Ever since the New York Islanders won the draft lottery, fans have had one prospect circled. James Hagens has been the prospect that fans have been dreaming about. A Long Island native who grew up and is a die-hard Islanders fan. He seems like the perfect player for the Islanders to draft, and the franchise icon fans can rally behind.  

However, while Hagens would be a great story, he’s not the best fit for the Islanders. While Hagens is a talented player, he struggled to adapt his game to college hockey in his first year at Boston College. A sign that his game may not translate to the higher level of hockey. 

When you have the first overall pick, you want someone who will shine as soon as they reach the NHL, something Michael Misa will do. But what makes Misa such an interesting pick, and a better option than the other players available?    

Why Michael Misa makes the most sense for the Islanders 

Since being granted exceptional status, Misa has been one of the most dominant players in the OHL. In 132 career games with the Saginaw Spirit, he recorded 91 goals and 118 assists for 209 points. His 2024-25 season was one of the greatest seasons a player has had in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). In 65 games, he registered 62 goals and 72 assists for 134 points. He also tallied a goal and two assists during the Spirit’s playoff series against the Erie Otters. 

While these numbers are impressive, they become even more special when you compare them to other top players. He put up a higher point total in his draft year than Mitch Marner, Steven Stamkos, and John Tavares. He was also only nine points shy of Patrick Kane’s 145-point season, the highest point total of the past 20 years. 

Sure, just because he has similar numbers to star players does not guarantee he will be a star in the NHL, but it’s encouraging. It shows that he was able to play at the same level as the current superstars played when they were his age. It indicates that this Misa has a high floor and an insanely high ceiling. 

Another area where Misa sets himself apart from Hagens is his ability to play defense. All the talk surrounding Hagens revolves around his offense and how his skill set can be developed to improve his offensive capabilities. However, you don’t hear much about how he impacts his defensive side.     

Unlike Hagens, many are quick to praise Misa’s defensive playmaking capability. Both his forechecking and ability to create turnovers have been described as elite. Having players who can do that and do it at a high level is crucial for teams to have success in today’s game. Misa can give the Islanders that edge to go up against the top teams in the league and give them a taste of their own medicine.    

Although it’s not as great a story as drafting Hagens is, if the Islanders want to get their next franchise-changing player, then they have to draft Misa.  

SMITHFIELD, R.I. — Bryant field hockey head coach Kellie Joyce is pleased to welcome Liz Ryan and Asia Porter to the coaching staff for the upcoming 2025 season. 

The additions represent the first hires for Joyce, who was named head coach in March. 

Liz Ryan – Assistant Coach

Ryan joins the Bulldogs after spending the 2024 season as an assistant coach at Boston University. A native of Hoosick Falls, N.Y., Ryan was a member of the 2019-20 U.S. U-21 National Team and graduated from BU in 2021. She was an All-Patriot League and NFHCA All-Region selection for the Terriers. This past year, the Terriers finished 6-11 overall and 3-3 in the Patriot League. 

“I am pleased to welcome Liz Ryan to the Bryant Coaching Staff,” Joyce said. “Her player-centered philosophy and dedication to the development of the student-athletes align with the values of our program. I am confident that her extensive coaching and playing experiences will make a significant impact and help to advance our program to the next level.” 

Prior to her season at BU, Ryan played and coached overseas in Ireland and England, most recently completing a master’s degree in sports performance and coaching from Dublin City University.
   
Ryan earned her International Hockey Federation (FIH) Hockey Academy Level 1 coaching accreditation last year through Hockey Ireland and has been working towards her Level 2 verification through Hockey England.
 
She played with the Catholic Institute Hockey Club (CIAC) for two years, helping them finish atop their league in 2022 and claim the Division 1 Irish Senior Cup for the first time in club history. In May 2023, Ryan was on the CIAC squad that competed in the Club European Championships in Alanya, Turkey.
 
While playing, Ryan was a hockey coordinator at Laurel Hill Coláiste FCJ in Limerick, Ireland, and also served as a development coach for the Munster U21 team in the fall of 2022. She spent the 2023-24 year as a graduate hockey sports fellow at Oakham School in England. 

Ryan starred at Hoosick Falls High School in New York before starting her collegiate career at Albany, where she helped the Great Danes reach the NCAA Tournament in 2018. She transferred to BU in 2019 and went on to earn a degree in international relations from the College of Arts & Sciences in 2021.

