Ex-Ohio State Football Player Kirk Barton Charged in Deadly Ohio Car Crash
Former Ohio State offensive lineman Kirk Barton is facing an aggravated vehicular manslaughter charge following a fatal crash early Saturday morning, according to multiple reports. Police in Dublin, Ohio, say Barton is suspected of speeding, although they haven’t said how fast they suspect him of driving, when his truck hit a car at 2:56 a.m. […]
Former Ohio State offensive lineman Kirk Barton is facing an aggravated vehicular manslaughter charge following a fatal crash early Saturday morning, according to multiple reports.
Police in Dublin, Ohio, say Barton is suspected of speeding, although they haven’t said how fast they suspect him of driving, when his truck hit a car at 2:56 a.m. ET. The driver of that car, 24-year-old Ethan Wence Perry, died at the scene, ESPN reported Saturday.
Barton was driving a Ford F-150 Raptor pickup eastbound on U.S. 33 before he crashed into Perry’s westbound Lexus on West Bridge Street, just west of Franklin Street, according to The Columbus Dispatch.
Barton, 40, was hospitalized briefly with non-life-threatening injuries, according to police. He was later taken to Franklin County Jail, where he is facing the felony charge. Barton has a court hearing on June 23.
Barton was an offensive lineman for Ohio State from 2003-2007 and started at right tackle for four seasons. In his final season with the Buckeyes in 2007, he was team captain for the 11-2 Big Ten championship-winning OSU team.
Barton went on to play in the NFL, being drafted by the Chicago Bears in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft.
Barton has a history of traffic offenses dating back to his first year in the NFL, per The Columbus Dispatch’s report, including speeding and suspicion of OVI (Operating a Vehicle Impaired).
In all the speeding cases, Barton paid a fine. One OVI charge from 2010 was dismissed, and another from 2017 was pleaded down to reckless operation and failure to stop. He received another fine and a 180-day license suspension.
This is a developing story.
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N.J. boys ice hockey final rankings, All-State & top honors, 1990-2000: HS historical project
Hudson Catholic’s Benett Shelly (#57) goes down after being hit by Bayonne’s Dave Bodson (#13 left) in the NJSIAA/New Jersey Devils Tournament of Champions final hockey game at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford.SL NJ Advance Media’s HS sports department is using some of its time over the summer to republish semi-recent postseason honors […]
Hudson Catholic’s Benett Shelly (#57) goes down after being hit by Bayonne’s Dave Bodson (#13 left) in the NJSIAA/New Jersey Devils Tournament of Champions final hockey game at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford.SL
NJ Advance Media’s HS sports department is using some of its time over the summer to republish semi-recent postseason honors that, for a variety of reasons, had become largely inaccessible, even to us.
Please enjoy a look back at all the Star-Ledger’s boys ice hockey postseason honors as well as final rankings from 1990-2000.
Brian Bobal may be reached at bbobal@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X at @BrianBobal.
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Italy’s Lorenzo Bonicelli reportedly in medically-induced coma after fall on rings at World University Games
Photo courtesy of the Italian Gymnastics Federation. Italy’s Lorenzo Bonicelli was seriously injured after a fall on his rings dismount while competing at the 2025 FISU World University Games on Wednesday. As of publishing, he is reportedly in a medically-induced coma and the rest of the Italian team withdrew from the competition. The Italian Gymnastics […]
Photo courtesy of the Italian Gymnastics Federation.
Italy’s Lorenzo Bonicelli was seriously injured after a fall on his rings dismount while competing at the 2025 FISU World University Games on Wednesday. As of publishing, he is reportedly in a medically-induced coma and the rest of the Italian team withdrew from the competition.
