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Class of 2025 sports commits

The class of 2025 has 16 graduates pursuing collegiate athletics: seniors Beshoy Eldaif, James Kropp, Wilson Mount, Nyhila Silva, and Seamus Streelman will be continuing to play soccer; Seniors Haiden Evans and Dhati Lewis Jr. will be continuing to play basketball; seniors Harper Lawrence and Lauryn Strickland will be continuing to cheer; seniors Padraig Mahony, […]

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Class of 2025 sports commits

The class of 2025 has 16 graduates pursuing collegiate athletics: seniors Beshoy Eldaif, James Kropp, Wilson Mount, Nyhila Silva, and Seamus Streelman will be continuing to play soccer; Seniors Haiden Evans and Dhati Lewis Jr. will be continuing to play basketball; seniors Harper Lawrence and Lauryn Strickland will be continuing to cheer; seniors Padraig Mahony, Isabelle Perry, and Emily Vergara will be continuing to play lacrosse; senior Neil Sevigny will be playing baseball; seniors Jada Stanford and Kenari Tigner will be continuing to run track; and Naoma Yancey will continuing to play volleyball.

BESHOY ELDAIF

Senior Beshoy Eldaif committed to the College of the Holy Cross to play Division 1 soccer and continue his education.

Since he was 3 years old, Eldaif has always enjoyed the sport and is looking forward to continuing his education and career in the upcoming years.

“I chose Holy Cross because it was the best blend of athletics and academics and I really loved the team culture,” Eldaif said. “I am looking forward to continuing to develop into both a more complete player as well as a person. I enjoy playing because you can go onto the field and forget about anything else and just have fun and be free.”

Eldiaf accredits a part of his journey to being at Midtown where he said he would apply the skills he learned in high school to his student-athlete experience.

“I think the most important thing I learned in high school was figuring out how to balance and plan ahead so that I don’t fall behind in school and not affect my athletics,” Eldiaf said. “Having great friends that encouraged and supported me was also a really awesome experience for me at Midtown.”

SEAMUS STREELMAN

Senior Seamus Streelman will be continuing his academic and athletic career at Clemson University for Division 1 soccer. 

Streelman has played soccer for almost 13 years, playing with the Atlanta United Academy on Atlanta United 2, the club’s reserve team competing in MLS NEXT Pro. Clemson stuck out to him for its all-around attributes.

“Clemson was the perfect mix of being close to home, a great soccer program, academics, and a fun environment outside of soccer,” Streelman said.

Streelman views college as the next big step in his journey, both on and off the field.

“I’m looking forward to continuing to improve as a player and person,” Streelman said. “Going into a new environment will allow me to learn even more as a player.”

Moving into his future, Streelman accredits a part of his journey to Midtown.

“Midtown was the perfect balance to Atlanta United,” Streelman said. “It allowed me to have off the field friendships and connections that kept me motivated and focused.”

WILSON MOUNT

Senior Wilson Mount committed to Hartwick College to continue academics and soccer career. Despite recently finding the desire to play collegiately, Mount found Hartwick to be a good fit.

“When I toured Hartwick, I really enjoyed the people and community,” Mount said. “I’m looking forward to the highly competitive environment while still getting a good education.”

Mount has been playing soccer since he was just 5 years old and is looking forward to continuing his passion.

“Building bonds with my teammates and positive attitudes with everyone in the athletic department has impacted my journey to my commitment,” Mount said.

ISABELLE PERRY

Senior Isabelle Perry has committed to the United States Merchant Marine Academy to play lacrosse for the next four years.

Perry has been playing lacrosse for 10 years and has continued to play because of her passion for the sport, more recently deciding to play collegiately. 

“I enjoy it because I am able to score goals, make assists and take the draw – it brings me joy,” Perry said. “When I first started I didn’t know you could play in college but as I entered high school I made it my goal to play in college.”

