CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard Football will welcome 31 first-years to the program for the start of the 2025 season as part of the Class of 2029, Andrew Aurich, The Thomas Stephenson Family Head Coach for Harvard Football, announced on Thursday.
 
The class gives the Crimson balance across the field with 14 student-athletes on offense, 13 on defense, and four on special teams. The offensive group includes one quarterback, two running backs, seven pass catchers, and four offensive linemen while the defensive side includes five defensive linemen, three linebackers, and five defensive backs alongside one kicker, one punter, and two long snappers as specialists.
 
The group hails from across the continental United States in addition to one student-athlete from Canada. The class includes five student-athletes from Florida, three each from Maryland, Massachusetts, and Texas, two each from California, Illinois, and North Carolina, and one each from Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington state, and the Canadian province of Ontario. 

Harvard Football Class of 2029

Cole Allen | Running Back | Houston, Texas
Achilles Anderson | Defensive Line | Chicago, Ill.
Henry Anthony | Tight End | Davidson, N.C.
Jack Baade | Long Snapper | Fort Mill, S.C.
Jourdan Brissett | Defensive Back | Coral Springs, Fla.
Ethan Carson | Linebacker | Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Brian Checkley | Punter | Baltimore, Md.
Teddy Chung | Defensive Back | Hillsborough, Calif.
Ian Cooper | Offensive Line | Cranston, R.I.
Rohan Dalal | Wide Receiver | Hillsborough, Calif.
JP Danaher | Defensive Line | Chicago, Ill.
Jordan Gonzalez | Linebacker | Coral Gables, Fla.
Mekhi Hicks | Defensive Back | Miramar, Fla.
Salim Hill | Defensive Back | Sudbury, Mass.
Levy Kinlock | Defensive Line | Plantation, Fla.
Will Krzysiak | Wide Receiver | Argyle, Texas
Akiel Lomotey | Running Back | Meriden, Conn.
Nick McCullough | Defensive Line | Muskego, Wash.
Tafari Moe | Wide Receiver | Fort White, Fla.
Ewan Newton | Offensive Line | Carleton Place, Ontario
Teigan Pelletier | Tight End | South Paris, Maine
Reed Phillips | Wide Receiver | Potomac, Md.
Graham Roberts | Offensive Line | Swampscott, Mass.
Jonathan Rubin | Kicker | Bethesda, Md.
Lukas Sanker | Defensive Back | Charlottesville, Va.
Charlie Smith | Quarterback | Charlotte, N.C.
Jack Smith | Long Snapper | West Boylston, Mass.
Ryan Tattersall | Wide Receiver | Wilmington, Del.
Brandon Ukonu | Defensive Line | Richmond, Texas
Mikey Young | Linebacker | Sandusky, Ohio
Alex Zakhem | Offensive Line | Parker, Colo. 

Cole Allen

Running Back | 5-foot-10 | 200 lbs. | Houston, Texas | St. John’s School

Earned All-Conference honors four times … Selected as the Houston Chronicle Private School Offensive Player of the Year in 2024 … Chosen as the Texas Private School Football Podcast Large School Player of the Year in 2024 … Took home Houston Vype Private School Offensive Player of the Year accolades as a senior … Recognized as the Houston Touchdown Club Offensive Player of the Year in 2024 … Set school record for touchdowns in a single game (eight) and in a career (127) … Captured Team MVP laurels three times … Served team as a captain as a junior and senior … Also played basketball and lacrosse; captained basketball and lacrosse teams as a senior … Garnered All-District and All-Conference honors in lacrosse … Plays the piano … Son of Tamisha Jones and Cleveland Allen. 

Achilles Anderson

Defensive Line | 6-foot-4 | 260 lbs. | Chicago, Ill. | Marist High School

Earned a spot on the Chicago Sun Times’ Preseason Top 50 Players to Watch List … Chosen for the Beverly Review Top 10 Players to Watch List … Also played basketball; captained team as a junior and senior … Dean’s List and Honor Roll student … Son of Myrtlean Stockdale and Tim Anderson. 

