College Sports

Brett Larson excited about improvements coming to Herb Brooks National Hockey Center

ST. CLOUD — St. Cloud State men’s hockey coach Brett Larson expressed relief and excitement about changes coming to the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center. After more than six years of asking for state funding to get a new refrigeration system for the arena’s two ice rinks, the state Legislature passed an estimated $12.8 million […]

Published

3 weeks ago

June 28, 2025

Your Sports Nation

ST. CLOUD — St. Cloud State men’s hockey coach Brett Larson expressed relief and excitement about changes coming to the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center.

After more than six years of asking for state funding to get a new refrigeration system for the arena’s two ice rinks,

the state Legislature passed an estimated $12.8 million in funding on June 9,

for a replacement. The original and outdated R-22 system was originally installed when the building opened in 1989.

“The ice plant was at a point where it could go down, which was a major concern,” Larson said. “The biggest thing for me, and our program, is the investment by the state into this university and into the hockey program. Having the ice and practice (rinks) shrunk. Bringing it down to a hybrid still gives us a home rink advantage and it was essential to the success of this program.”

With the funding passed, the plan is to begin construction work on the project in April 2026. With the new refrigeration system, the floors of both the main rink and the practice rink will have to be dug up to take out the old pipes and put in new ones.

The plan includes having the main rink shrunk so that it will be 200 feet long by 94 feet wide. The main rink has been 100 feet wide since it opened in 1989. It also includes shrinking the practice rink from Olympic sized (200 by 100) to be an NHL-sized rink (200 by 85).

“For years, everyone has wondered if the Olympic-sized sheet is a plus or a minus,” Larson said. “There’s probably a little bit of both. Now, with having the home ice advantage, but also being able to practice on an NHL-sized sheet so we don’t have as much transition when we go on the road sets us up for more success.”

Sophomore goalie Isak Posch on the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center practice rink on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025.

Practicing on NHL-sized rink

One of the differences when players play on the Olympic-sized sheet versus the NHL-sized sheet is the reaction time. With the smaller NHL-sized sheet, there is quicker reaction time to plays.

There are numbers to back up that SCSU could use an NHL-sized practice rink. Last season,

the Huskies

were 9-8-1 at home and 5-13 on the road.

“You can see our team on the road, it takes us sometimes a period to get acclimated to the size of the rink,” said Larson, who recently completed his seventh season as SCSU’s head coach. “In our league, games are so tight and every game matters so much that you don’t want to take a period to get acclimated. You want to be ready to go.

“Having the ability to practice on an NHL-sized rink all week, I think puts us in a better position to be more successful when we go on the road. In the old days, and even in some of the time since I’ve been here, we would go over to the MAC or to Sartell to get on an NHL-sized sheet, especially in playoffs. It’s just not ideal and a great experience for the players. Having this setup now, the hybrid on the main and the NHL on the practice (rink), it’s going to be the perfect for us.”

Getting new boards and plexiglass is also going to help the facility.

“For safety concerns, the old boards in here don’t move at all,” Larson said. “For the aesthetics of the building, we’re finally going to get into the 21st century with the structure of our building. When you add in the new boards, glass and lighting, it’s going to spruce up the arena.”

Barrett Hall.jpg — St. Cloud State’s Barrett Hall (15) takes a shot on goal in a game against Bemidji State on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023, at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center in St. Cloud.

There will be some adjustments for the St. Cloud State hockey players who train at the facility during the offseason. The construction project is likely to begin in April with the hope of having it ready to be used by the fall.

“It will be a little inconvenient for a summer, but there’s local ice in the area that our guys will be able to get on,” Larson said. “They’ll still have access to our weight room and locker room. We’ll just have to get through a short stretch of inconvenience, but it’s going to be well worth it.”

The Huskies, by the way, recently had their two-week summer camp at the Brooks Center. Larson said that all of the players on next season’s roster were able to make the camp other than goalies Patriks Berzins (Sabile, Latvia) and Yan Shostak (Minsk, Belarus) and

forward Verner Miettinen (Espoo, Finland).

