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Augustana hockey reveals 2025–26 schedule, set for first season with full CCHA slate – Sioux Falls Live

SIOUX FALLS — The time has arrived to mark the calendar for Augustana hockey’s upcoming season. On Tuesday, the Vikings announced the schedule for their 2025-26 season. The 34-game slate features 19 home games and 15 road games. Following an exhibition game that has yet to be finalized, Augustana will open the regular season on […]

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SIOUX FALLS — The time has arrived to mark the calendar for Augustana hockey’s upcoming season.

On Tuesday, the Vikings announced the schedule for their 2025-26 season. The 34-game slate features 19 home games and 15 road games.

Following an exhibition game that has yet to be finalized, Augustana will open the regular season on Oct. 10-11 at Minnesota Duluth before returning to Midco Arena the following weekend for its home opener versus Arizona State.

For the Vikings, CCHA action begins the following weekend when they travel to face Bemidji State in a two-game series.

The Vikings will play on home ice throughout December and into the first weekend of January before conference action resumes in the second half of the season.

All four of Augustana’s non-conference series are against teams in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference.

The Vikings’ 2025-26 season is their first with a full league schedule. They’ll play in a total of 26 conference games this season.

In its second season as a program in 2024-25, Augustana had its first winning record in program history, finishing with an 18-13-4 mark. The Vikings had a 9-5-2 record in conference play, earning the No. 2 seed in the Mason Cup Playoffs. They were 9-6-2 at home and 9-7-2 away from Midco Arena.

Here’s a glance at Augustana’s 2025-26 schedule with further analyses.

Oct 10-11 | @ Minnesota Duluth

  • Bulldogs’ 2024-25 record: 13-20-3
  • Analysis: This season-opening series marks the first time the two longtime Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference foes will meet on the ice. Last season, the Bulldogs finished 7-9-3 at Amsoil Arena. Scott Sandelin has been at the helm of the program since 2000 and has led UMD to three national titles, including back-to-back championships in 2018 and 2019. Forward Max Plante is one of the Bulldogs’ top returning players after notching 28 points (nine goals, 19 assists) as a freshman in 2024-25.

Oct. 17-18 | vs. Arizona State

  • Sun Devils’ 2024-25 record: 21-14-2
  • Analysis: The Sun Devils will make the trip to Sioux Falls for the first time ever when the two teams meet in Augustana’s home opener. ASU and AU didn’t play against each other last season, but in the second half of Augustana’s inaugural season in 2023-24, they split a pair of games in Tempe after the Vikings were triumphant in a 5-4 decision in the series opener to notch the program’s first win against a nationally ranked team. Bennett Schimek heads into the 2025-26 campaign as the Sun Devils’ top returning point-getter. He will be a team captain this season after recording 37 points on 15 goals and 22 assists in 2024-25.
Augustana's Colton Friesen collects the puck against Bemidji State on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at Midco Arena in Sioux Falls.

Augustana’s Colton Friesen collects the puck against Bemidji State on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at Midco Arena in Sioux Falls.

Trent Singer / Sioux Falls Live

Oct. 24-25 | @ Bemidji State

  • Beavers’ 2024-25 record: 15-18-5
  • Analysis: Augustana’s first CCHA series of the season will be against its most familiar league opponent. The Vikings are 3-4 all-time against BSU, which includes a series defeat in March in the first round of the Mason Cup Playoffs. Entering his 25th season at the helm of the program, Beavers coach Tom Serratore is now the current longest-tenured coach in the CCHA. Forward Kirklan Irey will be back for the Beavers after producing a team-best 24 points in 2024-25, including a team-leading 11 goals.

Oct. 31 – Nov. 1 | vs. Northern Michigan

  • Wildcats’ 2024-25 record: 5-27-2
  • Analysis: Augustana is 3-0-1 in all-time meetings with the Wildcats. Last season, the Vikings claimed a pair of 4-1 victories at Midco Arena to sweep the season series. NMU finished in last place in the CCHA standings, missing the CCHA playoffs. Dave Shyiak returns for his second year as bench boss for the Wildcats, who were 3-11-2 on the road last season.

Nov. 7-8 | @ Ferris State

  • Bulldogs’ 2024-25 record: 13-20-3
  • Analysis: The Bulldogs will be in their first season under the direction of new coach Brett Riley, who replaces the legendary Bob Daniels. FSU leads the all-time series between the two teams, 3-1. In 2024-25, Augustana split a pair of games at FSU, winning the first game of the series in a 5-2 decision before losing 4-1 in the finale. The Bulldogs had a 6-8-3 mark at home last season.
  • Tommies’ 2024-25 record: 19-14-5
  • Analysis: Going into this one-off game, Augustana has a 3-1 record in the brief all-time series between the two programs. This will be UST’s final season as members of the CCHA. The Tommies are set to join the NCHC for the 2026-27 season. Led by coach Rico Blasi, UST had an 8-6-3 mark on the road a season ago.
Augustana's Brett Meerman skates with the puck while being defended by Lake Superior State's Grant Hindman on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, at Midco Arena in Sioux Falls.

