches internationally and runs the prestigious Total Package hockey school) quickly brought up Gronborg’s name on our recent Penguins Live Chat.
Gronborg is currently with Tappara in the Finnish Liiga and is formerly the head coach of Sweden’s National team, where he guided Sweden to the 2012 World Juniors gold medal (a huge upset) and a few silver medals. Gronborg also earned three World Championship gold medals and the 2024 Liiga championship and was named Liiga coach of the year.
Gronborg played college hockey at St. Cloud State and is a U.S. citizen, so the adjustment from there to here wouldn’t be as great as one might initially fear.
4. Alain Nasreddine
You may very well remember his name. He was an assistant coach with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins from 2010 to 2015. Thus far, his only NHL head coaching experience was a half season as the interim boss with the New Jersey Devils in the short-circuited 2019-20 season.
After a 20-year playing career, which includes five seasons with the Penguins and WBS Penguins, Nasreddine has been an assistant coach for 10 years under Jon Hynes and Lindy Ruff in New Jersey, and now Pete DeBoer in Dallas.
In 2020, NHL coach Mike Yeo told the USA Today, “There are certain players that you coach that you know if that’s the path that they choose down the road, that they have the tools for it. He was one of them,” said Yeo who coached Nasreddine at the WBS Penguins. “He was a natural leader. I say that in respect to this, he knew what to do and when to do it, but he also had the presence and commanded the respect of his teammates.”
Nasreddine is old enough (49) to lead the veterans and young enough to relate to youngsters. With Dallas, Nasreddine is overseeing the defensemen and the penalty kill.
A commanding presence with the Penguins seems to be a must, and that certainly describes Nasreddine.
5. Jeff Blashil
The former Detroit Red Wings coach hung on through the worst of the Detroit rebuild. GM Steve Yzerman was quite high on Blashill and, as a result, probably kept him a year or more too long.
That much losing takes a toll on the room, and the depleted Red Wings, who were rebuilding after Nicklas Lidstrom, Pavel Datsyuk, and Henrik Zetterberg, did a lot of losing.
Yet Yzerman was always a supporter of his coach.
“Blashil is a (Spencer) Carbery-like person. He coached college hockey, he worked in the American League, and he worked as an NHL assistant,” Anzalone told PHN. “He’s gone to relearn his craft under Jon Cooper (Tampa Bay), who is one of the best coaches to work under because he’s ‘got the stuff’ and he lets his assistant coaches coach.”
Blashill’s resume has plenty of entries. He spent 10 years as an assistant in college hockey, first at Ferris State, then Miami of Ohio. His first head coaching job was the GM/head coach of the Indiana Ice of the USHL from 2009-2010. He went back to the college ranks to coach Western Michigan for a year before getting the call to be the assistant coach of the Red Wings in 2011 under Mike Babcock.
He spent three years as the coach of the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL, then replaced Babcock in 2015. Blashill has assisted under Cooper for the last three seasons, but is only 51 years old.
College Sports
Dartmouth Captures CRAA 7s National Championship
By: Dan Richeal Story Links INDIANAPOLIS, Ind –Dartmouth women’s rugby closed out the 2025 7s season on Sunday in grand fashion with a CRAA 7s National Championship. The Big Green won their quarterfinal game over Princeton 34-5. Dartmouth then punched its ticket to the National Championship with a 19-5 win over […]

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind –Dartmouth women’s rugby closed out the 2025 7s season on Sunday in grand fashion with a CRAA 7s National Championship. The Big Green won their quarterfinal game over Princeton 34-5. Dartmouth then punched its ticket to the National Championship with a 19-5 win over Army in the semifinals. The Big Green took on Life University in the National Championship and pitched a shutout winning 31-0.
It was Princeton who scored the first points on the morning as they scored a try less than minute into the game. The Big Green quickly responded as Paola Arredondo Almeida found the try zone just 1:45 into the game. Annie Henrich hit the conversion to give the Big Green a 7-5 lead. About two minutes later, Henrich took a pass from Arredondo Almeida and scored her first try of the day to increase the Dartmouth lead to 12-5. Less than 90 seconds before halftime, Sadie Schier took the ball from a scrum and weaved through the Tiger defense and extended the Dartmouth lead to 17-5. Arredondo Almeida opened the second half with a try just over 30 seconds into the half. Asialeata Meni made it a 27-5 Dartmouth at the 11:20 mark as she shed multiple defenders on her way to the try zone. At the 14-minute mark, the Big Green closed out the match with another try. Henrich took a pass from AdiLeilah Bulabalavu as she sprinted through the Princeton defenders. Taylor Sadek hit the conversion to make it 34-5.