All three of those players are from Europe and Larson does not ask overseas players to attend the camp. The camp is run mostly by SCSU strength and conditioning coach Jake Franczek and the players who will be seniors on next season’s roster.

“It’s a great chance for our freshmen to get in and get acclimated and get to know the team,” Larson said. “It’s also nice for the guys who are going to NHL development camps because they get training before they go off to those camps. Most of them will leave here the day after the draft.”

The NHL Draft will be held June 27-28 in Los Angeles.

SCSU will have five freshmen and three transfers join the team this fall.

The freshmen include forwards

Nolan Roed,

Noah Urness

and

Aiden Welch,

defenseman Tanner Henricks

and Shostak. The transfers are defensemen

Finn Loftus (Massachusetts)

and

Max Smolinski (RPI)

and

Berzins (Maine).

Members of the St. Cloud State men’s hockey team work on special teams during practice on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center in St. Cloud. Players in white are the penalty killers.

Mick Hatten is a reporter and editor for stcloudlive.com. He began working for Forum Communications in November 2018 for The Rink Live and has covered St. Cloud State University hockey since 2010. Besides covering Huskies hockey, he is also covering other sports at SCSU and high school sports. A graduate of St. Cloud State, he has more than 30 years of experience as a journalist and has been a youth hockey coach since 2014. mick@stcloudlive.com

For more coverage of St. Cloud and the surrounding communities, check out St. Cloud Live.

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College Sports

Surprising List Of Biggest NIL Spenders In College Football

It’s a well known assumption from college football fans that the Oregon Ducks are in the upper echelon of name, image, and likeness (NIL) investment. Through Nike founder Phil Knight creating Oregon’s NIL group Division Street, to the massive recent opportunities coming from institutions being able to share their revenue directly with athletes, the Ducks […]

Published

12 minutes ago

July 16, 2025

Your Sports Nation

It’s a well known assumption from college football fans that the Oregon Ducks are in the upper echelon of name, image, and likeness (NIL) investment.

Through Nike founder Phil Knight creating Oregon’s NIL group Division Street, to the massive recent opportunities coming from institutions being able to share their revenue directly with athletes, the Ducks are capitalizing off this new frontier in order to bring in the top talent.

Now, according to a new poll conducted by On3 of 17 stakeholders across college football (think coaches, NIL collectives, general managers, agents, and administration members) the Ducks are once again in the spotlight for spending.

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College Sports

Kai Trump on how sports keep her close to her grandfather, especially on the golf course | National Sports

Kai Trump’s love of golf began at the age of 2, and she credits her grandfather, President Donald Trump, as someone who helps cultivate her passion for the game. It’s no secret the 47th president of the United States loves to get out on the golf course when he can, and his own love for […]

Published

44 minutes ago

July 16, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Kai Trump’s love of golf began at the age of 2, and she credits her grandfather, President Donald Trump, as someone who helps cultivate her passion for the game.

It’s no secret the 47th president of the United States loves to get out on the golf course when he can, and his own love for the sport is one of the many things his 18-year-old granddaughter says keeps their bond strong.

Kai, who will play golf at the University of Miami in 2026, spoke to Fox News Digital about how sports play a role in her relationship with her grandfather.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

“Me and him are very close, and we bond over golf. So, he influenced me a lot with golf, especially when I was talking about schools and colleges,” she said, discussing her NIL partnership with Accelerator Active Energy. “He loved that I was going to Miami because Trump Doral was right there as well, so he’s influenced me a lot with golf.”

President Trump has spent time with his granddaughter on the golf course over the years as she worked on her craft to get to this point of competing at the Division I level.

Even before his political career, Trump’s love of golf led to 15 courses being run by Trump Golf, 11 of which are in the U.S. Kai has played those courses, while being exposed to resources she knows not every golfer has had the opportunity to have learning the game.