The United States Merchant Marine Academy, located in Nassau County, New York, provides a unique college experience that Perry is looking forward to.

“I chose to play at the USMMA because of the challenge,” Perry said. “I wanted a different college experience that would push me physically and give me a chance to travel the world during my sea year, typically during part of my sophomore and junior year. I am looking forward to what the future holds. I am excited to learn about all things maritime related and am happy to play the sport I love, while being supported by my family and coaches.”

Looking back at her high school career, Perry said she’ll always remember her bonds with her teammates and the lessons she learned.

“Being at Midtown has given me the ability to further develop academically and athletically,” Perry said. “I have not only grown as a learner but also as a lacrosse player. I am grateful for the community that they have fostered for me to succeed. During games like Decatur, North Atlanta, and Marist we have truly pushed ourselves and have had to rely on each other when we feel gassed or down. These moments have stuck with me because it has shown me that you can push yourself harder when others are around you to support you.”

NYHILA SILVA

Senior Nyhila Silva will be majoring in pre dental and continuing her athletic career at Jackson State University for Division 1 soccer.

Silva has been playing soccer since she was 3 years old and is looking forward to the opportunity to continue playing the sport she loves.

“I chose Jackson State over other schools because of the community I’d be surrounded by on a daily basis,” Silva said. “For me it wasn’t just the player I’d grow as on the field, but off as well.”

Playing on the varsity soccer team, Silva attributes her success to Midtown.

“Being at Midtown influenced my commitment by really showing me what relationships look like and their importance,” Silva said. “That’s not just with friends, but family, and even teachers. It showed me what I wanted my future to look like considering my future relationships I’d make going forward.”

Silva is excited to pursue new opportunities in a new environment.

“I’m most looking forward to being a bio pre dental major, and just playing collegiate level soccer,” Silva said. “Especially playing at a Division I school I’m ready to put in the work and see all I can accomplish.”

EMILY VERGARA

Senior Emily Veragra has committed to Belmont Abbey University to play lacrosse for the next four years. It wasn’t her initial plan to play in college but is looking forward to continuing her sport and education.

“Lacrosse has just been something that helps me keep moving and seeing my teammates plays a big part,” Vergara said. “I really liked their program and it was really welcoming and I’m looking forward to succeeding and getting into new chapters of my life.”

Vergara has enjoyed her time at Midtown and feels her experience has set her up for playing collegiately.

“Being in midtown really showed me how much I enjoy playing with others because of the uplifting environment,” Vergara said. “My favorite moments would be when last year it was a really hot day at practice so our coach got us water balloons and cookies.”

JAMES KROPP

Senior James Kropp committed to Denison University to play soccer and continue his education. Kropp has been playing soccer since he was 4 and recently determined he wanted to continue on a collegiate level.

“I definitely have not always planned to play college soccer,” Kropp said. “It is something that I put my mind to starting in 10th grade and refused to not have happen.”

Denison University, located in Ohio, was Kropp’s choice due to its good balance between student life and education. 

“I chose Denison over other schools for the well balanced lifestyle without compromising high quality sports and academics,” Kropp said. “I am looking forward to getting to meet everyone at the school and on the team. I am also looking forward to continuing to play soccer at a higher level.”

Kropp accredited Midtown for continuing to play soccer today.

“Being in midtown completely changed the trajectory of my commitment path,” Kropp said. “I almost quit soccer but that 10th grade season saved me and put me where I am today. My favorite memories are the bus rides to away games and playoff games especially beating mcintosh in the semi finals my sophomore year.”

LAURYN STRICKLAND

Senior Lauryn Strickland is pursuing cheerleading and continuing her education at Alabama A&M University.

“I love cheer because it was the first sport I was interested in,” Strickland said. “It’s brought a lot of memories throughout the years. I love the sisterhood and bonds I’ve built when joining new teams.”

Strickland was initially supposed to do track in college, but had a change of plans to pursue her passion.