Augustana’s Brett Meerman skates with the puck while being defended by Lake Superior State’s Grant Hindman on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, at Midco Arena in Sioux Falls.

Trent Singer / Sioux Falls Live

Nov. 28-29 | @ Lake Superior State

  • Lakers’ 2024-25 record: 12-22-2
  • Analysis: Following a week off, the Vikings return to action Thanksgiving weekend when they travel to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, to take on the Lakers. AU has a 3-1 all-time record against LSSU. Damon Whitten enters his 12th season at the helm of the Lakers’ program. LSSU was 4-10-1 last season at Taffy Abel Arena.

Dec. 5-6 | vs. Bemidji State

  • Beavers’ 2024-25 record: 15-18-5
  • Analysis: The Vikings will close out their regular season series with the Beavers on the first weekend of December when the two teams meet at Midco Arena for a two-game set. Last season, BSU won three of five games played between the two teams. All of them took place in Sioux Falls. The Beavers finished 9-10-3 in road contests last season.

Dec. 12-13 | vs. Minnesota State

  • Mavericks’ 2024-25 record: 27-9-3
  • Analysis: Augustana will be seeking its first official win against the Mavs when the top two teams from the 2024-25 CCHA regular season meet in December at Midco Arena. The Vikings are 0-3-1 in all-time matchups versus MSU. Luke Strand enters his third year as coach of the Mavericks, who won the league’s regular season and tournament titles last season. MSU was 10-4 in road games a season ago.

Dec. 19-20 | vs. Nebraska Omaha

  • Mavericks’ 2024-25 record: 18-17-1
  • Analysis: The rivalry between the Mavs and Vikings carries on for another season. UNO will travel north up I-29 to play at Midco Arena for the first time ever. It’ll be the Vikings’ final series of the first half of the season. Augustana was swept by Omaha in its inaugural season, but in 2024-25, the Vikings traveled to Omaha and claimed a pair of nationally ranked wins. Mike Gabinet enters his 10th season as UNO’s bench boss. The Mavericks return one of the top goaltenders in the country in Simon Latkoczy, who notched a .922 save percentage in 31 appearances last season.
Augustana's Joey DelGreco and Colorado College's Stanley Cooley battle for possession of the puck on the face-off dot Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, at Ed Robson Arena in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Augustana’s Joey DelGreco and Colorado College’s Stanley Cooley battle for possession of the puck on the face-off dot Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, at Ed Robson Arena in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Casey Gibson / Colorado College Athletics

Jan. 2-3 | vs. Colorado College

  • Tigers’ 2024-25 record: 18-18-1
  • Analysis: The Vikings will begin the new year against a CC program that has yet to beat them. Augustana has a 3-0 all-time record against the Tigers, including a sweep last season when CC was ranked No. 8 in the country. This will be the Tigers’ first trip to Sioux Falls. Kris Mayotte enters his fifth season as CC’s coach. The Tigers, who were 7-12-1 last season away from Colorado Springs, bring back their top forward in Owen Beckner, who tallied 27 points on seven goals and 20 helpers in 2024-25.

Jan. 9-10 | @ Northern Michigan

  • Wildcats’ 2024-25 record: 5-27-2
  • Analysis: After more than a month of playing in front of their home crowd, the Vikings will return to conference play when they travel to Marquette to take on the Wildcats. One of NMU’s top players in the fold for the 2025-26 season will be forward Caiden Gault, a Ferris State transfer. Gault generated 25 points on 10 goals and 15 assists last season with the Bulldogs.

Jan. 16-17 | vs. Ferris State

  • Bulldogs’ 2024-25 record: 13-20-3
  • Analysis: Augustana will head back to Midco Arena for another conference tilt with FSU, which finished with a 6-10 mark in away games a season ago. The Bulldogs will welcome in forward Carter Rapalje, who had 30 points (17 goals, 13 assists) last season while playing under Riley at Long Island.

Jan. 24 | @ Minnesota State

  • Mavericks’ 2024-25 record: 27-9-3
  • Analysis: Next up is one-off game in Mankato for the Vikings, who were swept last season at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center. Goalie Alex Tracy will be back for MSU after being named CCHA Player of the Year in 2025. He was a finalist for the Mike Richter Award after going 26-9-3 between the pipes with a 1.42 goals-against average and .946 save percentage. MSU finished 17-4-3 at home in 2024-25.