KAI TRUMP ANNOUNCES 1ST MAJOR NIL PARTNERSHIP WITH ACCELERATOR ACTIVE ENERGY IN PRESIDENTIAL FASHION

“I was very, very lucky, and I’m obviously very thankful for all the resources I had,” she explained. “Obviously, I used those resources to develop into a great golfer now. But I’m very lucky because not many people have those opportunities growing up.”

But it’s not just golf. President Trump’s passion for sports is much more broad.

For example, UFC matches are a frequent stop for the president, and Kai joined her grandfather and other family members in Miami for UFC 314. She walked alongside him as he entered the Kaseya Center to a raucous crowd.

“I don’t think I ever heard such a loud arena in my entire life,” she said about the experience. “But it was really cool to see everyone supporting him, especially in Miami. It was really nice. And when I was driving there, I stopped by my school just to see the campus and what not. It was really cool.”

While Kai isn’t a football fan like her grandfather, they do share a love for sports outside of golf.

“We have watched a lot of tennis together,” she revealed. “I love tennis. I grew up actually playing tennis when I was 2 years old, just like golf. So, I started with tennis and golf. We enjoy watching that together, especially like Wimbledon. I know it was yesterday, but we enjoy doing that together.”

PARTNERING WITH ACCELERATOR

Being a college athlete in today’s NCAA means having the ability to profit from your brand, and Kai has already developed a following through her social media and content creation passions.

She struck an NIL partnership with Accelerator Active Energy, becoming the brand’s first golf NIL partner, while also being an equity partner.

Accelerator Active Energy is the brand that earned acclaim for launching “The Livvy Fund” with former college gymnastics champion Livvy Dunne to support women’s college athletes. Dunne is also an equity partner, as is Kansas City Chiefs superstar Travis Kelce.

A presidential-themed video in which Kai addresses “fellow Americans and content creators” announced the move, which she could not be more excited about.

“It’s pretty cool, especially being partners with such great athletes and being up there to with him,” she said.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

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College Sports

Penn State men’s hockey releases 2025-26 nonconference slate | Sports

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Fresh off its first Frozen Four appearance, the Penn State men’s ice hockey team announced its 10-game nonconference schedule for the 2025-26 season earlier this week. The Nittany Lions open their 2025-26 campaign away from Pegula Ice Arena for the third straight season with a trip to Arizona State Oct. 3-4. […]

Published

1 hour ago

July 16, 2025

Your Sports Nation

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Fresh off its first Frozen Four appearance, the Penn State men’s ice hockey team announced its 10-game nonconference schedule for the 2025-26 season earlier this week.

The Nittany Lions open their 2025-26 campaign away from Pegula Ice Arena for the third straight season with a trip to Arizona State Oct. 3-4. The Sun Devils were the first team out of the 2025 NCAA tournament after finishing the 2024-25 season No. 15 in the Pairwise Rankings. Arizona State finished second in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference during the regular season, advancing all the way to the Frozen Faceoff in St. Paul, Minnesota before losing to Denver during its inaugural season in the league.

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College Sports

Michigan gymnastics coach Bev Plocki announces retirement

Legendary Michigan gymnastics coach Bev Plocki announced her retirement on Wednesday, July 16. She has been the head of the team since 1990. Over her 36 seasons with the program, Plocki transformed the Wolverines from a team which struggled to put together winning seasons into one of only eight teams to ever win the NCAA […]

Published

2 hours ago

July 16, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Legendary Michigan gymnastics coach Bev Plocki announced her retirement on Wednesday, July 16. She has been the head of the team since 1990.

Over her 36 seasons with the program, Plocki transformed the Wolverines from a team which struggled to put together winning seasons into one of only eight teams to ever win the NCAA women’s gymnastics championship, which they accomplished in 2021.