“Originally, I was supposed to go to college for track but in the middle of my season my mom asked if I would cheer in college as a second option,” Strickland said. “Long story short I ended up sending my virtual tryout and got accepted to do an in-person tryout, then ended up making the team around the time my track season was ending. I’ve been excited to start cheering in college even since then.”

Alabama A&M was Strickland’s top choice because it was close to home; she is confident in her ability to manage school and her sport.

“So far, as managing sports and education in college I feel I’ll adjust pretty quickly,” Strickland said. “I’ve managed cheer all four years in high school, and I’ve had my ups and down with it but it’s manageable.”

Strickland has been cheering since she was four years old and continued through all of high school and is looking forward to continuing the sport.

“One biggest accomplishment I’ve experienced as a midtown cheerleader is being patient because sometimes people learn and move faster than others,” Strickland said. “But, as a good teammate, you find time to help them out. Midtown had very good sportsmanship.”

DHATI LEWIS JR.

Senior Dhati Lewis Jr. committed to Columbia International University to play basketball and continue his education. Lewis has been playing basketball since he was four years old, always hoping to play collegiately.

“Ever since I remember, I always wanted to go to the next level and play basketball for as long as I can,” Lewis said. “I chose Columbia International for many reasons. I loved their campus and location. The main reason I chose CIU was I believe I will improve the most there with Coach Stockman who played D1 basketball at Ohio State and Clemson.”

Basketball has been a lifelong passion for Lewis, shaped by family and community support making him excited for what lies ahead.

“Ever since I started playing I always enjoyed it – It was a way to bond with my dad and my 3 older sisters who all played basketball,” Lewis said. “I am looking forward to all the connections I can make in these next four years. I will make some friends for life and I’m excited about that.”

He also credits his high school experience for preparing him to reach the collegiate level.

“Midtown contributed a lot to my commitment,” Lewis said. “Coach Jefferson and Mitchell opened the gym a lot which helped me get better at basketball and gave me the confidence I needed to make it to the next level.”

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Why the college football betting market is underrating Alabama in 2025

Gambling content 21+. The New York Post may receive an affiliate commission if you sign up through our links. Read our editorial standards for more information. You used to be able to set your watch to Alabama Football. Under Nick Saban, the pattern generally followed the same script. The Crimson Tide would be one of […]

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You used to be able to set your watch to Alabama Football.

Under Nick Saban, the pattern generally followed the same script.

The Crimson Tide would be one of the favorites to win the national championship, they’d often be odds-on to win the SEC and their Over/Under would be the highest in the country.

For most of Saban’s tenure, Alabama would meet or surpass the lofty expectations that were set ahead of each campaign. 

The Crimson Tide won six national championships and nine SEC titles during Saban’s 17-year tenure, and they only lost more than one conference game in four of those seasons.

The stability under Saban made Alabama one of the safest teams to project in all of college football. The range of outcomes was minimal.

Those days appear to be over, and not just because Saban is no longer in charge of the Crimson Tide, but also because the entire landscape of college football has changed.

Realignment, the expanded Playoff and the outlandish growth of NIL have leveled the playing field at the top of college football, making it hard for any program to maintain its spot at the top of the food chain.

Alabama, in its second year under head coach Kalen DeBoer, is the seventh-favorite (12/1) to win the national championship at BetMGM, putting the Tide behind Texas, Ohio State, Georgia, Oregon, Penn State, and Clemson.

Alabama was 15/1 to win the national championship ahead of 2024, which means this will likely be the first time in 15 years that the Crimson Tide enters back-to-back seasons with outright odds in the double digits.


Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer at practice.
Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer at practice. AP

The betting market was largely proven right last year when it came to Alabama. DeBoer’s first season got off to a flawless start, culminating in a 41-34 win over Georgia to get to 4-0, but the following week saw the Crimson Tide lose to Vanderbilt for the first time since 1984. 

