The 2023-24 athletic season was a special one for Amherst’s Rich Ferro. His two sons, Skyler and Sawyer, were teammates for the first time ever on the Hurricanes’ ice hockey and boys lacrosse teams.

Skyler, a senior, and Sawyer, a freshman, had never starred on the same team before due to the four-year age difference and Rich had a front row seat to the new experience as an assistant coach with the hockey team and head coach of the lacrosse team.

Initially, Rich had some reservations as to whether taking over the reigns as the lacrosse head coach in 2024 would be a good idea with his two sons in the mix, but a conversation with a trusted friend helped Rich come to a decision.

It proved to be the right one.

“This guy was sort of my teaching mentor and he retired from [Amherst Middle School] a few years ago. His name is Norm Price and he was like, ‘are you kidding me? They’re both OK with you coaching them?’ And I’m like, ‘Absolutely.’ He’s like, ‘then you’d be crazy not to… you don’t get that kind of opportunity very often.’ And then it happened and I had both of them on the hockey team and the lacrosse team, and having them both on the same ice and the same field at the same time, working together toward the same goal was just awesome,” Rich Ferro said.  “You get to be there with them while one of them makes passes to the other one for a goal, and that happened several times in lacrosse last year when they were both playing attack together. That was incredible.”

On the ice, the ‘Canes put together a 12-win campaign, however they didn’t have the same level of success in lacrosse, finishing with six victories. Still, Rich looks back on that season fondly. He had the best of both worlds in terms on maintaining the father-son relationship, as well as the coaching responsibilities for the rest of the team, since he always wound up specializing in positions his two sons did not play.

“I generally coach the forwards and Coach [Mike] Russo coaches the defense [in hockey],” Rich said. “Both my boys have played defense, so in practices, when it’s time to split offense and defense, they’re with Coach Russo and so it’s sort of worked out in hockey that I’m not… yes, I’m their coach, but I’m not directly coaching them as individuals.

“When I took over for Charlie Edwards [as the Amherst boys lacrosse head coach], who’s now at Northampton, my best friend Henry Wilson, he took the offense, and I was like, ‘I’ll take the defense,’” Rich added. “That’s something that was new to me. But again, both my sons, they’re attackmen and [midfielders] and so they would work with Henry when they’re doing team offense and defensive work, and I’m with the defense. So I think that’s an adjustment that has naturally kind of worked in both hockey and lacrosse, where I’m not on their case for all of practice. In hockey, they’re at the other end of the bench, not that we don’t interact by any means, but I think that’s been something that’s helped in that regard.”

Rich was a former lacrosse player himself for Amherst in the 1990s and loved the physical nature of the sport. Both Skyler and Sawyer followed in their father’s footsteps as players who welcome contact, sometimes a bit too much, according to Rich.

“I think that’s one of the things that led all of us to sports like hockey and lacrosse, is just the physical nature of it,” Rich said. “That is something that we really like and that gene is there. That part of that is really natural to coach with them. It wasn’t something that I really needed to push. In fact, it’s probably the opposite where I have needed to emphasize other parts of the game, beyond the physical side of things with them.”

Once Skyler graduated in 2024, he returned this spring to help coach Rich in lacrosse, adding another interesting wrinkle to the Ferro family connection within Amherst athletics. The Hurricanes’ most memorable moment of the season came last month during its 9-6 win over Northampton for their first Western Massachusetts Class B championship in more than 20 years.

Now a rising sophomore at Amherst College, Skyler’s departure from high school athletics signaled that Sawyer isn’t too far behind from graduating either. While the younger Ferro still has two more years before that day comes, Rich will have another decision to make, as far as whether or not he wants to continue to coach high school sports once his kids are no longer there.

“That’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot,” Rich said. “I don’t know that I will continue to coach two sports after he’s done.”

Rich mentioned due to the hockey team’s shrinking numbers, he’s unsure what the state of the program will look like next year and the year after, making it difficult for him to make a decision until then. Although, when it comes to lacrosse, Rich sounded more confident in his future decision with that program.

“I would like to stick with lacrosse for as long as I’m a teacher, or whatever it happens to be that I’m doing in this district over the next several years,” Rich said. “There’s really good numbers and a lot of excitement around lacrosse in Amherst right now and so knowing that feeder system is coming through, is exciting. I think we could, I don’t know that we’ll push the top teams as much as I’d like, the Agawams and West Springfields, Longmeadows and whatnot, but I think we can get to that place where we start being able to be competitive with those teams again, like we used to be.”

With Father’s Day falling within the pocket of the year in the Ferro’s schedule where they get a respite from sports practices and games, the holiday offers Rich a chance to rest, reflect and not have to worry about drawing up plays or thinking what to say to motivate his teams.

“We’re all just ready to take a deep breath and relax a little bit,” Rich said. “We don’t do a lot of sitting still in our family, but to be able to take some time to do things around the house and just spend time, I think, with each other as a family [is the plan].”

On Sunday, Rich can just be ‘dad’ and he’s quite alright with that.