Henry Anthony

Tight End | 6-foot-4 | 230 lbs. | Davidson, N.C. | Cannon School

Earned First Team All-State and First Team All-Conference as a senior … Gained First Team All-Conference as a junior … Caught 32 passes for 485 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior … Totaled 23 receptions for 319 yards and five touchdowns as a junior … Served team as a senior captain … Served as Head Boy for House Animus; also acted as a Community Service Prefect and Academic Prefect for House Animus … Enjoys boating, fishing, and golfing … Also played baseball … Son of Karen and Keith Anthony; Keith played football at the University of New Hampshire. 

Jack Baade

Long Snapper | 6-foot-3 | 220 lbs. | Fort Mill, S.C. | Charlotte Catholic High School (N.C.)

Ranked as a five-star long snapper via Kohl’s … Rated as the No. 1 long snapper in the states of North Carolina and South Carolina … Reached a ranking as high as No. 2 for long snappers in the nation according to Kohl’s … Garnered All-America and All-State accolades … Started all four seasons … Helped team earn a 4A conference title … Also competed in lacrosse and ice hockey; captained lacrosse team … Gained All-Conference honors in lacrosse … Helped lacrosse team win two conference championships and finish as state runners-up … Selected to the Southeast Showcase All-Star Team twice in lacrosse … National Honors Society student … Served as a Student Athletic Council Representative … Son of Tricia and Chris Baade. 

Jourdan Brissett

Defensive Back | 6-foot-3 | 185 lbs. | Coral Springs, Fla. | Cardinal Gibbons High School

Won Team MVP honors three times … Helped team win a 2A District 13 championship as a senior … Aided team to qualify for regional playoff in 2023 and 2024 … Totaled 15 tackles, four pass breakups, and three blocked field goals as a senior … Also competed in track & field … First Honors Roll student … National Math Honors Society and National Athletic Honors Society member … Volunteered with Feeding South Florida … Son of Novia and Lorin. 

Ethan Carson

Linebacker | 6-foot-1 | 225 lbs. | Murfreesboro, Tenn. | Blackman High School

Earned Region 3-6A MVP honors in 2025 … Gained Region 3-6A Best Linebacker accolades in 2024 … Garnered First Team All-Area in 2025 … Selected for the Blaze Award in 2025 … Totaled 85 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, five sacks, two forced fumbles, and five touchdowns … Served team as a captain from 2023-25 … Also played basketball … A Top Scholar student … Son of Cassandra and Zoltan Carson. 

Brian Checkley

Punter | 6-foot-2 | 220 lbs. | Baltimore, Md. | Gilman School

Earned First Team All-Conference honors in the MIAA … Gained First Team All-Metro twice … Garnered First Team All-State accolades … Captured Honorable Mention All-America laurels … Averaged 44.5 yards per punt as a senior on 56 punts with a long of 67 yards … Also competed in track & field … Volunteered with First Fruits Farms, Leveling the Playing Field, and Christmas Gift Drive … Hispanic Students Association President as a senior … Grandmother Celina Checkley played basketball for the Peruvian National Team … Son of Meghan and William Checkley.

Teddy Chung

Defensive Back | 6-foot-0 | 190 lbs. | Hillsborough, Calif. | Junipero Serra High School

Earned First Team All-League as a senior … Gained Second Team All-League as a junior … Captured First Team All-Bay Area as a junior and senior … Garnered Team MVP laurels as a senior … Served team as a captain as a junior and senior … Also competed in lacrosse and track & field … National Honors Society student … An AP Scholar … Enjoys fishing, guitar, and golfing … Brother, John Chung, is a member of the Harvard Football Class of 2027 … Son of Betsy and Peter Chung; Peter graduated from Harvard in 1989. 

Ian Cooper

Offensive Line | 6-foot-8 | 290 lbs. | Cranston, R.I. | Suffield Academy (Conn.)

Earned All-League accolades twice … Helped team win a divisional championship as a junior … Also played basketball; gained All-League honors twice … Served as a tutor at the San Miguel School … Enjoys golf, food, and fishing … Son of Lani and Bert Cooper. 