That result set the tone for the rest of an inconsistent season for the Crimson Tide, one that ended with a loss to Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl. 

Given how his first season in Tuscaloosa went, it’s no surprise that everybody seems to be lukewarm on ‘Bama in DeBoer’s second season.

The AP preseason poll won’t come out for a few weeks, but Alabama will likely be sitting right around fifth behind Texas, Ohio State, Georgia, and perhaps Penn State and/or Oregon. 


Betting on College Football?


That would match the betting market and public sentiment, as the college football world needs to be convinced that DeBoer is the man for this job.

While the winds of uncertainty that are swirling around DeBoer may seem like reasons for bettors to abandon ship, they’re also presenting a rare opportunity to buy low on ‘Bama in a season that sets up quite well for them on paper.

Aside from DeBoer, the biggest question mark for Alabama will be under center, where dual-threat QB Ty Simpson is the projected starter. 


Ryan Williams was a standout performer as a freshman in 2024.
Ryan Williams was a standout performer as a freshman in 2024. AP

Simpson does not have much experience running the show at Alabama, but he’s walking into a terrific situation. The offensive line should be among the best in the country, he’s got an experienced backfield to ride with him and his wide receiver corps could be historically good, with Ryan Williams leading the way. 

The defense also grades out splendidly, which should mean that Simpson – or whoever wins the job – won’t need to win many games on his own. 

If you strip out the noise and size up Alabama based on the talent on its roster, you could argue that this is one of the two best teams in the country right now.

In fact, Bill Connelly’s SP+ rankings have the Tide ranked second behind Ohio State.

Connelly’s numbers back up the notion that there are just two (albeit important ones) questions for the Tide to answer going into the season.

For any other team, this kind of setup would lead to a bullish market. 

But for Alabama, two question marks are two more than we’re used to, and that has caused the market to sour on the Tide.


Why Trust New York Post Betting

Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.



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What I’m hearing about the Blackhawks: How committed is Mason West to hockey over football?

Mason West has committed to playing hockey. That’s why the Chicago Blackhawks drafted him in the first round. That won’t stop college football programs from calling, though. “Yeah, they’ll always be calling,” said Jason Potts, West’s football coach at Edina High in Minnesota, on Thursday. With West being 6 feet 6 and athletic and deciding […]

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Mason West has committed to playing hockey. That’s why the Chicago Blackhawks drafted him in the first round.

That won’t stop college football programs from calling, though.

“Yeah, they’ll always be calling,” said Jason Potts, West’s football coach at Edina High in Minnesota, on Thursday.

With West being 6 feet 6 and athletic and deciding to play one more season of high school football as a quarterback, college football programs are still hoping he’ll change his mind.

“I think the interest will always be there,” Potts said. “Recruiting is just out of hand. It’s crazy. It feels like it never stops. They’re always interested, and I think they always will be. I don’t know when it actually ever stops. But again, Mason’s just focused on his goals and what he wants to do. And he’s really good at blocking distractions out and then just enjoying the experience.”

The fact that college football programs continue to call is something the Blackhawks have to live with. That’s part of the game. What is more important to the Blackhawks is West’s commitment to hockey. As long as he’s not enticed by major college football programs calling him, they can rest assured in his path. West doesn’t seem to be tempted. Potts said he hasn’t thrown for any major football programs this summer.

Potts won’t be trying to change his mind, either.

“A lot of people think, as the football coach, I’m going to tell him to play football or don’t play hockey,” Potts said. “But I love Mason. I love him as a person, and I want him to do whatever his heart is set out to do, so I’m really proud of him. I think (he and his family) handled it phenomenally. His parents were great support. I never told him what to do. I would just ask him guiding questions for him to help figure it out on his own, and I think that’s what he did, and I think he feels really good about it, and the family is really happy.”


The Blackhawks have a ton of faith in goaltending scout Dan Ellis.