“”It’s hard to put into words what this moment means to me,” Plocki said in a statement. “At 23 years old, I was just a young woman with a passion for gymnastics and a dream, when three incredible leaders — Bo Schembechler, Jack Weidenbach and Phyllis Ocker — took a chance on me. They believed in me before I had proven anything, and because of their faith, I’ve had the privilege of spending my entire career here at the University of Michigan.”

A native of Butler, Pennsylvania, Plocki began with the Wolverines in 1990, elevated from an assistant job she held at West Virginia to the head coach position with a Big Ten team. The team went 2-19 the year before Plocki was hired. In her first year with the team, they went 7-15 and were a 20-win team by her third year.

In her tenure as the Michigan head coach, Plocki led the Wolverines to 26 Big Ten championships – the most by any coach in any sport in the conference. Seven of them came consecutively between 1999 and 2005. Michigan has also seen eight Big Ten regular-season titles, 26 NCAA championship appearances and 10 NCAA Super Sixes.

Part of Plocki’s work as the Wolverines’ head coach was in recruiting and improving the caliber of gymnast the program attracted. Beth Wymer became the program’s first NCAA All-American in 1992, and the program has since added 52 more. Gymnasts have also received 191 All-Big Ten honors. Plocki has coached 14 Big Ten Gymnast of the Year and 13 Big Ten Freshman of the Year.

Plocki has been recognized for her coaching prowess numerous times over the years. She’s garnered 11 Big Ten Coach of the Year awards, 13 NCAA Regional Coach of the Year awards and is a two-time National Coach of the Year, earned in 1994 and 2021.

Michigan has not announced who will succeed Plocki as head coach.

Contact Matthew Auchincloss at mauchincloss@freepress.com.

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College Sports

Wayne State University announces addition of women's varsity soccer team

Story Links Wayne State release Courtesy of Wayne State Athletic Communications DETROIT — Wayne State University announced today that it will add women’s soccer as a varsity sport beginning in the 2026-27 academic year. This is the first varsity sport added by the university in more than a decade. “We’re excited to build on the […]

Published

2 hours ago

July 16, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Wayne State University announces addition of women's varsity soccer team

Courtesy of Wayne State Athletic Communications

DETROIT — Wayne State University announced today that it will add women’s soccer as a varsity sport beginning in the 2026-27 academic year. This is the first varsity sport added by the university in more than a decade.

“We’re excited to build on the enthusiasm and momentum at Wayne State with the addition of a women’s varsity soccer team,” said WSU President Dr. Kimberly Andrews Espy. “Athletics plays a key role in enabling college access and success, providing opportunities for students to develop career enhancing skills that fuel our regional workforce, and creating a vibrant campus for our community. We all look forward to cheering the program on to triumphs both in the classroom and on the field.”

The new team will create additional pathways for student-athletes to attend Wayne State, develop marketable skills and represent the Warriors on the field. The team will compete within the NCAA Division II as part of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). Home matches will be played on the lit turf field adjacent to Tom Adams Field, with improvements planned to enhance the overall training and game-day experience for athletes and fans.

“Wayne State Athletics is proud to introduce women’s varsity soccer — a transformative addition that reflects our deep commitment to opportunity under Title IX and our mission to provide high-level avenues for student-athletes to thrive academically, athletically and personally,” said Erika Wallace, WSU Director of Athletics. “Wayne State Athletics offers the unique academic opportunity to learn, live and compete in Detroit — a city that passionately loves its sports. At a time when many institutions are reevaluating their athletic offerings, we are excited to expand and enhance the student and community experience with a new varsity sport.”

With the addition of women’s soccer, Wayne State will sponsor 11 women’s teams and eight men’s teams, extending the university’s dedication to Title IX and providing opportunities for all student-athletes. The announcement comes as soccer continues to gain popularity among athletes and audiences of all ages and backgrounds, with youth participation including more than 90,000 players ages 4 to 19 in Michigan alone according to the Michigan State Youth Soccer Association. Wayne State University recently announced a unique partnership with Detroit City Football Club (DCFC) and has fielded club soccer teams for 17 years.