In the semifinals, Dartmouth matched up with NIRA rival Army. The Big Green struck first at the 2:41 mark of the first half as Schier notched her second try of the day. Henrich stepped up and hit the conversion to make it 7-0. About two minutes later, Katelyn Walker made it a 12-0 lead as she weaved and fought through defenders into the try zone. Henrich drilled her second conversion to make it 14-0. Meni became the third Dartmouth captain to find the try zone to make it a 19-0 lead at halftime. The second half saw just one try as Army scored as time expired.
Dartmouth kicked off to start the championship match and Walker forced a turnover about 30 seconds into the game. Walker gained control and found Vasiti Turagavou trailing her, Turagavou took the pass and made it a 5-0 game less than a minute in. Dartmouth added seven points to its lead at the 2:45 mark as Henrich drew a penalty try to make it a 12-0 Dartmouth lead. The Big Green kept pouring it on in the first half as Walker took a quick pass from Henrich and found the try zone to make it 19-0 just 3:30 into the match. With time running out in the first half the Big Green added five more points to their total as Arredondo Almeida found the try zone. Dartmouth added one more try at the 11:38 mark to seal the game as Walker took a over the shoulder pass from Schier and sprinted past the Life defenders. Henrich hit the conversion to make it a 31-0 Dartmouth lead. The Big Green limited Life the remainder of the game and captured the CRAA 7s National Championship.
Walker was named the Player of the Match as she scored a pair of tries against Life.
It is the first time in program history that the Big Green have captured the CRAA 7s Premier National Championship.
The Big Green finish the 7s season with a perfect 13-0 record after winning all six games this weekend. Dartmouth won three 7s tournaments in the spring. Combined with the 15s season Dartmouth went 21-1 in the 2024-25 season.
Dartmouth will be back on the pitch in the fall for the 15s season.
College Sports
Off the ice: Mike McKeon
Playing with his brother early in his college career, collecting program-altering upsets last season and stepping into a leadership role this year were just a few minor highlights in senior forward Mike McKeon’s career as a Clemson club ice hockey player. When prompted, he could think of just one way to accurately describe his experience […]

Playing with his brother early in his college career, collecting program-altering upsets last season and stepping into a leadership role this year were just a few minor highlights in senior forward Mike McKeon’s career as a Clemson club ice hockey player. When prompted, he could think of just one way to accurately describe his experience as a Tiger: special.
“I think that’s what’s special about Clemson,” McKeon told The Tiger. “It feels like every day there’s another thing that you’re going to remember forever.”
And there’s no doubt that the rest of the Tigers will remember their alternate captain as fondly as he will remember them.
“I would want people to remember me as someone who cared about their well-being, and put my best foot forward in whatever it was that I was doing,” McKeon said. “Hopefully, people think of me as a good friend who was always up to do whatever and have a good time. Not afraid to make mistakes, or put my best foot forward and give my whole attention to whatever it was that I was doing.”
The Waccabuc, New York, native kicked off his hockey career at a young age, courtesy of his father, an avid New York Rangers fan who put McKeon and his older brother, and former Tiger, John, into the local youth hockey program. As many younger siblings do, McKeon “always wanted to do whatever (his) brother was doing,” so at 4 years old, he laced up his skates — with help, of course — and never looked back.
“I remember doing the cross-ice mites games,” McKeon said. “I always loved doing that. That’s sort of where I ended up falling in love with the game, I think. I remember going to those … I think they call them jamborees. You go and play a bunch of games during the day. I remember doing that with my dad and my brother and getting started like that.”
From age 4 until he stepped foot on Clemson’s campus for the first time as a student, McKeon played for the same club: the Bedford Bears. Though he considers much of his career a success because of the time spent and memories made with his teammates, the forward saw the most on-ice success in high school.
“The stars kind of aligned when I got to high school,” he said. “We had four years of really good teams.”