Rohan Dalal

Wide Receiver | 6-foot-1 | 165 lbs. | Hillsborough, Calif. | Crystal Springs Uplands School

Earned Pacific Coast Athletic League Player of the Year honors as a senior … Gained First Team All-Pacific Coast Athletic League as a senior … Won Team MVP laurels in 2024-25 … Selected as team’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2023-24 … Garnered Second Team All-Pacific Coast Athletic League as a junior … Led the nation in kick return yards (984 yards in seven games) for eight-man football in 2023 … Set school single-season touchdown record with 19 scores in seven games and school’s single-game receiving touchdowns record with five scores … Established Pacific Coast Athletic League records for receiving yards in a season (771 receiving yards in seven games), touchdowns in a season (19 touchdowns in seven games), and kick return yards in a season (984 yards in seven games) … National Merit Scholar, Student Body President, and Newspaper Editor-In-Chief … Served team as a captain as a senior … Also played soccer … Son of Kimberly Moore Dalal and Anupam Dalal.

JP Danaher

Defensive Line | 6-foot-5 | 250 lbs. | Chicago, Ill. | Saint Rita High School

Earned Honorable Mention All-Conference as a senior … Helped team win a Prep Bowl championship as a junior … Helped team reach state semifinals as a senior … Served team as a senior captain … Also played baseball … Went to the state finals with United Team (Special Olympics) in basketball … Enjoys golfing … Son of Beth and John Danaher. 

Jordan Gonzalez

Linebacker | 6-foot-2 | 230 lbs. | Coral Gables, Fla. | Choate Rosemary Hall (Conn.)

Earned Honorable Mention All-NEPSAC in 2023 and 2024 … Helped team win a Class A NEPSAC Championship … Gained team’s Defensive MVP award … Captained Choate in 2024 … Played at Ransom Everglades School prior to Choate Rosemary Hall … Served Ransom Everglades as a captain in 2022 … Earned First Team All-Founders League at Ransom Everglades … Also competed in wrestling and lacrosse … Won the Florida Business Challenge in 2022, starting a company called Remember Reality focused on integrating virtual reality and AI to recreate memories for Alzheimer’s patients … Earned the Harvard Award for scholarship and sportsmanship … Honor Roll student … Co-founder of school’s Agape Ambassador Program … Enjoys golf, fishing, and guitar … Son of Melinda and Jorge Gonzalez. 

Mekhi Hicks

Defensive Back | 5-foot-10 | 175 lbs. | Miramar, Fla. | American Heritage Plantation

Earned First Team All-County as a senior … Gained Team Defensive MVP accolades … Won the Brian Piccolo Student-Athlete award … Helped team win a state title in 2024 … Served team as a senior captain … Also competed in track & field … Volunteered as a summer camp counselor and track & field youth coach … Enjoys music … Son of Karen Rolle-Hicks and Michael Hicks. 

Salim Hill

Defensive Back | 5-foot-10 | 175 lbs. | Sudbury, Mass. | Groton School

Earned All-ISL honors in 2022, 2023, and 2024 … Gained All-NEPSAC accolades in 2023 and 2024 … Won the Groton School Charles Alexander Award in 2024 … Garnered Team MVP laurels in 2024 … Captained team as a senior … Also competed in track & field; served team as a senior captain … Captured All-ISL and All-NEPSAC honors in track & field … Set school record in 110 meters (10.85) … Son of Tivona and Karim Hill; Karim played football at Ohio University from 1996-2000.

Levy Kinlock

Defensive Line | 6-foot-2 | 245 lbs. | Plantation, Fla. | Phillips Exeter Academy (N.H.)

Played at American Heritage in Florida prior to competing at Phillips Exeter Academy … Earned All-League honors … Helped team win a conference title … Captained American Heritage as a senior … Also competed in wrestling and weightlifting … Brother, Jaeden Kinlock, is a member of the Harvard Football Class of 2026 … Son of Andrea Murray and Taipan Kinlock.

Will Krzysiak

Wide Receiver | 6-foot-3 | 185 lbs. | Argyle, Texas | Argyle High School

Earned First Team All-District in 2023 and 2024 … Gained Second Team All-State in 2024 … Garnered First Team Academic All-State in 2024 … Helped team make two state semifinal appearances in 5A Division 2 Texas High School football in 2022 and 2024 … Helped team win three straight district titles in 2022, 2023, and 2024 … Posted back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons in 2023 and 2024 … Also competed in track & field … Son of Jane and Michael Krzysiak. 