When it comes to other positions, they consult a variety of opinions from within their hockey operations department. On goalies, Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson mostly turns to Ellis. His opinion carries weight.

So when the Blackhawks were looking for another goalie to sign for next season and likely be the No. 2 to Drew Commesso with the Rockford IceHogs, they turned to Ellis.

Ellis had someone in mind: Stanislav Berezhnoy, a 22-year-old, 6-4, 218-pound undrafted goalie from Russia.

Berezhnoy was on Ellis’ radar when he was draft-eligible, but he and every other NHL team didn’t see enough to select him.

“But I just continued to track him, and his game just kept getting cleaner and cleaner,” Ellis said. “He’s a huge man, and it takes a lot for a big body like that to gain control, gain speed, gain power, and he’s slowly just gotten better and better. And I thought that the size, the athleticism and the consistency that he’s putting up, from the MHL to the VHL — he’s only got a couple of games in the KHL, so there’s not much to judge from that, but it’s nice to see that he got that experience — and he just looked like a guy that might be a good prospect to add to the depth chart.”

Berezhnoy had a .928 save percentage in 27 games in the VHL and played in one KHL game for SKA this past season.

Berezhnoy is a bit of a project, but the Blackhawks can take that chance. They’re confident in their NHL goalie pool, with Spencer Knight and Arvid Söderblom returning and Laurent Brossoit possibly joining the mix. They also have Commesso coming off a strong second half of last season with the IceHogs, likely to start next season as the No. 1. Berezhnoy can ease into North American hockey and share the IceHogs’ net with Commesso.

The Blackhawks considered signing a veteran for that role, but they thought there might be more upside in someone like Berezhnoy.

“The only thing with (the veteran) is it’s great, but that player still wants their minutes, and they still want their games and stuff,” Ellis said. “They’re not always willing to accept that role, and some guys just don’t want to be a mentor. … So you’re paying anywhere from ($250,000) to ($500,000) in the American League to get a guy like that. Or, you look at, well, we can also get a prospect who can develop and maybe becomes an NHL goaltender, an NHL asset.

“That was the route that we felt was best to take, with Drew taking the jump in his development. He’s put himself in a position to be the No. 1 goaltender in Rockford and put himself in a position to be that next guy in line in Chicago. And Stanislav will now get a chance to earn the same opportunities in his own development time.”

Ellis said he has been communicating with Berezhnoy’s goalies coach in Russia and exchanging video and notes. Ellis said the focus will be getting Berezhnoy up to speed on playing more of an east-west game and adapting to the direction changes, mobility and quickness of the North American game in net.


Ellis also influenced the Blackhawks in drafting goalie Ilya Kanarsky in the seventh round in June.

Like Berezhnoy, Kanarsky is from Russia. He’s 20 years old, 6-3 and 192 pounds. He had a .938 save percentage in 34 games in the MHL and a .942 save percentage in three games in the VHL last season. In the MHL, he shared the net with Kirill Zarubin, a Calgary Flames 2024 third-round pick, and had better numbers than him.

“I think there’s a ton of potential there,” Ellis said of Kanarsky. “I honestly don’t know how he slipped through the draft. He’s another guy that I tracked a couple years ago when he was first draft-eligible, and I’ve continued to follow him as well. He completely outplayed Zarubin, who was a third-round pick by Calgary. I remember talking to the goalie coach that year, the year that they were both draft-eligible, and he kinda seemed like he was steering us towards Rubin, for whatever the reason was.

“But I kept watching Kanarsky. They play a very similar game. They’re very similar in size. They got the same equipment. They look identical, honestly. And so I was like, you know what, like, if this guy is available in the seventh round, why not take a swing at him? He’s motivated. He’s seen his partner get drafted over him. He stole the net from him last year. He’s played in the VHL. He might get an opportunity to play in the KHL this year. I mean, the value that you have in a player like him in the seventh round, I think it’s fantastic.”