As a freshman, McKeon’s high school team won the section championship for the first time since 2013. In his sophomore and junior years, when he “played a lot more,” the team won the section twice and made it to the state semifinal, but ultimately fell short both times. By his senior year, McKeon and his squad went “as far as (they) could go” in an atypical COVID-19 season. To top it all off, he won two state championships with his Bears single-A team within those four years.
“Looking back, that was probably the most fun I’ve had playing hockey,” McKeon said. “It’s all fun for different reasons, but my club team … we literally all grew up playing together, and no one ever really left, so we just had the same team every single year, and we got really good. It was single-A, so it wasn’t crazy, but we had a really good team. A bunch of those kids are playing in college now. We won two state championships, which was a lot of fun.”
Funnily enough, McKeon has run into one of his Bears teammates since playing at Clemson: Rich Mugler, a goaltender for Ole Miss’s club team.
“I didn’t get to play him as a junior because I was injured, but this year, we got to play them in that midnight game,” McKeon said. “He didn’t play the second game, but in the first game, we got to play against each other, and I scored the winning goal. We had a good laugh about it after the game … definitely a full-circle moment.”
After those fun-filled four years, though, McKeon had a decision to make about his future. Ultimately, he decided to follow in his older brother and sister’s footsteps and become a Clemson Tiger.
“I thought in high school I wanted to kind of do my own thing when I got to college,” McKeon said. “I had a bunch of other schools that I was really interested in, but it ended up being between Clemson and one other school. I went to visit that other school, but I just didn’t get the same feeling that I did at Clemson when I visited here, so it was kind of a no-brainer to go here. And it was one of the best schools I got into. I don’t regret it at all, and this place is awesome.”
While the same can be said for much of his hockey career, McKeon discovered Clemson’s club hockey program when his older brother joined the team. However, his own love for the program and his teammates was entirely organic.
“When my sister came here, we did a little bit of research to see if there was a club team,” he said. “But when John got here as a freshman, he knew he wanted to keep playing in some capacity … when he started playing, I thought if I ended up at Clemson one day and he was still on the team, then it would be really cool to play one more year together.”
McKeon mentioned that he used to watch his brother’s games on YouTube, thinking that it would be “fun” to play for the club ice hockey team if he decided to go to Clemson.
“I knew I wanted to keep playing, but when I got to Clemson, I kind of thought maybe I was done,” McKeon added. “I think senior year — the whole Covid situation — and how hockey was up North, I was feeling just a bit tired of it. And then when I met everyone on the team here when I tried out for the team, I was like, ‘Well, I kind of remember why I played,’ and it was more just about being a part of a team and a group. Once I made the team, it was kind of a no-brainer to do that, especially because I was in bridge with everyone else.”
Despite initially feeling uncertain about playing in college, McKeon knows now without a shadow of a doubt that he made the right choice.
“It’s gonna be hard for me to think back about Clemson and not just immediately think about this team,” he said. “I tried out maybe a week into being here, and right away, I knew it was something I was going to be a part of for a while. I’ve met a lot of really great people at Clemson — a lot of people that aren’t on the hockey team — but there’s something special about our team.”
McKeon added that the team has fun together and cares about each other a lot.
“Looking back at my time at Clemson, I have to attribute a lot of the good memories that I’ve had here to playing with this team, and not even on the ice, just off the ice with these guys, hanging out around the house or on the weekends. It’s been a really great group to be a part of and to meet other great people at Clemson,” He told The Tiger.
In addition to the countless memories he and his teammates — now some of his best friends — have made off the ice, he’s also made some of his favorites while playing. Most notably, Clemson’s upset win over the Florida Atlantic Owls in the College Hockey South Division II playoffs last spring.
“I think my favorite Clemson ice hockey memory is probably that Florida Atlantic win,” McKeon said. “That was one of the best games I’ve ever been a part of because we were doubted all year, and we knew that we had the team to beat FAU. It was just a matter of, ‘could we play a full game? Could we all just buy in and play a full game?’ And it was the perfect game.”
He said that each player “did their job” and “showed up,” and that the team’s victory in the game was “big” for the club ice hockey program.
“When I think of our team, I think about that game because we’re all still really competitive, and we love to win, but it was like a whole season’s worth of work and grinding, and we all put it together for 60 minutes and beat the team that we were supposed to get crushed by,” he told The Tiger.