Asia Porter – Graduate Assistant

Porter comes to Smithfield after graduating this May from nearby Providence College. She was a five-year starter for the Friars, appearing in 74 games over the course of her career.

“I am excited to welcome Asia Porter to the Bryant Coaching staff,” Joyce said. “Having had the privilege of coaching Asia during her collegiate playing career, I know firsthand the depth of her understanding of the game. Her background in analysis, goalkeeping expertise and coaching experiences will add significant value to this program.” 

The Somerset, Mass., native and graduate of Moses Brown School, posted 28 victories between the pipes for the Friars. Porter finished with 409 career saves, a 2.23 GAA and a .710 save percentage. 

Porter’s best season came in 2023 as she posted a 10-7 record and backstopped Providence to six shutouts.

WALTHAM, Mass. – Recent Bentley graduate Sam Duerr has signed with Anglet in Ligue Magnus, the top professional hockey league in France.

A defenseman, Duerr was a key member of Bentley’s 2025 Atlantic Hockey championship team. One of the top scoring defensemen in the AHA, he registered eight goals and seven assists in 37 games.

A native of Chicago, he scored the game-winner in the AHA finals against Holy Cross. His goal with 10:44 remaining in the 3^rd period broke a 3-3 tie and gave Bentley the lead.

In two seasons at Bentley, he played in 72 games and had 14 goals and 14 assists.

Anglet is in the southwest of France and is close to the border with Spain.

He graduated from Bentley in May with a degree in marketing.

 

It seems that all Zeev Buium does is win. And be a part of history.
 
Buium was part of another momentous occasion in hockey in the United States this year, as he helped the Americans win their first IIHF World Championship gold medal in 92 years at the 2025 tournament last month in Herning, Denmark, and Stockholm, Sweden.
 
The now-University of Denver hockey alum has finished each of his last three playing seasons with a title, and the most recent gold medal added his collection that includes the 2024 NCAA Championship with the Pioneers, a pair of World Junior Championships and the 2023 IIHF U18 World Championship with Team USA.
 
Those accomplishments might have been unimaginable for the American-born player when he first took to the sport by playing roller hockey in cul-de-sacs in San Diego, California, before eventually transitioning to indoor ice rinks.
 
“It wasn’t something that we thought about when we were kids just growing up,” Buium said of representing the U.S. on the international stage after winning his second World Junior gold in January. “To realize that was possible and to be a part of it, it’s such an honor and an awesome opportunity for me and my family.”
Buium was one of two current players from the National Collegiate Hockey Conference on this year’s U.S. Worlds roster, joining goaltender Hampton Slukynsky of Western Michigan. He was the youngest player on the Americans squad at 19 years of age and was one of four defenseman in the entire tournament that had yet to turn 20 years old.
 
While the history books officially list the Americans having won the gold medal at the World Championships in 1960; that year’s event was held in conjunction with Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley. Prior to this year, they’re last championship at an official Worlds-only event was in 1933 in then-Czechoslovakia.
 
In this year’s championship final, the U.S. defeated Switzerland 1-0 in overtime on May 25 at Avicii Arena (the Globe) in Stockholm, as Tage Thompson of the Buffalo Sabres scored the only goal of the contest just 2:02 into the extra period and goaltender Jeremy Swayman of the Boston Bruins posted a 25-save shutout.
 
Team USA had won four bronze medals since 2013 at Worlds, but the squad had never even reached a non-Olympic Gold Medal Game since 1950 when it earned the silver against Canada. The United States’ official medal count at the World Championship now totals 21 pieces of hardware, with three golds, nine silvers and nine bronzes.
 
Coming off a successful but also a championship loss at the NHL-hosted 4 Nation’s Face-Off in February, the Americans had plenty of motivation heading into this year’s tournament and aimed to build momentum for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, next winter.
 
“We want the gold,” Buium said to Wild.com during the tournament. “That’s what we came here for. We haven’t won this tournament for a very, very long time. We have a great group in there.”
 
Buium, a 2025 Hobey Baker Award Hat Trick Finalist, was primarily used as the seventh defenseman on the United States roster, but he still contributed four points on one goal and three assists and finished with a plus-2 rating while averaging 9:48 of ice time in eight games.
 
“Just being around some older guys has just really helped him,” said Ryan Warsofsky, the head coach of the San Jose Sharks and this year’s USA squad, to NHL.com. “You can see the talent. He’s going to be a really special player in the National Hockey League here soon.”
 