Jan. 30-31 | vs. Lake Superior State

  • Lakers’ 2024-25 record: 12-22-2
  • Analysis: The Vikings will close out their January slate with a home series against the Lakers. Augustana won 6-3 and 4-3 against LSSU in 2024-25 at Midco Arena. The Lakers, who finished 8-11-1 in road games last season, will bring back their top forward in Connor Milburn, who had 23 points on nine goals and 14 helpers.
Augustana's Nace Langus skates with the puck while being defended by Michigan Tech's Alex Nordstrom on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, at Midco Arena in Sioux Falls.

Augustana’s Nace Langus skates with the puck while being defended by Michigan Tech’s Alex Nordstrom on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, at Midco Arena in Sioux Falls.

Trent Singer / Sioux Falls Live

Feb. 6-7 | @ Michigan Tech

  • Huskies’ 2024-25 record: 16-17-3
  • Analysis: AU will open its final month of the regular season by making a trek to the Upper Peninsula, where they’ll square off against the Huskies in Houghton. This will be the only regular season meeting between the two teams in 2025-26. MTU posted a 7-9 record at home last season and holds a 2-1-1 all-time record against the Vikings. Led by Joe Shawhan, who enters his ninth season as bench boss, the Huskies will bring back their top forward from 2024-25 in Stiven Sardarian, who had 35 points (11 goals, 24 assists).

Feb. 13-14 | vs. Bowling Green

  • Falcons’ 2024-25 record: 18-14-4
  • Analysis: In their final regular season series, AU will take on BGSU. Dennis Williams heads into his second year at the helm of the Falcons’ program. Augustana leads the all-time series, 3-0-1. Bowling Green was 8-9-1 a season ago on the road but expects to be a force in 2025-26. As it stands, the Falcons have the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation, according to

    Neutral Zone.

    Falcons forwards Ben Doran and Brody Waters each had 22 points last season, and both are expected to be back in the mix this season.

Feb. 20-21 | @ St. Thomas

  • Tommies’ 2024-25 record: 19-14-5
  • Analysis: A tough test awaits the Vikings in their regular season finale when they travel to St. Paul for a series with the Tommies. It’ll be their first visit to Lee and Penny Anderson Arena, a $175 million facility that’s expected to open this year on UST’s campus. The Tommies will return one of the league’s top forwards in Lucas Wahlin, who recorded 41 points on 17 goals and 24 assists in 2024-25.

Augustana’s 2025-26 schedule

  • Friday, Oct 10 | @ Minnesota Duluth
  • Saturday, Oct. 11 | @ Minnesota Duluth
  • Friday, Oct. 17 | vs. Arizona State
  • Saturday, Oct. 18 | vs. Arizona State
  • Friday, Oct. 24 | @ Bemidji State
  • Saturday, Oct. 25 | @ Bemidji State
  • Friday, Oct. 31 | vs. Northern Michigan
  • Saturday, Nov. 1 | vs. Northern Michigan
  • Friday, Nov. 7 | @ Ferris State
  • Saturday, Nov. 8 | @ Ferris State
  • Saturday, Nov. 15 | vs. St. Thomas
  • Friday, Nov. 28 | @ Lake Superior State
  • Saturday, Nov. 29 | @ Lake Superior State
  • Friday, Dec. 5 | vs. Bemidji State
  • Saturday, Dec. 6 | vs. Bemidji State
  • Friday, Dec. 12 | vs. Minnesota State
  • Saturday, Dec. 13 | vs. Minnesota State
  • Friday, Dec. 19 | vs. Nebraska Omaha
  • Saturday, Dec. 20 | vs. Nebraska Omaha
  • Friday, Jan. 2 | vs. Colorado College
  • Saturday, Jan. 3 | vs. Colorado College
  • Friday, Jan. 9 | @ Northern Michigan
  • Saturday, Jan. 10 | @ Northern Michigan
  • Friday, Jan. 16 | vs. Ferris State
  • Saturday, Jan. 17 | vs. Ferris State
  • Saturday, Jan. 24 | @ Minnesota State
  • Friday, Jan. 30 | vs. Lake Superior State
  • Saturday, Jan. 31 | vs. Lake Superior State
  • Friday, Feb. 6 | @ Michigan Tech
  • Saturday, Feb. 7 | @ Michigan Tech
  • Friday, Feb. 13 | vs. Bowling Green
  • Saturday, Feb. 14 | vs. Bowling Green
  • Friday, Feb. 20 | @ St. Thomas
  • Saturday, Feb. 21 | @ St. Thomas
Trent Singer

Trent Singer is a sports reporter for Sioux Falls Live. He focuses his coverage on Augustana men’s hockey and Sioux Falls area sports. Singer’s previous stops include Just Women’s Sports, the Southeast Missourian and the Kentucky New Era.