The Blackhawks’ development camp is advertised as being off-ice, but some prospects get on the ice and work with the organization’s development staff. That aspect of camp worked out well for Adam Gajan.

“I’m the only goalie here, so we get on the ice, and it’s four coaches and me,” Gajan said. “There was a lot of focus and working on a lot of details that we normally wouldn’t have time to work on it. This week was super productive on the ice.”

The Blackhawks drafted Gajan in the second round in 2023 with the understanding he’d be a long-term project. He was in the USHL the season after being drafted and was a freshman at Minnesota Duluth last season. His first year in college was challenging, playing behind a young team and dealing with an injury. He finished with an .885 save percentage in 21 games.


Adam Gajan will be a sophomore at Duluth next season. (Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images)

The focal point of the Blackhawks’ instruction has been for Gajan not to rush to use his athleticism.

“You don’t get that opportunity very often where you get an hour, hour and a half every day to just break down games, and so when I was out there with (goalie development coach) Matt Smith, we can slow things down,” Ellis said. “We got a couple of great shooters out there. We can look at some of the small details of his game. The emphasis was controlling the power that he has. He’s an extremely athletic guy, and sometimes he gets into those stretch or those split situations where he doesn’t necessarily need to. He has to learn to trust his edges, trust his power and get to places under control. And so I think with the adjustments that we had him work on throughout the summer, his game has really evolved and improved, and we’re looking forward to another great season for him.”


The Blackhawks restructured their scouting staff this offseason and made some changes to streamline their process. With those changes, Anatoli Semyonov, Mikko Luoma, Brigette Lacquette and Alexandre Rouleau were not extended as full-time scouts, nor was Ron Anderson as a senior advisor.

The Blackhawks also hired Juan Gonzalez to be their head strength and conditioning coach. He was with the Pittsburgh Penguins for the last two seasons. He also previously worked for the IceHogs from 2020 to 2022.

The Blackhawks also promoted Sam Forstner from manager of analytics to director of analytics. He joined the Blackhawks in 2022 as a data scientist. Chris McCorkle has gone from senior analyst of hockey strategy to manager of hockey operations. Zack Brusso was made director of hockey technology after previously being a senior software engineer of hockey systems.

(Top photo of Mason West: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)





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Sharon Kuntz-Herlocher – Penn State

Sharon Kuntz-Herlocher returns for her seventh year as the Nittany Lions[apos] volunteer assistant coach. Kuntz-Herlocher works mainly with the defense. Her work with the defense has been instrumental in Penn State[apos]s great success over the past few seasons. In 2006, the Nittany Lions finished fifth in the country in goals against average followed in 2007 […]

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Sharon Kuntz-Herlocher returns for her seventh year as the Nittany Lions[apos] volunteer assistant coach. Kuntz-Herlocher works mainly with the defense.

Her work with the defense has been instrumental in Penn State[apos]s great success over the past few seasons. In 2006, the Nittany Lions finished fifth in the country in goals against average followed in 2007 when Penn State finished second in the Big Ten and 13th in the country, while last year finishing tops in the conference and second in the nation.

A former Penn State player from 1990-94, Kuntz-Herlocher brings additional on-field experience to the staff. Kuntz-Herlocher currently plays for the perennial club powerhouse and three-time defending national champion (indoor and outdoor) Red Rose Field Hockey Team. While at Penn State, Kuntz-Herlocher appeared in three NCAA Semifinals. She was also the team captain in 1994, an NCAA Third Team All-American in 1994, First Team All-Big Ten in 1994, and Second Team All Big-Ten in 1993. She made the All Mid-East Regional Teams from 1992 to 1994, and received the NCAA Academic-Athletic Achievement Award in 1993 and 1994. Kuntz-Herlocher was part of Penn State[apos]s first Big Ten Title in 1993 and won the gold medal in the 1993 U.S. Olympic Festival. Her love for field hockey comes from learning the game through the eyes of two of the greatest and most passionate coaches, Linda Kreiser at Lower Dauphin High School and Charlene Morett at Penn State.