Akiel Lomotey

Running Back | 6-foot-0 | 205 lbs. | Meriden, Conn. | Branford High School

Earned All-Southern Connecticut Conference in 2023 … Gained Best Offensive Player award in 2023 … A Scholar-Athlete with the National Football Foundation, New Haven Chapter in 2024 … Selected for the Frank Pepe Best Player in the East Haven Game Award in 2023 and 2024 … Tallied multiple games with over 200 rushing yards and multiple games with two or more touchdowns … High Honors student … National Honors Society member … Enjoys music, bike riding, and chess … Also competed in basketball and outdoor track & field … Brother Jelani Lomotey plays football at Stonehill … Son of Jodi Harris and NiiObli Lomotey; NiiObli played football at Central Connecticut State. 

Nick McCullough

Defensive Line | 6-foot-3 | 260 lbs. | Muskego, Wash. | Muskego High School

Earned All-State, All-Region, and All-Conference accolades … Started 38 varsity games … Helped team finish as a state runner-up … Earned Academic All-State honors … Garnered the Scholar-Athlete award … Captained team as a junior and senior … Also competed in track & field … Enjoys traveling and cooking … Son of Debbie and Colby McCullough. 

Tafari Moe

Wide Receiver | 6-foot-3 | 185 lbs. | Fort White, Fla. | Fort White High School

Earned All-State accolades as a junior and senior … Garnered All-Area in football as a junior and senior … Captained team as a junior and senior … Also competed in basketball and track & field; served basketball team as a captain … Earned All-State in basketball as a junior and senior … Gained All-Area in basketball all four seasons … Led basketball team to final four … Scored over 1,300 career points in basketball … Son of Loretta Chapman and Russel Moe.

Ewan Newton

Offensive Line | 6-foot-4 | 295 lbs. | Carleton Place, Ontario | Phillips Exeter Academy (N.H.)

Earned First Team All-NEPSAC … Also played for the Cumberland Panthers and Kanata Knights … Helped team win a Northeast Prep Football League title in 2023 and 2024 … Won the Drew Gamere Bowl in 2024 … Served team as a senior captain … Also competed in basketball, volleyball, and track & field … Enjoys ice hockey and weightlifting … Son of Krista and John Newton.

Teigan Pelletier

Tight End | 6-foot-6 | 230 lbs. | South Paris, Maine | St. Paul’s School (N.H.)

Earned All-NEPSAC and NEPSAC Player of the Year accolades as a senior … Gained All-NEPSAC honors as a junior … Helped team go 9-0 as a senior, winning the John Pappas Bowl … Played at Oxford Hills High School prior to St. Paul’s … Also competed in basketball and track & field … Captured Honorable Mention All-NEPSAC in basketball as a junior … National Honors Society student … Enjoys golf … Sister, Ella Pelletier, plays basketball at Stonehill … Son of Tara and Nate Pelletier. 

Reed Phillips

Wide Receiver | 6-foot-3 | 180 lbs. | Potomac, Md. | Episcopal High School (Va.)

Rated as a three-star wide receiver by Rivals and 247Sports … Selected to the Navy All-American Bowl … Earned All-IAC and All-State honors … Helped team win a conference title as a junior … Averaged 34 yards per catch for career … Also competed in track & field … Garnered All-IAC, All-State, All-County, and All-Met in track & field … Set school record in the 200m … Won the Virginia state title in the 200m … Qualified for New Balance Nationals in track … Aunts Felicia Phillips ’88 and Mitzi Meriwether ’90 graduated from Harvard … Brother, Carter Phillips, is a member of the Georgetown Football Class of 2026 … Son of Margo and Damon Phillips; Damon played football at Stanford. 

Graham Roberts

Offensive Line | 6-foot-3 | 285 lbs. | Swampscott, Mass. | St. John’s Prep

Earned Catholic Conference All-Star honors … Selected as a Boston Herald Super 26 All-Star … Gained Boston Globe First Team All-Massachusetts … Garnered Boston Herald All-Scholastic honors … Captured Salem News All-Star accolades … Helped team win a Division 1 state title in 2022 … Helped team claim a conference championship in 2023 … Served team as a senior captain … National Honors Society student … Enjoys skiing, DJing, and weightlifting … Brother, Dylan Roberts, is a member of the Bates Football Class of 2026 … Son of Karen and Andrew Roberts. 