‘Student athletes are highly engaged on campus and in the community. Their experiences on the field help them cultivate both academic success and career-ready skills, including leadership, mentorship, persistence, and collaboration,” said Lauie M. Lauzon Clabo, WSU provost and executive president for academic affairs. “As an institution of opportunity, Wayne State is proud to offer new pathways to access higher education that prepare students with these lifelong skills.”

Warrior student-athletes are frequently recognized for academic excellence and nationally ranked for their community service, and benefit from robust student support services and partnerships with leaders in Detroit sports, including The Detroit Pistons, Ilitch Sports + Entertainment, DCFC and more. This spring, the university announced a new partnership with Opendorse to provide Name, Image & Likeness (NIL) resources for student-athletes.

The university seeks to hire a head coach by the end of summer, with preparations underway for competition in the fall of 2026. Qualified candidates interested in applying for the position can learn more and apply HERE.

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• Of the current 300-plus members of NCAA Division II, including provisional and candidacy schools, 259 offer women’s soccer, including nine of the current GLIAC members (only Lake Superior State will not sponsor women’s soccer once WSU’s program commences).

• The GLIAC has traditionally played a 14-game conference schedule preceded by two weekends of non-league competition.

• Following the conclusion of the regular season, the top eight teams advance to the GLIAC tournament which runs Tuesday through Sunday in mid-November.

• The GLIAC has had three different tournament champions in the last four years (Ferris State in 2021, Grand Valley State in 2022, and Northern Michigan in 2023 and 2024).

• The NCAA started sponsoring a women’s soccer championship in 1988 with GVSU having the most national titles (7).

• Twenty-two (22) current Division 2 schools in the Midwest Region have qualified for the NCAA Tournament. Currently the top seven squads (three automatic bids and four at-large) advance to the NCAA Tournament each year from the Midwest Region which consists of 35 schools (nine from the GLIAC, 11 from the G-MAC and 15 from the GLVC).

• Women’s soccer is the first sport added by WSU since women’s golf began during the 2014-15 academic year.

College Sports

St. John Fisher Baseball Standout Mario Cubello Named 2024-25 Empire 8 Man of the Year

Baseball | 7/16/2025 9:59:30 AM Story Links Mario Cubello, a four-year member of the St. John. Fisher University baseball team was named the 2024-25 Empire 8 Conference’s Man of the Year. This award honors a senior male student-athlete who has distinguished himself throughout his collegiate career in the areas of academic achievement, athletics […]

Published

3 hours ago

July 16, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Baseball | 7/16/2025 9:59:30 AM

Mario Cubello, a four-year member of the St. John. Fisher University baseball team was named the 2024-25 Empire 8 Conference’s Man of the Year. This award honors a senior male student-athlete who has distinguished himself throughout his collegiate career in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership.

Cubello recently graduated Magna Cum Laude with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.99 as a biology major with a minor in chemistry. He was named St. John Fisher’s 2025 Male Scholar Athlete of the Year and won the institution’s prestigious 2024-25 Michael Cerame “Coach C” Excellence in Leadership and Dedication Award. In addition, he won the 2024 Empire 8 Baseball Torchbearer Award for academic excellence.

Cubello, who shuffled primarily between second base and right field in 2025, enjoyed a tremendous senior season, earning All-Empire 8 first team accolades and D3baseball.com All-Region second team accolades. Cubello led the Cardinals in home runs (8), walks (41), slugging percentage (.627), on-base percentage (.566) and stolen bases (22 in 23 attempts) during the 2025 season. He finished second on the team in batting average (.382) and fourth in RBI (30). Overall, Cubello led the Empire 8 in both walks and on-base percentage and was second with a tremendous 1.193 OPS and tied for second in stolen bases.

“I am both humbled and honored to be recognized as the Empire 8 Man of the Year,” said Cubello. “I want to express my great appreciation to the Empire 8 Conference, not only for this incredible honor, but for the exceptional platform they provide all of the student-athletes within the conference to compete. It has been a privilege to compete here and an experience I will cherish for the rest of my life.