The teenager also made a little history with the most recent victory, as he is one of five players that are part of USA Hockey’s own version of the “Triple Gold Club.” He joined fellow 2025 Worlds teammates Clayton Keller, Will Smith, Slukynsky and Thompson in owning gold medals at the IIHF U18 World Championship, World Junior Championship (U20) and World Championship (Slukynsky was the backup goalie this year at Worlds and did not see any game action).
 
Buium is the only one of that group to own four gold medals between the three events and to win titles in successive years.
 
Playing in high-stakes games is one of his favorite parts about the sport.
 
“It’s why you play. When you’re a kid and you’re sitting in the basement and you’re acting like you’re scoring the Game 7 overtime-winner,” Buium told Wild.com in May. “I’ve always just loved those moments. That’s when the lights are the brightest and big crowds. I think it’s just so fun. When all eyes are on you, that’s the best part. All the guys in there are the same way.”
 
It has been a whirlwind 25 months for the Pioneer with plenty of bright lights. Since April 2023, Buium helped USA Hockey to its 11th gold at the U18 Worlds, won an NCAA National Championship at DU, was selected No. 12 overall in the 2024 NHL Draft and helped the Pioneers make their second-straight Frozen Four before signing his first pro contract and making his debut in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with the Minnesota Wild in April.
 
He also won a pair of World Junior Championships in both January 2024 and 2025 on a team coached by Denver’s David Carle.
 
“It’s been crazy. It’s definitely been a whirlwind,” Buium said to Wild.com of his experience the last several months. “I can’t complain. I’ve played in the NHL now and played at the Frozen Four and now I’m at the World Championship. I don’t know how to explain it. It’s great. Living out of the suitcase right now. It feels good.”
 
Those championships has also led to Buium being enshrined as part of several history-making squads.
 
He helped the Pioneers win the program’s 10th national championship in 2023-24, breaking a tie with Michigan for the most among all NCAA programs. This past January, he joined Carle with a repeat title with Team USA at the U20s, marking the first time in the country’s history it had won consecutive World Junior Championships.
 
“You’re definitely proud to be an American,” Buium recalled after the most recent World Junior win. “It’s an awesome feeling to be going back-to-back (at the World Juniors) for the first time and show that our country is starting to come out on top. That is just the way it is going and it is going to continue to go that way.”
 
Now, Buium is part of another squad that will always be remembered for breaking a 90-plus year drought at the World Championships.
 
For him, putting on the USA sweater is something he doesn’t take for granted.
 
“It’s incredible. The first time you do it to the last time you do it, nothing changes. It’s the same feeling. If anything, you get more excited,” Buium noted of playing for Team USA. “You never know when you’re going to be able to put that jersey on ever again, so every time you do it you want to treat it as your last. I think everybody does a great job with that. It’s such an awesome opportunity, and I’m so grateful to be a part of USA Hockey and hopefully into the future too.”
 
His trophy case is already full of hardware before he has turned 20 years old, and there is still room for an Olympic Gold Medal and Stanley Cup. Will those be coming in 2026?
 

Livvy Dunne, middle, sister Julz Dunne, left, and Sam Green pose at an AtheteCon event on Thursday in Charlotte, N.C. designed to help college athletes, promote their name, image and likeness brand. (AP Photo/Steve Reed)

By STEVE REED AP Sports Writer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — With her college gymnastics days behind her, influencer and Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Livvy Dunne is moving on with life — but that doesn’t mean she’ll be far from the public eye.

Dunne, who has more than 13 million followers on social media, created a multimillion-dollar personal brand while competing as a gymnast at LSU. Now she’s trying to help other female athletes do the same, helping to educate them about name, image and likeness deals and personal branding.

“I’m going to miss gymnastics so much because it has been a part of me for almost 20 years,” Dunne told The Associated Press at AthleteCon, where she had a speaking engagement. “What’s next? Everything. I want to do all of the things that I couldn’t do while I was a gymnast” because of the time constraints of being a student-athlete.

“So there are some really cool opportunities — stay tuned,” she added.

Dunne didn’t disclose any details, but it’s clear she plans to maintain her personal brand, which she developed along with the help of older sister and manager Julz Dunne.

AthleteCon CEO Sam Green, who has helped land more than 1,000 NIL deals, invited the Dunne sisters to speak to college athletes as part of a two-day seminar. Athletes met with representatives from social media platforms including TikTok, Snapchat and Meta, created live content and competed for NIL deals. They learned how to turn a creative idea into a brand.