Jonathan Rubin

Kicker | 5-foot-11 | 200 lbs. | Bethesda, Md. | Maret High School

Ranked as the No. 1 kicker in the state of Maryland … Earned All-League honors … Selected as a Blue Grey All-American in 2025 … Helped team win two state titles … Kicked the game-winning field goal as a first-year to win a state championship … Set school record for career field goals made … Started all four seasons … Founded Everyone Eats, a charity company that donates food … Plays the piano … A second-degree red belt in karate … Son of Iris and Michael Rubin. 

Lukas Sanker

Defensive Back | 6-foot-0 | 195 lbs. | Charlottesville, Va. | Woodberry Forest School

Earned All-State and All-Conference as a sophomore, junior, and senior … Served team as a captain as a junior and senior … Also competed in wrestling and track & field; captained track team as a senior … Gained All-Conference in wrestling and All-State in indoor track in the high jump and 4x200m … Broke school’s 4x100m record in 2025 … Served school as a prefect … Brother Jonas Sanker played football at Virginia and was selected in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints with the 93^rd overall pick … Brother, Nicholas Sanker, played football at Princeton and brother, Kendrick Sanker, played football at Hampton … Son of Jeannette and George Sanker; George played football at Colgate. 

Charlie Smith

Quarterback | 6-foot-2 | 205 lbs. | Charlotte, N.C. | Charlotte Catholic High School

Earned All-Conference honors as a senior … Gained Team Offensive MVP accolades as a senior … Led team to first Southwestern 4A conference title in program history as a senior … Served team as offensive captain as a senior … A National Honors Society, Headmasters List, and Honor Roll student … Enjoys golf … Son of Ashley and Aaron Smith. 

Jack Smith

Long Snapper | 5-foot-11 | 220 lbs. | West Boylston, Mass. | West Boylston High School

Earned Midland Wachusett League All-Star honors as a senior … Selected as an MIAA Division 8 All-Star … Won the Coaches Award … Helped team win the MIAA Division 8 state titles three times … Helped team to a 14-game win streak … Set the MIAA state record for longest passing touchdown in Super Bowl history … Captured team’s leadership and sportsmanship awards … Served team as a senior captain … Also competed in track & field and basketball; acted as a captain for both track & field and basketball … An Academic All-Star … National Honors Society Treasurer … Student Council, President … Received the Harvard Book Award … Son of Amy and Greg Smith.

Ryan Tattersall

Wide Receiver | 6-foot-6 | 190 lbs. | Wilmington, Del. | Wilmington Friends School

Earned First Team All-State as a quarterback and defensive back … Selected as the 2A Offensive Player of the Year … Helped team win a state title in 2022 … Helped team capture three conference championships … Served team as a senior captain … Also played basketball and baseball; acted as a captain for basketball … Gained Honorable Mention All-State in basketball … Garnered Academic All-State in football and basketball … Brother, Robby Tattersall, is a member of the Yale Football Class of 2027 … Son of Shannon and Rob Tattersall.

Brandon Ukonu

Defensive Line | 6-foot-2 | 280 lbs. | Richmond, Texas | Strake Jesuit College Preparatory

Earned First Team All-District as a defensive tackle … Helped team win Houston Football Team of the Year honors … Served team as a senior captain … Gained First Team All-Academic from 2023-25 … Also competed in wrestling and rugby … Won a district title in wrestling … Helped rugby team reach state finals … Son of Grace and Joseph Ukonu. 

Mikey Young

Linebacker | 6-foot-1 | 210 lbs. | Sandusky, Ohio | Perkins High School

Earned First Team All-Ohio in 2024 … Selected as the NW District Defensive Player of the Year as a senior … Gained First Team All-District three times … Selected as First Team All-Conference unanimously three times … Claimed Honorable Mention All-Ohio twice … Won a state title in D4; also helped lead team to a state runner-up finish in D4 … Set school’s single-game tackles record with 20 tackles … Part of a Perkins defense that allowed less than seven points per game … Served team as a two-year captain … Also competed in basketball and track & field; acted as a captain for track team … Earned All-Ohio honors in track alongside eight All-Conference accolades … Honor Roll student and Scholar-Athlete … Son of James Young.

Alex Zakhem

Offensive Line | 6-foot-8 | 290 lbs. | Parker, Colo. | Lutheran High School

Earned First Team All-Conference … Selected as conference’s Best Offensive Lineman … Gained Second Team All-State as a senior … Captured school’s Top Lineman Award in 2024 … An Academic All-State selection … Captained team as a senior … Also competed in track & field … Placed fifth in the state in the shotput in 2024 … Son of Diana and Fadi Zakhem.
 