To St. John Fisher, I am endlessly grateful for the extraordinary student-athlete experience they have provided us. For four years Fisher has provided me everything needed and more to excel both in the classroom and on the field. I am forever proud to wear the Cardinals uniform. I also want to express my deep appreciation and gratitude to Coach Brandon Potter, Dave Roth, and Bobby Papalouizos for their instrumental role in my journey. Their dedication to my growth and development not only as a player, but as a person, has been vital to my success at Fisher and will continue to guide me in my future endeavors.”

Academically, Cubello was an eight-time Empire 8 President’s List selection, eight-time St. John Fisher Dean’s List recipient and earned High Honors accolades. In addition, he was a two-year President of Fisher’s Upsilon Rho Chapter of Tri-Beta National Biological Honor Society and was a 2025 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Baseball Team selection.

“Mario’s effort, dedication, determination, and commitment to the classroom and field are always impressive,” said St. John Fisher Head Baseball Coach Brandon Potter. “He’s made a forever impression on teammates, coaches, and the baseball program. As great as Mario is in the classroom and on the diamond, he’s a greater teammate and person.”

Cubello was President of St. John Fisher’s Pre-Health Club, where he organized meet and greets/information sessions with nearby New York and Pennsylvania medical schools. He also was a student health ambassador, devoted to promoting wellness and educating the Fisher campus community on a wide range of health topics. Cubello was also a member of the American Cancer Society on campus, while fundraising and spreading awareness about cancer to the campus community.

He served as an emergency room volunteer at both Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester and Albany Memorial Hospital. Cubello was also a Schenectady Ole Timers Baseball Club Skills Camp Volunteer and three-year volunteer at the Albany Dutchmen Youth Baseball Camps.

“Mario leads by example,” said Jen Granger, St. John Fisher University Director of Athletics. “His work ethic, character, teamwork and intelligence are what you hope for in a student athlete as they lead to success on and off the field.”

In four seasons at St. John Fisher, Cubello, a native of Bethlehem, NY, hit .340 with 58 runs scored, nine home runs and 40 RBI. He stole 22 bases and recorded a career 1.071 OPS. St. John Fisher won 120 games in his four seasons, won three Empire 8 Championships, and made three NCAA Division III Baseball Championship Tournament appearances.

“Mario is a tremendous representative of St. John Fisher University and the Empire 8 on and off the field,” said Empire 8 Senior Associate Commissioner Joe Venniro. “Mario showed that not only did his hard work and perseverance throughout four years paid off on the field, while his work in the classroom and leadership roles within the St. John Fisher community were spectacular. He is very deserving winner of the E8’s Man of the Year award.”

Cubello will now be forwarded to the national DIII Commissioner’s Association Senior Male Athlete of the Year award. He led a strong contingent of nine outstanding nominees considered by the Empire 8 Man of the Year Committee. Brian Scoville, Utica University All-American hockey player was the 2024 E8 Man of the Year. Cubello’s former teammate Noah Campanelli, was named the 2023 Empire 8 Man of the Year and DIII Commissioner’s Association Senior Male Athlete of the Year.

2024-25 Empire 8 Man of the Year Finalists

Mario Cubello, Baseball, St. John Fisher University

Luke Insley, Basketball, Nazareth University

Joe Johnson, Lacrosse, Russell Sage College

Sebastian Knowles, Swimming and Diving, Hartwick College

Evan Kurtz, Track and Field, Houghton University

William LaMastus, Swimming and Diving, Alfred University

Anthony Lapine, Baseball, SUNY Brockport

Joe Vogt, Soccer, SUNY Geneseo

Matt Wood, Ice Hockey, Utica University

ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE

The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit www.empire8.com.

EMPIRE 8 SOCIAL MEDIA

YouTube – Facebook – Twitter – Instagram