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Chicago Blackhawks’ Frank Nazar scores twice for US at worlds

STOCKHOLM — Chicago Blackhawks forward Frank Nazar scored twice to help the United States rally for a 5-2 victory over the Czech Republic and hand the titleholder its first defeat at the ice hockey world championship Tuesday. The victory lifted the Americans to second place in Group B in Herning, Denmark. Switzerland won the group […]

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STOCKHOLM — Chicago Blackhawks forward Frank Nazar scored twice to help the United States rally for a 5-2 victory over the Czech Republic and hand the titleholder its first defeat at the ice hockey world championship Tuesday.

The victory lifted the Americans to second place in Group B in Herning, Denmark. Switzerland won the group with the Czechs finishing third.

“I loved our effort and how we played to our identity,” U.S. coach Ryan Warsofsky said. “Give our power play credit too. Overall, great team effort and a good step forward as we continue to build.”

Nazar deflected a shot into the net to tie the score at 2 on a power play 1:35 into the third period. He scored on another power play for the 21-year-old’s sixth goal in the tournament.

Logan Cooley roofed a shot from close range to make it 4-2 with 6:31 to go, and Andrew Peeke finished it off with a goal into an empty net.

Josh Doan gave the Americans a 1-0 lead 9:25 into the game on a rebound with a backhand between the pads of goalie Karel Vejmelka.

The U.S. dominated the first period, outshooting its opponent 23-8. The Czechs came back in the second as David Pastrnak tied the score on a breakaway 41 seconds into the period by beating his Boston Bruins teammate Jeremy Swayman for his sixth goal of the tournament.

Pastrnak then set up Martin Necas in the left circle to one-time a shot that put the Czechs 2-1 up 8:33 into the second period.

Earlier, Austria reached the playoffs for the first time in 31 years by defeating Latvia 6-1 to become the fourth and final team to advance to the quarterfinals from Group A.

Sweden and Canada face each other later Tuesday for the top spot in the group. Finland, another qualified team, beat Slovakia 2-1.

Switzerland beat Kazakhstan 4-1 in Herning and moved to the top of Group B before later games.

Kazakhstan was relegated after five years in the top division.

Switzerland finished with 19 points, two ahead of the Americans and Czechs

The winner between Germany and Denmark later Tuesday will determine the fourth and final team from Group B to advance.

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Bemidji State unveils 2025-26 slate for Beaver Women’s Hockey

Story Links BEMIDJI, Minn. – In conjunction with the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, the Bemidji State University Women’s Hockey team unveiled its 2025-26 slate Wednesday morning. The Beavers will play a 34-game regular season which begins Sept. 26-27 with a series against defending National Champions University of Wisconsin at Sanford […]

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BEMIDJI, Minn. – In conjunction with the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, the Bemidji State University Women’s Hockey team unveiled its 2025-26 slate Wednesday morning. The Beavers will play a 34-game regular season which begins Sept. 26-27 with a series against defending National Champions University of Wisconsin at Sanford Center.
 
2025-26 will be the 28th season of Bemidji State Women’s Hockey and will feature 34 games during the regular season including 16 at its home arena, Sanford Center. The Beavers will play 28 games against some of the fiercest competition in collegiate women’s hockey while also playing six non-conference games against Robert Morris University, Lindenwood University and Merrimack College.
 
For the complete schedule, click here.
 
The Beavers’ kick-off the new season with its first two series at home hosting Wisconsin (Sept. 26-27) and Robert Morris (Oct. 3-4). Bemidji State will then travel to Columbus, Ohio to face Ohio State University Oct. 10-11 before back-to-back bye weeks.
 
The Beavers return to action Oct. 31-Nov. 1 with a road trip to Minnesota State University, Mankato and then return to Sanford Center Nov. 7-8 to host University of St. Thomas. BSU then travels to University of Minnesota Nov. 14-15 before hosting St. Cloud State University Nov. 21-22.
 
The Beavers will spend Thanksgiving weekend in St. Charles, Mo., for a non-conference series at Lindenwood Nov. 28-29. Bemidji State will play just two games in December when it hosts University of Minnesota Duluth Dec. 5-6.
 

After the holiday break, the Beavers return to action Jan. 3-4 and travel to North Andover, Mass., to face Merrimack for the first time in program history. The Beavers then make their first appearance at the new Lee & Penny Anderson Arena in St. Paul, Minn., for a series at St. Thomas to cap-off a four-game road streak.
 