Gophers men’s hockey is known to reload, not rebuild. That will be put to the test next season, as Bob Motzko and his coaching staff are forced to replace each of their top five leaders in points from last season. Let’s try and predict who could be Minnesota’s new crop of stars in 2025-26.

Lamb is the highest-scoring returning player for the Gophers. He had 26 points last season with 17 goals and nine assists. Heading into his fourth season with the program, the former fourth-round pick of the New York Rangers looks like the favorite to lead Minnesota in scoring next season.

Ziemer wasn’t too far behind Lamb’s production last season, but he was a true freshman. In his first college season, he totaled 23 points with 12 goals and 11 assists. He was a third-round pick by the Sabres in 2024, and he could be looking at a big step up in scoring heading into year two with the Gophers.

Minnesota’s biggest pickup from the transfer portal this offseason was Ludtke from Omaha. The former Lakeville South High School star had 28 points as a true freshman with the Mavericks, but he battled injuries last season and finished the year with only two points. The Gophers will lean on him to produce offensively next season.

Related: Gophers men’s hockey reveals 2025-26 non-conference schedule

Pahlsson has an impressive freshman season with the Gophers, compiling 18 points with 15 assists and three goals. He fell to the seventh round of last year’s NHL Draft to the Predators, but has intriguing long-term potential. On a young team, he has a chance to carve out a big role.

The only thing holding Mooney back from being higher on this list is the fact that he’ll be a freshman next season. He likely won’t fall any lower than the third round of this year’s NHL Draft. He had 51 points last year on the U.S. Nationals U18 team with 10 goals and 41 assists. He will have the highest expectations among all the Gophers’ incoming freshmen.

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SALT LAKE CITY— Utah Athletics will be able to retain the talents of former women’s basketball star Jenna Johnson and gymnastics phenom Maile O’Keefe in post-graduate roles with their respective programs, thanks to the Anne Osborn Post-Graduate Internship Award. The department announced today that Johnson and O’Keefe are the award recipients for 2025-26.

This is the second year the prestigious award has been available to former female student-athletes who have exhausted their eligibility, but show the potential to be leaders within athletics careers.

Dasia Young of women’s basketball was the first recipient of the award for the 2024-25 competition season.

Johnson, who graduated in May with her bachelor’s degree in operations and supply chain and a minor in strategic communication, is slated to fill Young’s role from last year with women’s basketball as an assistant graduate coach.

O’Keefe, who graduated in 2023 with her degree in kinesiology, and has since added a certificate of applied positive psychology (2024) and an MRED certificate (2025) while working as a graduate assistant coach for gymnastics, will now move over to an operations specialist role as Grace McCallum takes over as the graduate assistant coach.

ABOUT THE ANNE OSBORN POST-GRADUATE INTERNSHIP AWARD

The Anne Osborn Post-Graduate Internship Award was created with the intent to invest in Utah female student-athletes who have expired their eligibility, but possess extraordinary potential to become leaders of their generation through careers in college athletics.

Endowed by University of Utah Distinguished Professor Emeritus Anne G. Osborn, MD, the award provides financial support for a full academic year as the recipients gain valuable insight, development, and real-world experience working in athletics. Osborn was a two-sport athlete herself, competing in swimming and basketball while completing her undergraduate degree at Stanford University.

“Even at the highest levels, only a few student-athletes will ever have a realistic chance to compete professionally in the sport they love,” stated Dr. Osborn. “This post-graduate internship will allow recipients the opportunity to explore the ever-growing spectrum of careers in collegiate athletics.”

All candidates for the award must be former female student-athletes who possess leadership potential, character, academic achievement, and athletic excellence.

Through the year, all recipients must be fully engaged with their assigned roles and mentorship programs through the Utah Athletics Department and its EmpowHer program, and be actively involved in professional development sessions and departmental duties. Recipients will also be asked to provide periodic updates on their experiences and achievements that will culminate in a final reflection to be given to the EmpowHer Board of Directors.

MORE ABOUT JENNA JOHNSON, UTAH WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (2021-25)

Johnson came to Salt Lake City in 2021 as the No. 7 forward in the nation according to ESPN, and immediately made her impact known, earning Pac-12 Freshman of the Week three times in her debut season while being a key cog in leading the Utes to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 11 years.

That was only the start of Johnson’s journey, earning Pac-12 All-Conference Honorable Mentions in 2023 and 2024 while pushing Utah to new heights winning a Pac-12 Championship and earning a Sweet 16 berth in 2023.

“Jenna has cemented her legacy here at Utah as a WBB player,” said Utah Women’s Basketball coach Gavin Petersen. “As a team leader who always led by example, she was always prepared, dependable and was a fierce competitor on the floor. More than that, Jenna is an amazing human being that connected with people beyond basketball. Her maturity, spiritual faith and sense of humor are just some of the things that I am so thrilled to have stick around for another season with our program.”

Johnson finished her time at Utah ranked ninth in school history in career field goal percentage and a two-time team captain.

“The U gave me a platform to chase down my athletic dreams and develop me into a better student, woman, and member of our Salt Lake community,” said Johnson. “As I look forward to the future, my next goal is to be a Division I basketball coach.  This position will help me gain experience, confidence, and a space to continue to pursue my dreams. I think collegiate coaching is a difficult industry to break into, and this opportunity will allow me a ‘foot in the door’ to gain incredibly valuable experience while learning from a premier coaching staff, working with talented players, and being in an environment where I’m comfortable developing my skill-set as a coach.”