The Italian Gymnastics Federation published a statement Wednesday. The translated version reads, “During the men’s artistic gymnastics team competition at the 32nd Summer Universiadiade in Essen, the blue Lorenzo Bonicelli came out badly from his exercise at the rings, in the third rotation, incurring an injury on the extent of which investigations are still underway. Immediately rescued by the medical team of the German organization and by the health managers of FISU and CUSI, the twenty-three-year-old from Lecco of the Ghislanzoni GAL was transported to the nearby university polyclinic. The technical staff following the GAM mission in Germany, given the understandable emotional involvement of the rest of the team, preferred to withdraw the team from the competition. While waiting for the official medical bulletins, the FGI is all tight to Lorenzo, wishing him a speedy recovery. Come on Bonni!”
Steve Butcher, a member of the International Gymnastics Federation’s Men’s Technical Committee, shared an additional update on Facebook on Thursday, stating, “Please keep Italian gymnast Lorenzo Bonicelli (age 23) in your thoughts and prayers as he recovers from a significant neck injury suffered on his Rings dismount at the World University Games. Several of you have asked me about his condition after seeing me judging as the Apparatus Supervisor on the Rings. Sorry I could not respond sooner without confirmation. Lorenzo is in a medically induced coma after surgery last night. It will take 10 or more days to know his condition. The entire gymnastics family is pulling for Lorenzo’s full recovery!” (via Kensley Behel/Neutral Deductions)
Bonicelli reportedly fell on his neck when attempting his triple back dismount off rings. He was carried off the field of play on a stretcher and transported to a nearby hospital.
Please join us in sending Lorenzo, his family, and the Italian Gymnastics Federation our thoughts and prayers during this time. We will update this story with any further details as they are released.
Judge finds five former players not guilty of sexual assault in Hockey Canada trial
By Frank Pingue (Reuters) -Five former members of Canada’s 2018 world junior ice hockey team have been found not guilty of sexually assaulting a woman in a hotel room that year, a judge said on Thursday. The charges against Michael McLeod, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube, Carter Hart and Cal Foote stemmed from an encounter in […]
(Reuters) -Five former members of Canada’s 2018 world junior ice hockey team have been found not guilty of sexually assaulting a woman in a hotel room that year, a judge said on Thursday.
The charges against Michael McLeod, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube, Carter Hart and Cal Foote stemmed from an encounter in a hotel room in the Canadian city of London after a Hockey Canada gala to celebrate their world junior championship victory.
All five former National Hockey League players faced one count of sexual assault while McLeod faced an additional count of being a party to an offence. They all pleaded not guilty.
McLeod was also found not guilty of the additional charge.
According to CBC News, Justice Maria Carroccia told the courtroom that she did not find the complainant’s evidence to be “credible or reliable” and that the Crown failed to prove she did not consent to the sexual activity.
“Justice Carroccia’s carefully reasoned decision represents a resounding vindication for Mr. McLeod and for his co-defendants,” said McLeod’s lawyer, David Humphrey.
“Justice Carroccia found that the complainant’s testimony was uncredible and was unreliable.”
Crown attorney Meaghan Cunningham told reporters they would “carefully review” Carroccia’s decision but did not have further comments as the case is still within the appeal period.
Hockey Canada did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the verdict.
When the charges were announced in January 2024, McLeod and Foote were with the New Jersey Devils, Dube was with the Calgary Flames, Hart was with the Philadelphia Flyers while Formenton was playing in Switzerland.
The trial, which began in April and garnered national attention, faced many disruptions including a mistrial and two dismissed juries before Carroccia and the lawyers decided to proceed with a judge-alone trial.
A police investigation into the alleged incident was closed without charges in February 2019, but investigators reopened it in July 2022 in response to public outrage over reports that Hockey Canada used players’ registration fees to pay an undisclosed settlement to the woman who made the accusations.
The scandal prompted the Canadian federal government to freeze Hockey Canada’s funding for 10 months while a number of major companies either paused or canceled their sponsorships with the national governing body.
Amid the scandal, Hockey Canada said it would no longer use the fund financed by player registration fees to settle sexual assault claims, and the organization’s CEO and board of directors stepped down.