More than 100 athletes attended, with another 150 turned away because of space constraints.

Green’s company slogan is “all athletes are creators.”

“I’m really big on giving athletes the tools to monetize their brand,” Green said.

Few, if any, have done that better than Livvy Dunne.

She helped the Tigers to the 2024 national championship as a junior before missing this past season because of an injury. But she was better known on social media, where she amassed more than 8 million followers on TikTok and 5.3 million on Instagram before leaving LSU.

Advertisers took notice.

She was the highest-paid female college athlete across all sports during her time with the Tigers, earning more than $4.1 million, according to On3. She worked with brands like Nautica, Crocs and Sports Illustrated, where she recently did a split on the catwalk on a “triple dare.”

Her boyfriend is Pittsburgh Pirates star pitcher Paul Skenes, who played baseball at LSU.

“She’s it,” Green said. “She’s the road map. She’s the blueprint and she was the first to do it. The Dunnes are so innovative and they have done it with genuine intent. Livvy is the definition of NIL, in my opinion, at least true NIL and what it was meant to be from the start.”

Dunne said navigating the ever-changing world of NIL was like living in the wild West.

“I learned that you don’t have to do one thing and be great at that one thing,” Dunne said. “You can do multiple different things and find success in tons of different areas.”

But there were trying times as she balanced classes, competition and the constant demand for multiple daily social media posts.

She remembers walking into LSU gymnastics coach Jay Clark’s office in tears because of stress about her schedule.

She fought through it and is glad she did.

“I hope people here take away that you are more than your sport and everybody deserves to capitalize on their name, image and likeness,” Dunne said. “Curiosity is key. Ask questions, network, and just create because, who knows, the sky is the limit. It got me to where I am today. Don’t just consume, but create.

“Keep posting,” she added. “The audience is there. People are interested. They want to see what you have to offer. Everyone’s story is different and has to be told.”

OXFORD, Ohio— Miami Hockey head coach Anthony Noreen announced today that David Nies has been named the program’s general manager. Nies has served as the RedHawks’ assistant coach and recruiting coordinator since joining the Miami coaching staff in May 2024. He had previously been the United States National Team Development Program’s Assistant Director of Player Personnel. 
 
In his new role with the Red and White, Nies will be responsible for all areas of player procurement, including scouting, recruiting and player development.
 
“We are proud to name David Nies the first General Manager for Miami University Hockey,” Noreen said. “David knows the type of student-athletes we want to build this program around. His evaluation skills, work ethic, and ability to build strong relationships make him ideal for this role.”
 
“I’m honored to accept the role of General Manager with Miami University Hockey,” said Nies. “I deeply appreciate the trust placed in me, and I am committed to helping build a culture of excellence through our student-athletes and this amazing university.”
 
Since joining Miami, Nies has helped the RedHawks earn national recognition on the recruiting trail. Miami’s incoming class and its group of transfer portal additions are both ranked among the top 10 in the country by Neutral Zone.
 
During his time with the USNTDP (2023-24), Nies was involved in all aspects of identifying, scouting and recruiting players in the 2008 and 2009 birth classes. He had previously served as an assistant coach under Noreen with the USHL’s Tri-City Storm (2021-2023).
 
In Nies’ time at Tri-City, the Storm won the Anderson Cup in 2021-22, bolstered by the top-ranked penalty kill in the league. Nies oversaw the penalty kill and was responsible for defensemen development, in addition to assisting Noreen in all facets of team management.
 
Nies’ previous stop, also in the USHL, was with the Omaha Lancers, where he served as associate head coach and assistant general manager from 2018-2021. He has coached with Amarillo in the NAHL (2017-18) and been part of college coaching staffs at Merrimack College (2016-17), Curry College (2015-16), Ohio University (2014-15) and the University of Southern Maine (2013-14).
 
Before coming to Oxford, Nies scouted and coached a total of 33 NHL draft picks and 133 Division I college players in his various stops. He worked as an on-ice skills coach with NHL Draft picks Jordan Harris, Sam Colangelo, Michael Kesselring and Alex Jefferies.
 
As a player at Southern Maine, Nies was an ECAC All-Academic honoree from 2010-2013 and served as the Huskies’ team captain from 2011-2013. He owns a Bachelor’s degree in Criminology from USM and a Master’s in Sports Pedagogy from Ohio.
 
Miami Hockey opens its 2025-26 season on Friday, Oct. 3 vs. Ferris State at Steve “Coach” Cady Arena.