As someone who’s witnessed the club hockey program’s immense development over the last four years, McKeon believes his generation of players made great strides toward its future evolution. He’s excited to see how the team continues to develop in the next few seasons.
“I think the culture that we have here — that we’ve created over the last four to eight years — could be one of the best club hockey teams in the country in a couple of years,” McKeon said.
“But, I think it’s important to kind of remember why it is … why we do love it so much. And part of that is the time you spend with each other off the ice. There’s a lot of speculation on what club teams could potentially jump to ACHA D1 or even NCAA D1 … I think a lot of the reason that we love this program, at least the players, is because it is a club,” McKeon continued.
He noted that each of the players love playing hockey, but it doesn’t define who they are.
“I think it’s important to understand why kids love playing club hockey, and why it is that people are starting to come down here to keep playing: because we get to still play and enjoy the game, but the club aspect of it has opened up so many other opportunities for us to just enjoy life and be a part of Clemson in different aspects … This program is in really good hands to continue to do what it has been made to do,” McKeon told The Tiger.
Upon his graduation, the senior economics major plans to return to New York to work in finance.
College Sports
No. 20 women’s golf in second place after first day at NESCAC championship
Story Links NEW HARTFORD, N.Y. – The Hamilton College Continentals were in second place out of eight teams after the first round of the 2025 NESCAC Women’s Golf Championship at breezy and warm Yahnundasis Golf Club on Friday, May 2. Three Hamilton players broke 80 and the 20th-ranked Continentals posted […]

NEW HARTFORD, N.Y. – The Hamilton College Continentals were in second place out of eight teams after the first round of the 2025 NESCAC Women’s Golf Championship at breezy and warm Yahnundasis Golf Club on Friday, May 2.
Three Hamilton players broke 80 and the 20th-ranked Continentals posted a four-person team score of 314. Williams College led the way at 306 and three teams are within eight shots of Hamilton.
Olivia Strigh ’25 paced the Continentals with a 3-over par 76 for the opening 18 holes. Strigh was tied for third place out of 39 golfers.
Aubrey Lee ’28 was tied for seventh place after she carded a 78 that included four birdies. Lee entered the weekend with a team-best scoring average of 78.29 for 14 rounds this season.
Keira Joshi ’27 was tied for ninth place with a 79. Joshi birdied the first hole and was just 1-over par through the first 14 holes.
Sydney Dweck ’27 was tied for 17th place after she recorded an 81 that included a 38 on the back nine. Dweck made birdie on the 429-yard, par-five 10th hole.
Angela Liu ’27 made back-to-back birdies on the 12th and 13th holes and finished with an 84.
The first group opens the second round at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 3. Hamilton’s first player is on the first tee at 11:50 a.m.
College Sports
Livvy Dunne, More Stars Flaunt Kentucky Derby Hats and Outfits in Videos, Photos
Several star athletes stepped out and made fashion statements at the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, on Saturday. Leading the way was gymnast Livvy Dunne, who arrived in a white hat with a black bow and a white dress with black polka dots: Dunne wore pink during her […]
Several star athletes stepped out and made fashion statements at the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, on Saturday.
Leading the way was gymnast Livvy Dunne, who arrived in a white hat with a black bow and a white dress with black polka dots:
Dunne wore pink during her appearance at the Kentucky Oaks on Friday, but she switched it up for the Run for the Roses.
The 22-year-old Dunne recently finished up her college gymnastics career at LSU, during which time she gained a massive following on social media and became one of the biggest influencers in sports.
Dunne is also known for being in a relationship with Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes. The 22-year-old ace started the All-Star Game and was named National League Rookie of the Year last season.
Legendary gymnast Simone Biles, who was decked out in a festive purple hat and dress, also turned heads Saturday at the Kentucky Derby:
Biles is one of the most-decorated gymnasts of all time, winning 11 career Olympic medals as a member of Team USA, including seven golds with two each in the all-around and team events.
Chicago Bears safety Jonathan Owens, who is married to Biles, accompanied her on the Kentucky Derby red carpet, wearing a matching purple hat and blazer.
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was also present, and he posted some photos of his look on his Instagram Stories:
It was a homecoming of sorts for Jackson, who played his college football at the University of Louisville from 2015 to 2017. Jackson won the Heisman Trophy in 2016 and later had his No. 8 jersey retired by the program.
