(Photo Credit: @HSKnights on X/Twitter)

On April 1st, a few days after his collegiate season ended at Providence College, Trevor Connelly signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Golden Knights. The former 1st Round (19th overall) selection scored 13 points in 23 games during an injury-riddled freshman year in college.

This type of move would not typically make headlines, as first-round picks usually do not take long to sign contracts with the NHL team that selected them. However, in Vegas’ case, the timing came as a bit of a surprise due to their history with NCAA players.

Connelly was the 14th player selected in the draft by the Golden Knights to play the following season in American college. This includes former 1st round pick Brendan Brisson and future NHLer Paul Cotter. Connelly is the first to be offered a contract following his first season.

Statistically, he did not post numbers that would have warranted becoming the outlier. He scored just four goals and 13 points in 23 games. He was also a -13 and took 29 penalty minutes. He was, however, impressive with Team USA at the World Juniors where he scored a goal and posted four points in seven games against the best prospects in the world.

I felt strongly about myself. After World Juniors this year I had an idea that I wanted to sign. I just kind of felt like my skillset and hockey IQ is ready to take the next step. Now it’s about building my frame and filling out and the rest will come along. -Connelly

Connelly played six games with the Silver Knights at the end of the AHL season scoring a goal and three assists. Henderson became the seventh different team he’s played for in the last six years, not including international duty.

To confuse matters a bit more, Connelly was selected in the WHL Expansion Draft by the newest team, the Penticton Vees. As a 1st round pick, it would be surprising to see him leave college, sign a contract, and then play in the CHL. But, the path is now available to him, and the Golden Knights, which raises even more intrigue about his future.

As for Connelly, he has his head down and is saying the right things as he progresses through the early stages of his professional career.

I had an idea that I wanted to be here at the end of the year, but you never know. You have to get offered a contract as well so I did everything I could this year to get here at the end of the year. -Connelly

As the only 1st round pick still under VGK control, Connelly’s future is one to keep a close eye on. He’s talented enough to be projected as a true impact player at the NHL level, but he has to get there first, and so far, it’s been a unique road.

HAMDEN, Conn. – The Quinnipiac field hockey team has added seven newcomers to its 2025 roster, as announced by Nina Klein and the Bobcats Tuesday afternoon. 

The 2025 recruiting class features one transfer and six incoming First Years student-athletes. Alexa Kidd joins the Bobcats as a transfer while Jaelyn Crossman, Maaike Van Wensen, Jenna Livathares, Veronica Goettner, Rozemarijn Van Keulen, and Charlie Caunter each will be First Years. Van Wensen, Van Keulen, and Caunter are each from The Netherlands while Kidd, Crossman, Livathares, and Goettner are all from the United States.

Alexa Kidd comes to Hamden after transferring from Penn State and will be a sophomore. She most recently played at Ward Melville High School in New York. She was named the Suffolk County Offensive Player of the Year in 2023, leading Long Island, N.Y. in points. She was also named All New York State in 2023. 

Jaelyn Crossman joins the Bobcats as a First Year from Auburn, N.H., where she played for Pinkerton Academy and North East Elite. She was named All-State First Team all four years while also earning New England All-Region First Team and MAX Field Hockey New England Top 40 in 2023 and 2024. She was also named Team MVP three seasons in a row. 

Jenna Livathares will also be a First Year, hailing from Upper Saddle River, N.J., where she played for Northern Highlands Regional High School and New Heights Field Hockey. Finished high school with a team record of 75-7-3, leading her team to a runner-up finish in the New Jersey Group 3 State Finals and numerous league and county championships. She was named First Team All North Jersey in 2024 and invited to the New Jersey All-Star Game. 

Veronica Goettner is the last American in the 2025 class, joining the Bobcats from North Wales, Pa., where she played for Springside Chestnut Hill Academy and Mainline Mayhem. Goettner reached the 2023 National Championships with the Mayhem, finishing in third place overall. She was also an All-Interac First Team selection as a Senior in 2024. 

Rozemarijn Van Keulen is the first of three Bobcats in the 2025 class from The Netherlands and is a First Year, most recently playing for Gooische Hockeyclub and is from Naarden. She finished fifth place in the National Championships the previous two seasons in the Elite National U16 League as a starter. 

Charlie Caunter is also from The Netherlands, hailing from Oldenzaal where she attended Twents Carmel College Lyceum and will be a First Year. She won a Super-B League National Championship, the second-highest league in the country. 

Maaike Van Wensen is the third and final Bobcat recruit from Europe, joining the squad from Apledoorn, The Netherlands. She was a member of The Netherlands Women’s First Team and won MVP of the u16 Regional Tournament. She was named Captain of AMHC Apledoorn u18s while also being a regular member of the AMHC First Team.

For more information on Quinnipiac field hockey, visit gobobcats.com/fh and follow the team on Twitter and Instagram, @QU_FH.

Women’s Golf Championship

October 3-5, 2025

Site: Reedsburg Country Club – Reedsburg, Wis.