Kuntz-Herlocher graduated in 1995 with a major in health & human development and a minor in business administration. She was an assistant coach at Penn State in 1995 when she helped lead the Lions to their second Big Ten Championship. In 1996, Kuntz-Herlocher left for Boston University, serving as assistant coach from 1996-98 and helped lead the Terriers to two America East Championships and NCAA appearances during her tenure there.

Kuntz-Herlocher returned to State College where she married Neil Herlocher in 1999. The couple has three children, Charlie (7), Phebe (5), and Helena (2). She currently owns and operates Solutions Marketing in State College and is a marketing consultant for Nittany Bank and (her husband[apos]s company) Herlocher Foods, the makers of Herlocher[apos]s Penn State Dipping Mustard.

GETTING TO KNOW COACH KUNTZ-HERLOCHER
Nickname: Sharon
Favorite Food: Herlocher[apos]s Dipping Mustard & cheese
Favorite Color: Violet
Favorite Musical Artist: Van Morisson
Favorite Movie: Shawshank Redemption
Favorite TV Show: Divine Design
Favorite Website: www.herlocherfoods.com
Favorite Sports Broadcaster: Bob Costas
Favorite Pro Teams: State College Spikes, Penguins
Favorite Athlete: Todd Rucci
Childhood Idol: Ed (Too Tall) Jones, Mary Lou Retton
Hobbies: Yoga, laughing with my kids & dogs, shopping with L.B. & Char
Biggest Fear: Making a parenting mistake
Teams I[apos]d Like To See Added To The Schedule: Stanford, Boston University (both for travel reasons)
Best Player I Ever Played With: Chris McGinley
Magazine Cover I[apos]d Like To Be On: The Penn Stater
Most Prized Possession: My health
Place I[apos]d Like To Visit: Greece (and eat unlimited fresh fruits and veggies)
If I Didn[apos]t Coach Field Hockey, I Would: Watch PSU Field Hockey
If I Had $1 Billion, I Would: Invest it in a major marketing campaign for Herlocher[apos]s Dipping Mustard, build a hotel in downtown State College
After Penn State, I Would Like To: Grow the sport of field hockey and keep every Penn Stater playing for years to come. College sports are just the beginning.



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MEN’S ICE HOCKEY: A fourth former Statesmen goes pro this summer | Sports

GENEVA — Of the seven Hobart College ice hockey seniors who graduated in the class of 2025, three have signed professional contracts. Defenseman Austin Mourar is the latest grad to sign and with that, the number of former Statesmen who will move on to play professionally in Europe is up to four. 2024 grad Artem […]

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GENEVA — Of the seven Hobart College ice hockey seniors who graduated in the class of 2025, three have signed professional contracts.

Defenseman Austin Mourar is the latest grad to sign and with that, the number of former Statesmen who will move on to play professionally in Europe is up to four. 2024 grad Artem Buzoverya signed a professional contract earlier this month as well.

Mourar has signed with Les Bouquetins Hockey Courchevel-Meribel-Pralognan in the French Division I Hockey League, where he will clash with former teammates he won three national championships with.

“This is a great opportunity for Austin,” head coach Mark Taylor said. “He was huge for us in achieving what we have achieved as a program. He’s another guy that did it athletically and academically to a very high standard and level of achievement, individually and as a great teammate. I’m grateful we had him for five years thanks to our Master’s program. Courchevel-Meribel-Pralognan is a great mountain region in France, a beautiful place. Certainly, another athletic experience but what a life and educational opportunity this will be. It should be entertaining to hear the banter when he, Coop and Icer play against each other.”

Mourar, who graduated in May with a master’s in management, was a four-time NEHC All-Academic selection. He will join fellow Statesmen Matthew Iasenza and Cooper Swift, who signed earlier this summer with other teams in the same league.