Bemidji State returns home Jan. 16-17 to host Minnesota and then travels to Madison, Wis., for their second meeting with the Badgers Jan. 23-24. The Beavers end the month of January by hosting Minnesota State Jan. 30-31.
 
BSU finishes the final month of the regular season with six games including four on the road. The Beavers begin February at Minnesota Duluth (Feb. 6-7) and then travel to St. Cloud State (Feb. 13-14). Bemidji State finishes the 2025-26 regular season at home hosting Ohio State Feb. 20-21.
 
The 2026 WCHA Playoffs kick-off Feb. 27-28 with the WCHA Quarterfinals hosted by highest seeds. The WCHA Final Faceoff will be the following weekend at a site yet to be determined.
 
The 2026 NCAA Women’s Hockey Tournament begins Mar. 13 with the NCAA Regionals followed by the 2026 NCAA Frozen Four at Pegula Ice Arena in University Park, Pa., Mar 20.
 
For more information on the Bemidji State women’s hockey program, tickets or schedules, visit BSUBeavers.com, follow the Beavers on X or Instagram, or like them on Facebook.
 
Located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men’s and women’s hockey membership in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).
 
–bsu–





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University Of Massachusetts Hockey Adds Transfer Mikey DeAngelo

AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts hockey has added 5-11, 179-pound forward Mikey DeAngelo to its roster out of the transfer portal, head coach Greg Carvel announced on Wednesday. DeAngelo, who will join the Minutemen as a sophomore after one year at Michigan State, is the first new addition to the 2025-26 squad. “Mikey DeAngelo comes […]

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AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts hockey has added 5-11, 179-pound forward Mikey DeAngelo to its roster out of the transfer portal, head coach Greg Carvel announced on Wednesday. DeAngelo, who will join the Minutemen as a sophomore after one year at Michigan State, is the first new addition to the 2025-26 squad.

“Mikey DeAngelo comes to UMass after one year at Michigan State where he had a solid season on a very good college hockey team,” said Carvel. “Mikey will bring speed and skill to our lineup and will fill one of the spots created by three UMass centers signing NHL contracts after this past season. With the opportunity that exists on our team, we expect Mikey to be a point getter who plays a responsible game without the puck and plays with a lot of tenacity and plays to our identity as a team. It should be a smooth transition for Mikey, and I am excited to see his impact on our lineup.”

As a freshman at Michigan State, DeAngelo helped the Spartans to a Big Ten title and an NCAA Tournament berth, appearing in 33 games and logging nine points on three goals and six assists with a +3 rating.

Prior to playing college hockey, the Itasca, Illinois, native was a member of the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League (USHL) for two seasons and combined for 34 goals and 53 assists in 110 games for the Gamblers. DeAngelo also spent a season with Dubuque (USHL) in 2021-22, appearing in 38 games and compiling six points on three goals and three assists. He represented Team USA at the 2021 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Slovakia and Czech Republic, leading the US skaters in points in the tournament with six (2g, 4a) over four games.

DeAngelo is a product of the Chicago Mission youth organization, winning state championships in 2017 and 2020.

 



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2025 primary election results | State College News

Centre County voters cast their ballots in the 2025 municipal primary election on Tuesday. A total of 18,829 ballots were cast during the election according to unofficial results posted to centrecountypa.gov. Listed below are the unofficial election results for statewide races and State College officials as of 10:33 pm on Tuesday. Superior Court of Pennsylvania […]

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Centre County voters cast their ballots in the 2025 municipal primary election on Tuesday. A total of 18,829 ballots were cast during the election according to unofficial results posted to centrecountypa.gov.

Listed below are the unofficial election results for statewide races and State College officials as of 10:33 pm on Tuesday.

Superior Court of Pennsylvania

The Superior Court of Pennsylvania is one of the two statewide intermediate appellate courts within Pennsylvania. The Superior Court reviews civil and criminal cases that are appealed from the Courts of Common Pleas.

Judges who are appointed to the Superior Court serve 10-year terms and must retire at age 75. Judges retain their seat after their term has expired via a retention vote.

Brandon Neuman (D-Pa.) ran against Maria Battista (R-Pa.) and Ann Marie Wheatcraft (R-Pa.), with Neuman winning with a total of 823,710 votes. 9,224 of those votes were cast within Centre County.

Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania

The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania is the second intermediate appellate court and alongside the Superior Court, deals with regulatory agencies, state and local governments.

Judges who are appointed to the Commonwealth court follow the same rules as the Superior Court in regards to term limits, retention and retirement.

Stella Tsai (D-Pa.) ran against Matt Wolford (R-Pa.) and Josh Prince (R-Pa.). Tsai won with a total of 821,340 votes. 9,243 of those votes came from Centre County.