As spectacular as Jackson was in college, it can be argued that he has been just as good in the NFL for the Ravens, who picked him No. 32 overall in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft.
Jackson is a four-time Pro Bowler, three-time First Team All-Pro and two-time NFL MVP coming off arguably the best season of his career, as he threw for a career-high 4,172 yards and 41 touchdowns in 2024, while getting intercepted only four times.
Lamar was one of many NFL players on hand Saturday at Churchill Downs, as Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Cooper DeJean was also there and dressed to impress:
DeJean is set to enter his second NFL season after the Eagles selected him in the second round of the 2024 draft.
He made one of the biggest plays in Eagles history during the Super Bowl last season, intercepting Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and returning it for a touchdown en route to a blowout victory for Philly.
One of the Eagles’ NFC East rivals, the New York Giants, had some representation at the Kentucky Derby as well.
Wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson was in attendance with recent first-round pick Jaxson Dart, who sported a unique hat:
In last weekend’s 2025 NFL draft, the Giants traded back into the first round to take Dart with the No. 25 overall pick.
Following a strong collegiate career at Ole Miss, Dart is in line to be the Giants’ franchise quarterback of the future after potentially sitting and learning behind veterans Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston as a rookie.
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette, who was No. 32 overall pick in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft, had one of the most unique looks of anyone, wearing all denim with a cowboy hat and cowboy boots:
As the Pittsburgh Steelers await his answer on whether he plans to play in 2025, four-time NFL MVP, future Hall of Famer and current free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers also attended the Derby.
The Kentucky Derby has long been among the most glamorous events in sports, so it was fitting that the sports world was well represented on Saturday.
College Sports
D1 Hockey learns tough lessons at Nationals – PNW Pioneer
The Men’s D1 Hockey team went on a journey at this year’s national tournament, as it faced some of the toughest college hockey teams. The team entered the national tournament with high hopes, securing the 17th seed. They faced Midland University in the first round, then were pitted against the number-one seed in the tournament, […]

The Men’s D1 Hockey team went on a journey at this year’s national tournament, as it faced some of the toughest college hockey teams.
The team entered the national tournament with high hopes, securing the 17th seed. They faced Midland University in the first round, then were pitted against the number-one seed in the tournament, Minot State University.
“The number-one seed is there for a reason,” said Cooper Olson, a junior goaltender majoring in Mechanical Engineering. “They were a really good team, and we fought hard, but they capitalized on our mistakes. It was a tough loss, but we learned a lot from it.”
Their playoff run was filled with highs and lows.
“Playoff hockey is always exciting,” said Coach Carl Trosien, reflecting on the energy of the tournament. “You’re just trying to get your team in the best possible place, and it’s always easy to get fired up for the playoffs.”
Hayden Masloski, a center and one of the team’s core leaders, is one of the players who got fired up up.
“I always want to rise to the occasion when the game matters most,” said Masloski, a senior majoring in Finance. ”Momentum is key in hockey, and if you get hot at the right time, you can be dangerous.”
Masloski’s leadership was evident, both on and off the ice, as he contributed key assists and maintained his focus on the team’s success.
“Any time you can help your team win, it feels good,” he said. “But at the end of the day, it’s all about the next game. You can’t take anything for granted.”
Throughout the tournament, the team’s defensive strategy and leadership were crucial.
“We were really effective with our game plan,” said Trosien, noting the importance of solid defense and offensive zone play. “The leadership from our senior players really showed. We [also] saw some younger guys step up and take on key roles.”
For Masloski, this playoff run marked the end of his college hockey career.
“It’s bittersweet,” he said. “I’m at peace with how my career ended. It’s tough, but I’m proud of the friendships and memories I’ve made along the way.”
As he looks forward to his graduation, Masloski is already thinking about how he can continue to support the team.
“Just because I’m done playing doesn’t mean I’m done helping the program,” he said. “I want to see this team succeed, and I’ll always be here for them.”
Despite the early exit from the tournament, Trosien was optimistic about the future of PNW Hockey.
“We’ve got a lot of young talent, and we’re in a good spot moving forward,” he said. “We just need to keep building, keep striving for that next level.
“The goal is to win the conference and make a deeper run at nationals next year,” said Trosien. “We want to put ourselves in a position where anything can happen, and we’ll be ready for it.
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