Mourar — affectionately called “Moose” by his teammates — played all 31 games in 2024-25, helping Hobart to its third straight national championship. He finished the year tied for fifth on the team with 21 points, recording nine goals and 12 assists on his way to earning first- team All-American recognition. Mourar set up the game-winning goal against Geneseo in the national semifinals. He had three multi-point games this season. Mourar played a key role for the Statesmen’s defense that was first in the nation in scoring defense (1.01) and a penalty killing unit that was eighth in the nation (.871). Mourar shared the team lead with 21 blocked shots.

He also is the all-time leader in games played for Hobart with 118 in four seasons in Geneva. He recorded 74 points on 31 goals and 43 assists. During the 2023-24 campaign, Mourar was named the NCAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. He also earned a spot on the NCAA All-Tournament Team during Hobart’s first two national championships. Mourar helped Hobart to a 106-11-4 overall record, three national championships, four NCAA tournament appearances, three NEHC tournament titles and four NEHC regular season championships.



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Michael Pezzetta Among Maple Leafs Spotted As Guest At Team’s Hockey School This Summer

Michael Pezzetta is already showing love to Toronto Maple Leafs fans. The 27-year-old was spotted hanging out with kids from the Maple Leafs’ hockey school earlier his month. Pezzetta, who grew up in the Toronto, Ontario area, spoke, took photos with the children, and even signed each of their Maple Leafs jerseys. Advertisement Pezzetta signed a […]

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Michael Pezzetta is already showing love to Toronto Maple Leafs fans.

The 27-year-old was spotted hanging out with kids from the Maple Leafs’ hockey school earlier his month. Pezzetta, who grew up in the Toronto, Ontario area, spoke, took photos with the children, and even signed each of their Maple Leafs jerseys.

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Pezzetta signed a two-year, $1.625 million contract with Toronto as a free agent when free agency opened up on July 1. The annual average value of his contract is $812,500. He’s been with the Montreal Canadiens ever since being drafted by them in the sixth round (160th overall) of the 2016 NHL Draft.

In 200 career NHL games with the Canadiens, Pezzetta has 15 goals and 23 assists. He’s likely to play a depth role with the Maple Leafs within their bottom six. Pezzetta grew up a Maple Leafs fan, idolizing players such as Mats Sundin and Curtis Joseph, among others.

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“I know my mom’s super excited that I get to stay home, it’s been a while. And then even all my friends and everybody’s like all Leafs fans, just through and through, and they’re so excited,” Pezzetta said in his first media availability as a Maple Leaf.

“So many people messaged me the last day-and-a-half now, and it’s just surreal. Like, to think that it’s a possibility I get to put this sweater on, so I’m just really grateful for the opportunity.”

Pezzetta, though, isn’t the only Maple Leafs player who’s visited the kids at Maple Leafs hockey school. Scott Laughton, Bobby McMann, and Morgan Rielly, each of whom is spending a lot of time in Toronto this summer, have also stopped by to take photos at the camp.

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The two-week-long event, held by the Maple Leafs’ development team, is “a recreational/beginner level camp that welcomes players of all ability levels. Participants will have fun, step outside their comfort zone, learn and improve upon their hockey skills while also continuing to develop their fundamental movement skills,” their website reads.

“Our program is designed to provide young athletes with an all-around professional hockey camp experience both on and off the ice. Off-ice programming includes dryland training, special guest seminars and team building activities.”

Other Maple Leafs who’ve surprised the kids in recent years at the camp are John Tavares, Chris Tanev, Joseph Woll, and former Toronto head coach Sheldon Keefe. The organization has even had Toronto Sceptres forward Emma Maltais as a guest at the camp.

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This article originally appeared on The Hockey News: Michael Pezzetta Among Maple Leafs Spotted As Guest At Team’s Hockey School This Summer

(Top photo of Pezzetta: @leafsdevelopment / Instagram)





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