District Attorney

The district attorney (DA) acts as a representative of the United States government in criminal cases that take place in county-level and local courts. DAs can serve a total of two four-year terms.

Bernie Cantorna (D-Pa.), ran unopposed and was reelected with a total of 9,407 votes. Cantorna has served as district attorney in Centre County since Jan. 2, 2018.

Jury Commissioner

The jury commissioners are tasked with overseeing the civil jury process within their appointed county. There are two jury commissioners in Centre County who serve four-year terms.

Shelley L Thompson (D-Pa.) and Hope P Miller (R-Pa.) were both reelected to their positions with a total of 9,125 and 7,515 votes respectively. They both ran unopposed on their respective ballots.

Mayor

The Mayor of State College is the official representative of the municipality as well as the presiding officer of the State College Borough Council. They are limited to four-year terms before needing to be reelected.

Ezra Nanes (D-Pa.) was reelected as mayor of State College with a total of 1,535 votes. He ran unopposed, save for 42 write-in Republican ballots.

State College Borough Council

The State College Borough Council consists of seven members including the mayor, who all serve four-year terms that overlap, resulting in some members seeing elections before others.

Nalini Krishnankuttty (D-Pa.), John Hayes (D-Pa.) and Gopal Balachandran (D-Pa.) ran unopposed to be reelected to their positions on the council, with Krishnankutty receiving 1,459 votes, Hayes receiving 1,371 votes and Balachandran receiving 1,430 votes.

School Director, State College School District

The State College Area School District (SCASD) is governed by a board of directors which consists of nine members who all serve four-year terms.

Seven candidates ran on both the Democratic and Republican ballots for four available seats on the board with Deborah Anderson being reelected to the board with 6,084 votes across both ballots.

Jackie Huff, another incumbent, is also expected to be reelected with 5,490 votes across both ballots.

Jesse Barlow and Rebecca Arnold Desmarais are also expected to win seats on the SCASD Board of Directors with each candidate receiving 5,834 votes and 5,059 votes respectively across both ballots.

Judges

Judges in Centre County serve in minor courts within Pennsylvania’s judicial system and consist of magisterial district judges who preside over several municipal courts throughout State College and elsewhere.

These courts are tasked with determining if criminal cases go to the Court of Common Pleas, dealing with Preliminary arraignments and preliminary hearings and setting and accepting bail, except in murder or voluntary manslaughter cases.

State College is made up of two magisterial districts.

Magisterial District 49-1-01 consists of Voting Districts within State College, specifically East 2, East 3, and East 4, East Central 2 and 3, South 2, South Central 1 & 2, Southeast and West Central 2.

Donald M Hahn ran on both the Democratic and Republican ballots to be reelected as judge for magisterial district 49-1-01, which includes State College, with a total of 930 votes across both ballots. He ran unopposed for the position.

Magisterial District 49-3-05 consists of Voting Districts within State College, specifically Voting Districts East 1, East Central 1, North, Northeast, Northwest, South 1, West 1, West 2 and West Central 1.

Steven F. Lachman ran on both the Democratic and Republican ballots to be reelected as judge for magisterial district 49-3-05, which includes State College, with a total of 889 votes across both ballots. He ran unopposed for the position.

The full list of Centre County unofficial Municipal Primary Elections results is available at centrecountypa.gov.

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‘With enough hard work, anything is possible’ | Maddie Pitts’ journey as a Penn State track and field star

Despite growing up around gymnastics her entire life, multi-event athlete Maddie Pitts is no…

 

 

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Luzerne County voters choose council candidates

It appears Luzerne County Republican voters chose three incumbents, a prior councilman and a newcomer to advance to the November general election in the county council race, according to unofficial primary election results. At 11:45 p.m., with all 186 precincts reporting, the following Republicans were in the lead: Council members John Lombardo, Brian Thornton […]

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It appears Luzerne County Republican voters chose three incumbents, a prior councilman and a newcomer to advance to the November general election in the county council race, according to unofficial primary election results.

At 11:45 p.m., with all 186 precincts reporting, the following Republicans were in the lead: Council members John Lombardo, Brian Thornton and Greg Wolovich, past county councilman Stephen J. Urban and southern county resident Jackie Scarcella.

Meanwhile, county Democrats nominated these five based on unofficial results: Denise Williams, Dawn Simmons, Chris Belles, Steven M. Coslett and Tony Perzia.

Nine Republicans sought that party’s five nominations Tuesday, which means the following four will not advance if the unofficial leads stand: incumbent Kevin Lescavage, Thomas Dombroski, Ronald D. Knapp and Rob Viars.