Grace Shirley still gets chills thinking about it. 

The moments she and her Wisconsin teammates stormed the ice in celebration of their National Collegiate Women’s Ice Hockey Championships in 2021 and 2023 were unforgettable. Winning those championships alongside her older sister, Sophie, added another meaningful layer to the accomplishments. 

“It was amazing. It happened a few years ago, but I still can’t put it into words,” said Shirley, whose alma mater won another NCAA title in March. “We won both national championships together, and it was just a phenomenal experience. The relationships I made with my teammates and all the staff at Wisconsin, it was such a great experience, and it’s one I’ll be proud of and take with me for the rest of my life.”

But while her success on the ice was undeniable, the pressures of college sports revealed a side of the game that doesn’t often make the highlight reel. 

The pressure to perform

From the outside, Shirley had everything a student-athlete could hope for. She was thriving at a powerhouse program, where she scored 21 points in four seasons and earned Academic All-Big Ten Conference honors three times. But internally, she was struggling with self-doubt.

“There was a lot of just pressure that I was putting on myself,” she admitted. “That was taking a toll.” 

Shirley’s experience is shared by many student-athletes, according to NCAA research data, especially those in women’s sports. In the most recent NCAA Student-Athlete Health and Wellness Study, 44% of participants in women’s sports reported feeling overwhelmed constantly or most every day.

Shirley said this weight led her to make one of the most important decisions of her life and reached out to a sports psychologist at Wisconsin — a step supported by the growing presence of mental health services outlined in the NCAA Mental Health Best Practices and  Division I core guarantees. 

For Shirley, the impact of this support far exceeded her expectations.

“Initially it was just for hockey, but I think ultimately the impact that it had on all areas of my life was pretty outstanding,” she said. “The small tips about gaining confidence and being able to remain composed in tough situations helped pretty fast, but I think more of the long-term stuff was the level of gratitude and being able to wake up every day and go about your life and really care about the relationships and the people behind you are what’s stuck with me.”

Shirley’s sessions helped her rediscover balance in her life. As she navigated the challenges of balancing academics, athletics and her personal life, she found herself embracing a broader perspective on her identity.

“For many student-athletes, attempting to find a healthy balance between the academic, athletic and social domains of life can be difficult. During my time in college, utilizing the resources available and working with sports psychologists have had such a positive impact, not only on my athletic performance, but my overall levels of happiness and well-being,” she said. “Obviously it’s important to be performing well, but there’s so many aspects of life that are just as important to foster and take care of as well. I’m really grateful for all those resources that college hockey has provided me.”

Developing her passion at the Emerging Leaders Seminar

As Shirley embraced the impact that mental health counseling had on her own life, she felt drawn to help others in the same way. That passion led her to Providence, where she competed as a graduate transfer during the 2023-24 season and began pursuing a master’s degree in counseling with the goal of becoming a licensed mental health counselor. 

This pursuit also led her to attend the 2025 NCAA Emerging Leaders Seminar, a three-day event in February designed to help young professionals develop leadership skills and explore career paths in college athletics?.

“I’m really passionate about mental health counseling,” she said. “It’s always been something that I’ve really found interesting and enlightening. Being at the Emerging Leaders Seminar has really helped with this.”

The seminar, themed “Lead Like a Superhero: Unleash Your Superpowers,” challenged participants to identify their values and understand their unique abilities. Shirley, who had already begun her journey toward becoming a mental health professional, found herself drawn to discussions on how counseling and leadership intersect in college sports. 

“We were able to talk through careers within the field of counseling and how that relates to collegiate athletics, which is definitely a growing field,” she said. “A lot of athletes are seeking mental health services, and I hope to contribute and help the lives of upcoming student-athletes.”

Being the person she needed

Shirley knows firsthand how intimidating it can be to ask for help, but she also understands how important it is.

“I’ve definitely been there where I’ve kind of been scared to talk about things,” she said. 

“It’s important to be reminded that you have people in your corner, you have people that care about you. Whether it’s a mental health counselor, your family or friends, people are there for you. You owe it to yourself to ask for help because at the end of the day nobody deserves to go through those battles on their own.” 

