Be aware: Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon join forces to play for Canada at the ice hockey world championship after 10 years.

As all eyes are on the NHL playoffs, the two major stars are in Europe for the worlds opening on Friday across the Swedish capital of Stockholm and Denmark’s city of Herning.

It is the final men’s international test before the 2026 Winter Games in Italy, where NHL players return to the Olympics after 12 years.

The two friends and neighbours in Halifax, Nova Scotia, were on the team that Crosby captained to gold at the 2015 worlds. By winning the tournament in Prague then, Crosby joined hockey’s Triple Gold Club, a small group of players who have won the Stanley Cup, the Olympics and the worlds.

These are the third worlds, and first since 2015 for Crosby, a three-time Stanley Cup winner (2009, ’16 and ’17) and double Olympic champion (2010 and ’14). He’s captured gold for Canada at every international tournament, including the 2016 World Cup of Hockey and the 2005 world junior championship.

In February, the 37-year-old also shone alongside MacKinnon as he captained Canada to the 4 Nations Face-Off trophy, beating archrival the United States in overtime.

Crosby has behind him a 20th NHL season featuring 33 goals, 58 assists and 91 points in 80 games for the Pittsburgh Penguins, who missed out on the NHL playoffs.

MacKinnon opted to join Canada after his Colorado Avalanche were knocked out in the first round. It will be the fourth worlds and and first since 2017 for the 29-year-old center, who recorded the second highest points in the regular season — 116 — and added another 11 in the playoffs.

Crosby will also reunite with goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury who has just exited the NHL but postponed his retirement at age of 40 to play again with Crosby and at the worlds for the first time.

“It’ll be fun to go spend some time together and yell at him in practice a bit, keep him honest,” said Fleury, who won the Stanley Cup with the Penguins three times.

Among the rising stars, Canada includes the 18-year-old Macklin Celebrini, the top pick in the 2024 NHL draft who collected 63 points from 25 goals and 38 assists in his rookie season for the San Jose Sharks.

Canada is the most successful nation at the tournament with 28 titles and is a favorite every year no matter who is available. With Crosby and MacKinnon, it is definitely the team to beat.

Other contenders

David Pastrnak is back for the defending champion Czech Republic after his Boston Bruins didn’t advance to the playoffs.

The Czechs beat Switzerland 2-0 in the final in Prague last year with Pastrnak scoring the winner. It was the seventh title won by the Czech Republic — or Czechia — since the 1993 breakup of Czechoslovakia. Pastrnak racked up 106 points in the NHL, reaching one hundred for the third straight season.

Utah captain Clayton Keller will also captain a U.S. that is seeking a first worlds medal since a bronze in 2021. Alternate captains, forward Tage Thompson of the Buffalo Sabres and forward Conor Garland of the Vancouver Canucks, were on that team four years ago. Columbus defenseman Zach Werenski and Boston net-minder Jeremy Swayman were on the team that was fifth last year.

BRUNSWICK, ME (May 9, 2025) – The Tufts University softball team scored four times in the first inning and went on to an 8-0 win over Amherst College (five innings) in Game 1 of the NESCAC Tournament on Friday at Bowdoin College.

While the Jumbo offense was capitalizing on its eight hits, four walks and three hit-batters, Tufts fifth-year pitcher Sophia DiCocco threw a two-hit shutout for her 15th win of the season.

The Jumbos would send 10 hitters to the plate in the top of the first to surge to the 4-0 lead. Walks to Bela Jimenez and Haley Leimbach were sandwiched around a single by Kaitlyn Perucci to load the bases with no outs. After a force-out at the plate, Keriann Slayton walked to bring in Tufts’ first run. Lauryn Horita then doubled over the center fielder’s head clearing the bases as Tufts took a quick four-run margin.

With DiCocco retiring the first six Amherst batters, the Jumbos then added a run in the second. Perucci tripled to left-center and scored on Horita’s sacrifice fly making it 5-0.

The Mammoths would get their first hit on a single by Abby Moravek to lead off the third, and she was sacrificed to second. DiCocco retired the next two hitters to leave her there.

Horita continued her great game with a double to lead off the bottom of the third, and then Lindsay Neumann was hit by a pitch, but Tufts could not take advantage of the two-on, no-out situation. Abby Rebhan would have the Mammoths’ second and final hit in the top of the fourth, but to no avail.

The Jumbo lead ballooned to 7-0 in the fourth as Perucci walked and then Haley Leimbach launched her first home run of the season to left.

After DiCocco pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the fifth, Tufts would score its eighth run in the bottom of the inning to end the game. Fallon O’Connor started with a single, then pinch-runner Sarah Cullen was sacrificed to second by Madi Sewell. With two outs, Peruccu singled home Cullen for the game-ending run.