Seven Democrats ran, and the unofficial leads indicate the following did not secure nominations: Johnny Price and Emily Singh.

Council members receive $8,000 annually. In addition to adopting a budget, their duties include approving larger contracts, appointing members to outside county boards, enacting codes and ordinances, confirming nominations to eight division head positions and hiring/firing and evaluating the manager.

The compensation and powers of council could change if voters adopt a proposed home rule charter in November. For example, the county government study commission drafting the revised charter is recommending increasing the annual compensation for council members from $8,000 to $10,000 due to their responsibilities and workload.

The five council members selected in November will take office or start new terms the start of 2026 and serve with Joanna Bryn Smith, Harry Haas, Patty Krushnowski, LeeAnn McDermott, Jimmy Sabatino and Brittany Stephenson.

Chris Perry, the remaining incumbent in a seat that expires at the end of this year, did not seek re-election.

The unofficial vote tally as of 11:45 p.m. with 186 precincts reporting:

Republicans: Lombardo, 12,065; Thornton, 9,838; Urban, 9,042; Scarcella, 8,999; Wolovich, 8,638; Lescavage, 8,339; Dombroski, 8,017; Knapp, 6,629; and Viars, 4,742.

Democrats: Williams, 14,647; Simmons, 12,461; Belles, 12,048; Coslett, 11,501; Perzia, 10,618; Singh, 8,763; and Price, 8,057.

Some background on the nominees based on their announcement and other communications:

Republicans

• Lombardo, of Pittston, received a bachelor’s degree in political science and media relations from Penn State University in 2015. He currently works as a full-time firefighter/EMT at the City Fire Bureau and has served on county council since January 2022.

• Thornton, of West Pittston, graduated from Lehigh University with a degree in mechanical engineering. He initially worked as a project engineer in New York City and has worked as a financial advisor in the county for 28 years. He had previously served on West Pittston Borough Council for a decade and has been a county council member since January 2022.

• Urban, of Kingston, is an IT support coordinator for a major food distributor and prior county council member. He served on county council from 2012 through 2015 and from 2020 through 2023. He currently serves on the county Government Study Commission.

• Scarcella, of Hazle Township, works as the development and alumni stewardship officer at Penn State University’s Hazleton campus and is a graduate of Hazleton High School and the Luzerne County Community College. She served two terms on the Hazleton Area School Board from 2016 to 2023.

• Wolovich, of Hanover Township, has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from King’s College and works as an operations manager at Wegmans Food Market in Wilkes-Barre Township. He has served on county council since January 2022.

Democrats

• Williams, of Kingston Township, began her career as a registered nurse and later became the coordinator of religious education at Saint Therese’s Church in Shavertown, a role she held for 24 years until her retirement in 2021. From 2017 to 2021, Williams volunteered with Fair Districts PA, a nonpartisan citizens group working to end gerrymandering in Pennsylvania. She served as county election board chair from 2021 through the end of 2024.

• Simmons, of Wilkes-Barre, Simmons, is a U.S. Air Force veteran and Realtor and described herself as a “resolute advocate for veterans, families and economic growth.”

• Belles, of West Pittston, is a 2004 Dallas High School graduate and a 2009 graduate of King’s College. He has spent most of his life in Luzerne County and currently works as a data analyst for Astound Broadband (RCN), where he focuses on identifying opportunities for efficiency.

• Coslett, of Forty Fort, graduated from the Wyoming Valley West School District and attended Luzerne County Community College, where he studied business management and criminal justice. Additionally, Coslett is a graduate of the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Academy in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. He retired after 23 years with the county correctional services division but continues to serve on the honor guard and its board of directors.

• Perzia, of Luzerne, said he is a dedicated community advocate with more than 30 years of experience in the community. He has served on the Luzerne Borough Council, as the Wyoming Valley West School District’s support staff president and on the PSEA Legislative Committee.

There was no primary competition in the county controller’s race because incumbent Republican controller Walter Griffith and Democratic contender Tim McGinley were each unopposed. The two will run against each other in November.

Based on the unofficial primary tally at 11:45 p.m., McGinley received 17,841 votes, while Griffith obtained 15,888.



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College Sports

Eight years in the making, former Ferris State hockey player Lucas Finner earns Doctor of Pharmacy

      May 21, 2025 Former Ferris State hockey player let what started as a curiosity about pharmacy lead him ultimately to a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Ferris State. BIG RAPIDS, Mich. —  It was an eight-year journey for Lucas Finner, who initially arrived at Ferris State University laser-focused on his college hockey career. […]

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Lucas Finner Bulldog hockey alum earns Doctor of Pharmacy
Former Ferris State hockey player let what started as a curiosity about pharmacy lead
him ultimately to a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Ferris State.