Cross Country Championships

November 1, 2025

Host: UW-Oshkosh

Site: Moore’s Field of Dreams – Oshkosh, Wis.

Women’s Soccer Tournament

November 5, November 7, November 9, 2025

All matches played at the higher seed

Men’s Soccer Tournament

November 4, November 6, November 8, 2025

All matches played at the higher seed

Women’s Volleyball Tournament

November 11, November 13, November 15, 2025

All matches played at the higher seed

Wrestling Championship

February 14, 2026

Host: UW-Eau Claire

Swimming & Diving Championships

February 18-21, 2026

Host: UW-Whitewater

Site: Walter Schroeder Aquatic Center – Brown Deer, Wis.

Women’s Basketball Tournament

February 23, February 25, February 27, 2026

All games played at the higher seed

Men’s Basketball Tournament

February 24, February 26, February 28, 2026

All games played at the higher seed

Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament

February 21-22, February 28-March 1, March 8, 2025

All games played at the higher seed

Women’s Ice Hockey Tournament

February 25, February 28-March 1, March 8, 2025

All games played at the higher seed

Indoor Track & Field Championships

February 27-28, 2026

Host: UW-Platteville

Women’s Gymnastics Championship/NCGA West Regional

March 7, 2026

Host: Winona State University (Minn.)

Women’s Tennis Tournament

April 21, April 23, April 25, 2026

All matches played at the higher seed

Outdoor Track & Field Championships

May 1-2, 2026

Host: UW-La Crosse

Women’s Lacrosse Tournament

May 1-2, 2026

Host: Colorado College (if it is one of the top 4 seeds)

Men’s Tennis Championship

May 2, 2026

Host: Highest Seed From West Division

Baseball Tournament

May 7-9, 2026

Host: No. 1 Seed

Softball Tournament

May 8-10, 2026

Host: No. 1 Seed

Kai Trump Signs NIL Deal With Accelerator Energy Brand originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Kai Trump Just Leveled Up Her NIL Game, And She’s Only Getting Started

Six million followers. One rising golf career. And now, a power move into business.

Advertisement

On July 15, future University of Miami golfer Kai Trump signed a NIL deal with Accelerator Active Energy, the same brand tied to Travis Kelce and Livvy Dunne. The announcement wasn’t subtle. It came with a bold video, a presidential-style speech, and a message that Kai isn’t just a face, she’s a force.

This isn’t your average endorsement. Kai is joining as an equity partner. That puts her in rare air among student-athletes.

And she hasn’t even swung a club in college yet.

NIL Meets Golf Meets Gen Z Influence

Trump’s deal with Accelerator is a clear signal: golf is stepping into the NIL spotlight. Until now, the sport has been slow to cash in on the explosion of college athlete branding. Kai changes that.

Advertisement

She’s the first golf athlete to land a deal with the California-based energy drink. Her name will be featured in campaigns. Accelerator will become a staple on her social media. With over 6 million followers across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, she has the reach, and now, the brand alignment.

“She’s going to be a leading voice in NIL and beyond,” said Andrew Wilkinson, CEO of Accelerator.

He’s not wrong.

A Deal With Power Behind It

Travis Kelce. Livvy Dunne. Paula Badosa. Evan Carter. Now, Kai Trump joins the athlete roster of a company that’s picking winners.

Accelerator isn’t just hyping athletes. They’re building a team of cultural icons. Their formula? No sugar. No taurine. Just clean energy and brain-boosting blends. NSF Certified. Plant-based ingredients. The kind of thing that hits with both health-conscious athletes and everyday fans.

Advertisement

For Trump, it’s about more than energy on the golf course.

“An energy drink like Accelerator helps me stay locked in,” Kai said. “Whether I’m training, studying, or traveling, it fits into everything I do.”

Related: Explaining The NCAA’s One-Time Transfer Portal Window

Why This Deal Matters

This is more than a one-off. It’s a blueprint.

Kai Trump just proved that women’s golf has a seat at the NIL table. She’s not waiting for college trophies or tour wins. She’s building her brand, and her bank account, before her first swing in NCAA play.

The partnership video, filmed at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, leans into her name but makes it clear: this moment is hers.

And she’s just getting started.

Related: CSC Blocks Collective NIL Deals, Sparks Antitrust Concerns

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 15, 2025, where it first appeared.

San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) General Manager Mike Grier announced today updates and additions to the Sharks Hockey Operations Staff.