As she prepares to graduate with a master’s degree, Shirley is looking not just to the future of her career but to the impact she hopes to make. She wants to be a resource for student-athletes struggling with the same pressures she experienced and to help them learn to embrace life beyond sports.

“I just want to demonstrate a level of empathy and understanding,” she said. “I was once in that seat. I was someone who was seeking additional services or resources, so I understand. And I want to be that person that can really help and just kind of change your outlook or maybe some of those patterns of thinking. I just really want to demonstrate that I’m there for you, that I care about you and then I want to be with you as you start this process.”

As Shirley reflects on her journey — the championships, the struggles, the growth — she said her biggest win has been learning who she is beyond the game.

“There’s a lot more to life than just sport and there’s more to me than just a hockey player. I’m a daughter and a sister and a really good friend,” she said, before reflecting on her journey more broadly. “Hockey has impacted my life in so many ways, and I have nothing but positive things to say about Wisconsin and Providence. They provided me the resources and support needed for me to reach my full potential as both a hockey player and as a person.” 

The Falcons could very well have a distinct international look to them when they hit the ice next winter. Already with three skaters from France and a goalie from Canada on the roster this season, the Fitchburg State ice hockey team continues to add in the offseason, harvesting talent born in other countries. The defending […]

Originally Published: May 1, 2025 at 2:25 PM EDT

Boston University sophomore Aiden Celebrini has no regrets over the decision he reached at 16 to maintain his college eligibility by skipping a chance to play for the Western Hockey League’s Saskatoon Blades.

And it makes no difference that college hockey wasn’t on his radar growing up in North Vancouver and regularly attending WHL games with his younger brother Macklin, the NHL’s draft’s No. 1 pick last summer.

“We didn’t know much about college hockey,” Celebrini said during the Frozen Four championship in St. Louis. “Going to Vancouver Giants games, that was always kind of our dream to play in the WHL and then eventually play in the NHL.”

It’s a dream Macklin has already achieved in completing his rookie season with the San Jose Sharks and after one year at BU. Aiden could well follow after being drafted by his hometown Canucks in 2023.

Last fall, the NCAA made a landmark eligibility decision to allow Canadian Hockey League players to compete at the college level. The ruling frees today’s players from the either-or choice the Celebrinis faced to either join the CHL team that drafted them or preserve their college eligibility as they did by playing at the Canadian Junior A or USHL levels — Aiden in Alberta and Macklin in Chicago.

“I’m kind of jealous,” Aiden Celebrini said. “I think it’s awesome that guys can experience both now because I think the WHL is a top league, and obviously the NCAA is also. It’s great to have that kind of pipeline now.”

While players will benefit most, the NCAA ruling has the potential to dramatically tilt North America’s junior hockey developmental landscape toward U.S. colleges in a fundamental altering of how prospects reach the NHL.

Paths to the NHL

The route for many has traditionally run through the CHL’s three leagues, the WHL, OHL and QMJHL.

The CHL remains the clear leader in having 839 players drafted from 2015-24, with the NCAA’s 74 a distant seventh. And yet, of those 74 college players, 63 were chosen in the first round, including two Canadians selected first overall (Celebrini and Michigan’s Owen Power in 2021).

College hockey players now make up about a third of NHL rosters, up from 20% in 2000, with Hockey East commissioner Steve Metcalf envisioning that number growing.

“I don’t think it’s that complicated. There’ll be an increasing number of NHLers that come from college,” Metcalf told The Associated Press at the Frozen Four. “(The CHL and USHL) will feed players up into college hockey. And college hockey will feed the players up to the NHL.”

College money

College sports awaits the final approval of a $2.8 billion antitrust settlement that will change the economics across the NCAA and its hundreds of member schools by allowing revenue sharing. That, and the availability of NIL endorsement money, will provide college programs beyond football and basketball different resources to attract recruits.

A hot topic of discussion at the Frozen Four was the potential of hockey programs making six-figures offer to lure top-end CHL players, such as Medicine Hat forward Gavin McKenna, already projected to be No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL draft.

“The better talent we can get into college hockey, the better it is for college hockey. So access to a new talent pool is a good thing,” said Western Michigan athletic director Dan Bartholomae, whose Broncos won their first title.