Perucci finished 3 for 3 with three runs and an rbi in the game, while Horita was 3 for 3 with three doubles and three rbis. Leimbach went 1 for 2 with two rbis and two runs. DiCocco struck out three and did not walk a batter in her five innings.

Moravek took the loss for Amherst (3 IP, 5 H, 7 ER), while Rebhan pitched 1.2 innings in relief giving up three hits and a run.

Due to rain in Medford, today’s first two games of the NESCAC Tournament were moved to Bowdoin College. The weather is also forcing a change to the tournament schedule on Saturday and Sunday.

The Jumbos will now play their semifinal game on Sunday at 9:30 AM against either Colby College or Middlebury College.

Visit NESCAC.com for updates on the softball tournament schedule.

 

–JUMBOS–

Colorado College hockey coach Kris Mayotte announced that Paul Pooley, longtime associate head coach at Notre Dame, and Jordy Murray, assistant coach at Michigan Tech since 2022, have joined the Tiger staff as associate head coach and assistant coach, respectively.
 
In his 20 seasons (2005-25) as its associate head coach, Pooley helped Notre Dame win three regular season titles (two CCHA and one Big Ten) and five conference tournament crowns (CCHA in 2007, 2009, 2013 and Big Ten in 2018 and 2019) while advancing to the NCAA tournament 12 times (2007-09, 2011, 2013-14, 2016-19 and 2021-22), including four trips to the Frozen Four (2008, 2011, 2017 and 2018).
 
“Our search for a candidate to strengthen our championship culture prioritized qualities beyond just technical expertise,” Mayotte said. “Paul’s proven ability to develop elite talent and deliver sustained success stands as a testament to his excellence, but it was his alignment with our vision—to elevate both individuals and the collective program—that solidified his appointment. He brings not only a championship pedigree and an unwavering commitment to player growth but also a profound dedication to fostering meaningful connections. While I am eager to work with Paul, the greatest beneficiaries will be our players. His reputation as a leader of integrity and innovation in hockey is exceptional, and his impact on our program will be great.”
 
Pooley was involved in all aspects of the Notre Dame program and primarily oversaw the development of the Irish defensemen. He helped run the special team’s unit with the Fighting Irish finishing the 2021-22 season with the nation’s top-ranked penalty kill (.906), which also marked the top single-season penalty kill percentage in program history.
 
He joined the Irish staff after spending 11 seasons (1994-2005) as head coach at Providence College. During his tenure at Providence, the Friars won the Hockey East title in 1995-96 and appeared in two NCAA tournaments (1996 and 2001). The 2001 Hockey East and New England Coach of the Year and a two-time finalist for the Spencer Penrose Award as the national coach of the year, Pooley was instrumental in the development of four All-America players during his tenure at Providence.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to join Kris and his staff at Colorado College,” Pooley said. “I was truly impressed by the caliber of the people I met on my visit, from the administration to the coaching staff, and the quality of the facilities and resources available to the student-athletes. I am excited to bring my coaching experience and passion to Colorado College and contribute to the continued success of the program.

 

As the associate head coach at Lake Superior State from 1992-94, he was instrumental in leading the Lakers to a pair of NCAA Division I National Championships in 1992 and ’94, and a runner-up finish in 1993.

 

A 1984 graduate of Ohio State (cum laude in accounting and marketing), Pooley was one of the CCHA’s top players from 1980-84 and a second-team selection to the conference’s all-decade team of the 1980’s. A three-time member of the CCHA’s all-academic team, he took Academic All-America honors in 1984. A second-team all-CCHA selection in 1981, he also was selected as the CCHA’s co-Rookie of the Year that season.

 

Pooley capped his collegiate career in 1984 as the CCHA Player of the Year and Bauer’s National Player of the Year, leading the nation in scoring with 32 goals and 64 assists for 96 points in 41 games. Selected first-team all-CCHA and first team All-America as a senior, Pooley is Ohio State’s all-time leader in goals (114), assists (156) and points (270) and joined the Ohio State Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994.

 

A native of Exeter, Ontario, Pooley and his wife, Kelly, have two children: Scott, who played college hockey at Holy Cross and now plays professionally in Europe, and Taylor, who played women’s soccer at Ball State.

 

Murray joined the MTU staff after serving as a volunteer assistant coach at Notre Dame during the 2021-22 season. His main responsibilities included recruiting, special teams and player development.

 

A native of Faribault, Minnesota, Murray played 119 games for the Wisconsin Badgers from 2008-11. He tallied 60 career points with 38 goals and 22 assists, was a member of the 2010 NCAA runner-up team and earned a bachelor’s degree in consumer affairs at Wisconsin.

 

“In hiring Jordy, we’re adding a rising star whose vision aligns with the future of this program,” Mayotte said. “Jordy has showcased an innate ability to identify talent, nurture skill, and forge relationships—the cornerstones of elite recruiting and player development. Jordy’s addition to complete our staff allows us to continue to enhance how we develop players and compete in the best college hockey league in the country, the NCHC.”