Hockey Operations Additions:

Joe Thornton – Player Development Coach/Hockey Operations Advisor

Owen Hixon – Equipment Manager Assistant

New Roles & Titles:

Charlie Townsend – Director of Hockey Operations

AJ Bernstein – Hockey Operations, Strategy and Data Analyst

Dylan Finan – Hockey Operations, Scouting Coordinator

Jon Hull – Head USA Amateur Scout

Tim LeRoy – Assistant Equipment Manager

Thomas Vanek – Hockey Operations Advisor

“Jumbo” officially re-joins the Sharks organization as Player Development Coach/Hockey Operations Advisor. After his official retirement from the NHL following the 2021-22 season, he finished with 1,539 points (430 goals, 1,109 assists) in 1,714 career games with the Boston Bruins, San Jose Sharks, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Florida Panthers. He ranks 14th in points, seventh in assists, and sixth in games played among all NHL players, is one of only 14 skaters to ever eclipse the 1,000-assist mark and was just the seventh player in NHL history to skate in 1,500 games, collect 1,000 assists and score 400 goals.

In the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Thornton appeared in a combined 187 games with Boston, San Jose and Florida, collecting 134 points (32 goals, 102 assists).

Among several awards and accolades, Thornton was awarded the Art Ross Trophy and Hart Memorial Trophy in 2006, was a six-time NHL All-Star (2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009), was named an NHL First All-Star Team in 2006, and an NHL Second All-Star Team in 2003, 2008 and 2016. He also has an Olympic Gold Medal (2010), World Cup of Hockey Gold Medals (2004, 2016), World Junior Championship Gold Medal (1997), and a Silver Medal at the World Championship (2005) with Team Canada.

On Nov. 23, 2024, he became the second player in Sharks franchise history to have the distinguished recognition of having his jersey number retired, joining Patrick Marleau. He was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame with the Class of 2025.

Hixon joins the Sharks as Equipment Manager Assistant for his first NHL season. Previously, Hixon worked as the Assistant Equipment Manager for Arizona State’s Ice Hockey program for four seasons, assisting with the day-to-day operations for the club’s equipment needs.

Townsend enters his 13th season with Sharks Sports & Entertainment. Prior to his new title, Townsend worked for two seasons as Director of Hockey Projects and Analytics (2023-25), along with numerous other capacities throughout the Sharks hockey operations department including roles within scouting, coaching and player development at both the NHL and AHL level. He joined the Sharks after a brief professional playing career in both North America and Europe. He is a 2006 graduate of The Taft School and 2010 graduate of Middlebury College where he was an assistant captain for the 2010 NESCAC championship team and was a member of the NESCAC All-Sportsmanship Team.

Bernstein enters his fourth season with the Sharks, previously holding the title of Analyst, Hockey Projects and Analytics for three seasons. He will be primarily tasked with acquiring, analyzing and refining the team’s analytics data. Prior to joining San Jose, he worked with Middlebury College as an assistant coach and director of hockey operations until his graduation in 2021. He has also consulted with the Chicago Steel (USHL) and Metropolitan Riveters (NWHL), leading both teams’ analytic efforts.

Finan enters his fifth season with the Sharks and third within the hockey operations staff. Before joining the hockey staff, Finan served two seasons as Sharks media relations coordinator. He spent four seasons with the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the USHL, serving as a scout from 2019-20 through 2022-23 and also working in research and analytics for the club from 2020-21 through 2022-23. Ahead of his time in San Jose, Finan graduated from Bowling Green State University.

Hull enters his seventh season with the San Jose Sharks. Previously, he served as the President of Hockey Operations/General Manager for the Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League from 2014-2019, and was selected as the 2015-16 USHL General Manager of the Year. Additionally, he acted as Asst. General Manger/ Director of Player Personnel for the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL for the 2013-2014 season.

LeRoy joins the Sharks for his first season after serving as the Barracuda’s Head Equipment manager during the 2024-25 season. Prior to joining the organization, he served as the Equipment Manager for the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team during the 2023-24 season, and spent 22 years as the Head Equipment Manager for the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, a position he held from the franchise’s inception in 2000 until his departure in 2022.

Additionally, Leroy worked on the Florida Panthers’ equipment staff from 1993 to 2000 and served as the Head Equipment Manager for the IHL’s Kansas City Blades from 1990 to 1993. The Blades, the top affiliate of the San Jose Sharks during his final two years with the team, won the Turner Cup as IHL Champions in the 1991-1992 season. While working for the Blades, Leroy notably served as the team’s backup goaltender for a game in Salt Lake City, while still performing his equipment duties, after Arturs Irbe was called up to the Sharks last minute and the team had no alternative solution.

Vanek enters his third season within the Sharks Hockey Operations department, previously serving as a scout for two seasons. In a decorated 14-year playing career, the forward totaled 789 points (373 goals, 416 points) over 1,029 NHL games, splitting 14 seasons between the Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders, Montreal Canadiens, Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers, Vancouver Canucks and Columbus Blue Jackets. A two-time 40-goal scorer with the Sabres, Vanek led the NHL in power play goals in 2008-09 and was named to the NHL’s Second All-Star Team in 2006-07 in addition to playing in the 2009 NHL All-Star Game. He ranks fifth all-time in Sabres history with 254 goals, was a member of the AHL’s All-Rookie Team in 2004-05 and won a NCAA national championship with Minnesota in 2003, earning a spot on the NCAA All-Tournament Team.