MORE ABOUT MAILE O’KEEFE, UTAH GYMNASTICS (2020-24)

O’Keefe established herself as one of the most decorated Red Rocks in program history, being crowned a national champion four times, a 2023 and 2024 finalist for the AAI award, a two-time NCAA Regional beam champion (2021, 2023), and earning 19 All-American nods throughout her career.

Additionally, O’Keefe smashed the record books for Utah Gymnastics, holding the school record for career 10.0s, (15), career 10.0s on beam (14), and single-season 10.0s on beam.

 

“Having been both her coach and now working alongside Maile, I can attest to her exceptional work ethic, leadership qualities, and unwavering commitment to this team,” said Utah Gymnastics head coach Carly Dockendorf. “Maile has consistently demonstrated maturity beyond her years, balancing her academic and athletic responsibilities with professionalism and enthusiasm. She has a natural ability to connect with others, making her a highly effective mentor to younger Red Rocks. Her approach is supportive, empathetic, and rooted in a genuine desire to help others grow.”

O’Keefe proved to be a force in the Pac-12, earning Gymnast of the Year in 2021, two Specialist of the Year awards (2021, 2023), 10 All-Pac-12 Conference honors, and a five-time Pac-12 Champion (2021, all-around, bars, beam, and floor; 2024, beam).

“I believe I bring a unique and valuable perspective to the program, having been in the athletes’ shoes just a year ago,” said O’Keefe. “As a former peer, I can relate to their experiences and provide guidance in a way that fosters trust and positivity. My ability to connect with athletes allows me to serve as a liaison between them and the coaches, helping to bridge any gaps and support their growth. I love Utah Gymnastics with my whole heart and I’m excited for the opportunity to contribute to their success in a different manner.”

 

Excitement and anticipation turned to unfathomable grief in an instant when the wife of hockey star Johnny Gaudreau learned her husband and his brother, Matthew, had been killed by an alleged drunken driver last summer.

Meredith Gaudreau was on the front porch of her husband’s parents’ house when she was told he and his brother died after they were hit while riding their bikes on a Salem County road.

She was in shock. “I was keeled over for days sick to my stomach,” she wrote. “I couldn’t stand up. I was awake and having nightmares.”

• MORE: Man who admitted drinking before killing NHL star now wants his statements to cops thrown out

She had recently told Johnny she was expecting their third child. His sister was supposed to get married the next day.

And now the family was planning a funeral for the brothers.

Meredith Gaudreau shared her memories of the day of her husband’s death along with many joyful memories of life with her “dream guy” in a love letter she wrote to her husband to mark the first Father’s Day without him.

She presented thepersonal message to the world in an essay posted Thursday on the sports website The Players’ Tribune.

Johnny Gaudreau, 31, and Matthew R. Gaudreau, 29, were struck and killed on the evening of Aug. 29, 2024, as they bicycled along a rural road in Salem County.

Prosecutors say Sean M. Higgins, 44, of Pilesgrove, was intoxicated when he struck the men. He’s charged with aggravated manslaughter, reckless vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of a fatal accident.

As the court case drags on, the Gaudreau family is left to mark milestones — holidays, birthdays, anniversaries — without the two beloved brothers.

Johnny Gaudreau played 11 seasons in the NHL, while Matthew Gaudreau was a college hockey player and later a coach. Their deaths shocked the international hockey world.

The wives of both brothers were pregnant at the time of the crash.

Meredith Gaudreau, Johnny’s widow, later announced the couple’s third son, Carter Michael Gaudreau, was born April 1.

Madeline Gaudreau, Matthew’s widow, announced the birth of the couple’s son, Tripp Matthew, in December.

Meredith’s letter to Johnny begins with her describing the day they met in 2018. From there, she recalled discovering that the man she was dating was a hockey star for the Calgary Flames.

The couple’s lives grew intertwined and she remembered in her letter the big moments, including the day he proposed, the day they learned they were expecting their first child, and the day Johnny made the tough decision to leave Calgary to play for the Columbus Blue Jackets.

She also recalled the day she lost Johnny and the difficult journey that has followed.

As Meredith and Madeline Gaudreau navigate life without their husbands, they’ve also found time to honor the brothers’ legacies.

The widows are co-presidents of the John and Matthew Gaudreau Foundation, formed to promote and expand youth ice hockey opportunities, help hockey families facing tragedies and assist families affected by drunk driving.

“The Foundation’s purpose is to continue giving back to what the boys are passionate about and to ultimately continue to make a positive impact on the world in their honor,” the widows wrote on the group’s website.

The family also recently hosted the inaugural Gaudreau Family 5K Run, Walk & Family Fun Day in Gloucester County. The event raised funds for a new adaptive playground at Archbishop Damiano School in Westville.

The special education school serves students with cognitive disabilities. The Gaudreau brothers’ mother and sister work at the school and a family member was a previous student.

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Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com.