 

Murray played professional hockey for six years (2011-17) in the Swiss Elite League (Swiss-A). He skated for Rapperswil-Jona, Lugano, and the Langnau Tigers while in Switzerland, totaling 61 points on 26 goals and 35 assists in 167 career games. 

 

Following his playing career, Murray was the owner of Murray Performance Training, serving as the co-owner and the lead performance and on-ice development coach at Perfect World Hockey. He furthered his education and earned a Master of Education in Sport and Exercise Science from the University of Minnesota and a Master of Science in Kinesiology from Concordia University-Chicago. 

 

Prior to Wisconsin, Murray played six seasons with Shattuck St. Mary’s (2002-08), where he won two U-18 national championships. He also served as Team USA’s captain at the 2006 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament (U18).

 

“My wife and I are thrilled to join the Colorado College community and be part of such a prestigious hockey program,” Murray said. “From my first conversation with Kris, I was impressed by his vision and the professionalism shown throughout the process. I’m incredibly grateful to him and Director of Athletics Lesley Irvine for this opportunity and couldn’t be more excited to get to work with the staff and players.”

 

Murray is the son of retired Western Michigan and NHL head coach Andy Murray. His brother, Brady, played at North Dakota and in the NHL for the Los Angeles Kings, and his sister, Sarah, played at Minnesota Duluth and professionally overseas and is now the girls U19 head coach at Shattuck-St. Mary’s School in Minnesota.

 

Murray and his wife, Kate, are expecting their first child in August.

 

The DePaul College Prep Rams will face off against the Willows Academy Eagles at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. DePaul College Prep’s offense has struggled lately (the team hasn’t scored more than a single goal for six straight games), a trend the team is no doubt ready to end.

DePaul College Prep is likely headed into the match with a focus on the second half, which is when things went downhill against Deerfield on Thursday. The Rams fell 2-0 to the Warriors.

Meanwhile, Willows Academy had already won three in a row and they went ahead and made it four on Thursday. They never let the Wildcats get on the board and left with a 7-0 victory. Willows Academy might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won five contests by three goals or more this season.

Willows Academy’s win was their sixth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 13-2. Those home victories came thanks in part to their defensive effort, having only given up one goal over those six games. As for DePaul College Prep, their loss dropped their record down to 5-9-2.

DePaul College Prep beat Willows Academy 2-0 in their previous meeting back in May of 2024. Will the Rams repeat their success, or do the Eagles have a new game plan this time around? We’ll find out soon enough.

By: Callie Cyr

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Five members of the Dartmouth men’s and women’s swimming team competed in the TYR Pro Series held in Fort Lauderdale. This event consisted of elite competition from all over the country, including former Olympians and world record holders.
 
Izzy Mundee, Jagger Stachtiaris, Tommy Erwin, William McClelland and Jacob Turner were the five athletes that represented Dartmouth at the meet.
 
“Our TYR Pro group raced exceptionally well to open the LCM season after just a few weeks of spring training. Having swimmers walk away with best times or being right on their best times in main events is a testament to their dedication and energy for being on deck at this competition. The ability for our student-athletes to compete against the best in the world, witness historic world records, and see themselves as true competitors at this level of our sport was a huge opportunity for our program. It truly was a fun and fast few days of racing,” said Head Coach Milana Socha.
 
Turner went a lifetime best time in the 200 fly finishing in the position of 2^nd alternate for finals (26^th) with a time of 2:05.00. He earned a place in the B-final in both the 200 IM (2:03.58) and 400 IM (4:28.40) placing 10^th and 15^th respectively in those events.
 
 
Mundee competed in a 200 free time trial and went a lifetime best time in the event, going a 2:07.53. In addition, she swam her 2^nd fastest time ever in the 800 free, 9:11.38, finishing 42/57.
 
 
Stachtiaris achieved new lifetime best times in every event he competed in throughout the meet including the 200 fly (2:06.36), 100 fly (55.41), and 50 fly (25.98).
 
 
Erwin, after coming off a week long illness, was still able to place as high as 28^th in the 200 back with an impressive time of 2:07.72.
 
 
McClelland went a lifetime best time in his 50 fly, going a 25.60, and was right on his lifetime bests in his other events of 100 free (53.00) and the 50 free (23.65).
 

WORCESTER, Mass. – The Holy Cross field hockey program has announced its leadership group for the upcoming 2025 season: rising senior Julia Carrozza, and rising juniors Marissa MacLean and Maguire Sturgis.
 
“I am excited to announce our captains,” said head coach Lindsay Jackson. “Julia, Marissa, and Maggie have shown day in and out their leadership skills.”

The trio of midfielders are staples in the lineup, having combined for 117 games and 53 points in their time on Mount St. James, along with four Patriot League Honor Roll and four NFHCA DI Academic Squad honors.

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