“We’re going to compete in that space,” he added of an athletic department in the midst of building a $500 million new downtown arena. “We could grow a little bit in the sport of hockey, and we’re planning to.”

WMU fans celebrate first-ever NCAA Ice Hockey National Championship win

A resized talent pool?

Questions include how much college hockey can expand, given the eight-figure price tag to launch a Division I program, and how the CHL and USHL adapt. CHL President Dan MacKenzie doesn’t expect his three leagues to take a back seat to anyone.

“The changes have been monumental, obviously. We’ve all been trying to get an handle on what’s going to happen,” he said. “What we’ve seen in those five months is the CHL basically get stronger.”

For proof, MacKenzie noted that 205 CHL alumni, representing more than 50% of NHL rosters, are currently competing in the playoffs. He also pointed to NHL Central Scouting having 170 CHL players included in their pre-draft rankings, the most ever.

Expansion is on the horizon, with the WHL preparing to launch two teams in British Columbia, which would increase the CHL’s total to 60.

“Every player is going to make a different decision,” MacKenzie said. “All we can do is try to run a whole bunch of great programs across our teams and leagues and let the chips fall, because we feel pretty confident that we’re going to be the destination for that player.”

The challenge for the USA Hockey-backed USHL is somewhat different in staying competitive while maintaining its objectives of growing the game across American and developing U.S.-born talent.

The initial fallout from the NCAA ruling led to two teams, Youngstown and Muskegon, being rejected in their bid to leave the USHL and join the OHL. All 16 teams have since committed to remaining in the USHL next year.

Commissioner Glenn Hefferan dismissed the potential of a lawsuit by noting the USHL has anti-trust protections. He instead foresees a future in which the USHL and CHL forge closer bonds, with the potential of inter-league preseason games on the horizon.

Canada vs. USA

A bigger concern is the NCAA’s change in eligibility rules leading to Canadians potentially displacing Americans on college rosters. Hefferan and USA Hockey executive director Pat Kelleher both said they’d like to see the U.S. Congress cap the number of international players on college teams.

Hockey East’s Metcalf dismissed that proposal outright.

“My immediate reaction is that’s the opposite direction we’re going in,” Metcalf said. “College hockey is interested in getting the best players they can from where ever they’re from.”

In the meantime, the NHL is monitoring developments and might eventually need to weigh in, with input from the NHL Players’ Association.

Currently, NHL teams retain the draft rights to players for 30 days after they leave college. By comparison, teams hold CHL players’ right for two seasons after being drafted.

One benefit NHL teams have in drafting college players is, once signed those players can be sent directly to the minors. CHL players must be returned to their CHL teams until their eligibility expires.

“The NCAA made whatever decision, and we’re all going to have to adjust,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. “We’re going to have to talk to the union and understand how we think it works based on the current rule and what maybe we need to modify to be reflective of the way we think things would flow best.”

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AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno contributed.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

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SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt.- The American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) announced that former Norwich Ice Hockey broadcaster George Commo will receive the 2025 Jim Fullerton Award.

The AHCA presents this annual award, “Named in honor of the former Brown University hockey coach and ACHA spiritual leader, this award recognizes an individual who loves the purity of our sport. Whether a coach, administrator, trainer, official, journalist, or simply a fan, the recipient exemplifies Jim Fullerton, who gave as much as he received and never stopped caring about the direction in which our game was heading.”  

Commo will add the Jim Fullerton Award to a lengthy list of accolades, including winning Vermont Sportscaster of the Year eleven times, enshrinement in the Vermont Principals’ Association (VPA) Hall of Fame, the Vermont Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame, the Norwich University Athletic Hall of Fame, the Rice Memorial High School Athletic Hall of Fame, and the Vermont Sports Hall of Fame. In addition, Commo has received the Warner Fusselle Award for Excellence in Broadcasting by baseball’s New York Penn League and the Monahan & Wallace Media Award by the ECAC Sports Information Directors Association.

After a lengthy career commentating various athletic events for the University of Vermont, Commo joined WDEV Radio in 1998. He became the play-by-play voice for Norwich Ice Hockey until his retirement after the 2022-23 season, calling numerous conference and NCAA tournament games, including all four runs to the National Championship for men’s ice hockey.

The AHCA will present the award to Commo at a luncheon on Wednesday afternoon at Vermont National Country Club.

Full AHCA Release