BIG RAPIDS, Mich. — 

It was an eight-year journey for Lucas Finner, who initially arrived at Ferris State
University laser-focused on his college hockey career.

Skating for the Bulldogs, Finner balanced his efforts on the ice and his work in the
classroom.

Lucas Finner with the Miller boys

Lucas Finner, pictured here as a freshman for the Ferris State hockey team, is pictured
with Cam and Cooper Miller.

After earning his Bachelor of Science in Biology (Pre-Pharmacy) in spring 2021 from
the College of Arts, Sciences and Education, Finner reflected fondly on his complete
Ferris State journey as a hockey student-athlete turned graduate student in the College
of Pharmacy’s doctoral program.

Through the years and his life experiences, Finner has gained perspective on a long
college journey marked by successes.

“Four years to get my degree in Biology, while balancing life as a student-athlete,
followed by four more years working my way to earning my Doctor of Pharmacy,” said
Finner, a native of Elmhurst, Illinois. “It’s definitely a lot to balance.”

The Ferris State Doctor of Pharmacy requires at least six academic years of full-time
college study – two years Pre-Pharmacy plus four professional years. Accordingly,
Finner’s Ferris State choice was about more than playing college hockey as time passed.
Coming to Big Rapids, developing short-term and long-term goals, Finner lived the
best of all worlds as a student-athlete.

“I went to Ferris State to play hockey,” he said. “At the same time, I learned about
its pharmacy program. I knew Ferris State had a really good program. I was blessed
with the opportunity to do both at Ferris State.”

Finner felt a nudge down a career path. “I’ve always had a curiosity about pharmacy.
I like to help people too. I thought it was a great route to go.”

Before joining the Ferris State program, Finner played junior hockey for the Nanaimo
Clippers of the British Columbia Hockey League. There, he earned accolades, including
being named the Clippers’ “Most Exciting Player” during the 2016-17 season. He totaled
25 points in 31 games and played in 55 more the prior season with Nanaimo.

On the ice, Finner was a solid player for the Bulldogs with 17 career goals – including
seven on the power play. The 17 goals with 23 assists added up to 40 points for longtime,
legendary head coach Bob Daniels. His first career goal came in Yost Ice Arena in
Ann Arbor against the University of Michigan on Nov. 2, 2017. 
 
Being a student-athlete is challenging. That is especially true for a student-athlete
like Finner, who focused on earning his Doctor of Pharmacy degree.

“It definitely got tough at times,” he said. “But the good thing about it is that
you get a lot of support here from coaches, teammates and the university. What I love
about being here is that everyone wants you to succeed. That lets you know that your
success is possible if you put in the work.”

Beyond the coaching staff, however, Finner had a network of people in the Big Rapids
community cheering him on throughout his Bulldog journey, including Mecosta County
Sheriff Brian Miller, his wife, Heather, and their family.

Heather was among the well-wishers inside a packed Jim Wink Arena on Friday, May 9,
as one of the many people cheering on Finner, including some of his family.

“Lucas was the first to come into our lives in August of 2018 as a Ferris State University
freshman hockey player,” Heather said. “From the very beginning, he brought not only
his passion for the game but a quiet determination, kindness and humility that made
him an instant role model for our two young boys (Cameron and Cooper). Two years later,
when Max joined the team and came to Big Rapids, it felt like our family was simply
growing in the most natural way. Max had his own unique spark—driven, thoughtful,
and always one to step up when needed.”

Max played two seasons for Ferris State and had four points on one goal with three
assists in 38 games.  
Their growth, according to Miller, is a big part of the college experience.

“Watching them both grow from teenagers into mature, driven young men has been one
of the greatest honors of our lives,” she said. “They were more than just college
hockey players — they were family. Our boys idolized them, cheered for them at every
game, and learned from their discipline, sportsmanship and heart both on and off the
ice.”

There was a special twist to a great day for the Finner family. While Lucas graduated
with his Doctor of Pharmacy from Ferris State in Big Rapids, Max graduated in Chicago.

“Now, fast forward eight years, and here we are—full of pride and emotion—watching
Lucas graduate as Dr. Lucas Finner with his Doctor of Pharmacy from Ferris State University.
On the very same day, Max is graduating from Roosevelt University with a degree in
Cybersecurity and preparing to ship off next week for basic training in the U.S. Army,
where he will go on to serve in the Cyber Operations division,” Miller said. “To say
we are proud is an understatement. These two young men are on their way to making
a real difference in the world.”

Lucas Finner is excited about this next chapter of life.

“After eight years of school, I am looking forward to getting out there and working
to see where life takes me from here,” he said. 





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