(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Nia Williams and Caroline Stauffer)
The 2025 Here’s to You Kid winners have been announced, meaning that two young people in our region will be receiving monetary support in recognition of their commitment to their community. In the past year, both students have been featured in a “Here’s to You Kid” segment on WBRE/WYOU, a media partner of the […]
The 2025 Here’s to You Kid winners have been announced, meaning that two young people in our region will be receiving monetary support in recognition of their commitment to their community. In the past year, both students have been featured in a “Here’s to You Kid” segment on WBRE/WYOU, a media partner of the Times Leader.
This year’s winners are:
• Aaron Girvan, an 18-year-old student at Wyoming Valley West High School, will receive a scholarship of $1,000 to a higher education or trade school.
• Nolan Wurster, a 13-year-old student at C.E. McCall Middle School in Montoursville, will receive a $500 gift card for the purchase of books.
Mapping the ‘Old Yard’
In 2021, Aaron Girvan set out to become an Eagle Scout by properly mapping out the oldest section of Forty Fort Cemetery, aptly called the “Old Yard.” In old mapping records of the cemetery, the 1,096 gravesites that make up the Old Yard were indistinguishable from one another, making it a particularly difficult section to navigate.
Three years after beginning his project, Girvan’s work was completed. From the oldest graves — some dating back to the late 18th century — Girvan was able to salvage a clearer picture of Forty Forty Cemetery’s abundant history.
“I think it’s better that the cemetery get this type of attention,” Girvan said of the Here’s to You Kid recognition. “It’s a very interesting, very historic place in the area, and it really deserves community support and the respect that it should have as a historic site and an interesting place all around.”
Girvan can look back now on his role in mapping the Old Yard and see its future utility.
“My part was acting as a preserver of history, making sure that as much information about that cemetery is recorded in the now and can be used later on,” he said.
Aiding the firefighters
Nolan Wurster has been interested in firefighting since he was three years old. His parents initially thought the interest was a passing phase, but Nolan stayed intrigued by the intricacies of being a firefighter. As he got older, he began hanging out at the Montoursville Fire Department station and learning more.
In 2020, Nolan decided he wanted to donate his allowance and birthday money to the fire department. That began a tradition that continues to this day, in which Nolan and his family do a yearly fundraiser to help out those at the station.
“He doesn’t do this for [the attention],” Erica Wurster, Nolan’s mother, said of her son. “He had an idea and ran with it, and it stuck. It’s something that he loves to do.”
Over the years, Nolan has raised thousands of dollars for the Montoursville Fire Department through dinners, raffles and even an Easter egg hunt.
“He’s a very humble kid. He does good genuinely,” said Erica. “That is what he’s passionate about in life. He wants to be a firefighter.”
Story Links Complete Schedule RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros women’s soccer team announced on Thursday the complete 2025 schedule with the Vaqueros opening the season on August 14 against Tarleton State at the UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex at 6:30 p.m. Along with the match with Tarleton State, […]
RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros women’s soccer team announced on Thursday the complete 2025 schedule with the Vaqueros opening the season on August 14 against Tarleton State at the UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex at 6:30 p.m.
Along with the match with Tarleton State, the Vaqueros will have eight non-conference matches, which along with the 10-match Southland Conference slate, giving them 18 matches leading to the Southland Conference Tournament.
Prior to the start of the regular season, the Vaqueros will also have two exhibition matches starting on Aug. 8 when the Vaqueros host Monterrey Tech at 6:30 p.m. at the UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex before traveling to College Station to face Texas A&M on Aug. 9.
Admission to the exhibition match and to all home matches is complimentary.
“As a coach, when you’re building the schedule, you want to schedule some games that you can compete and win some games,” UTRGV head coach Mark Foster said. “But you also need to be playing opponents that are, on paper, probably better than you and will stretch you to your limit so that you see what you have and see where you need to grow to be ready for conference. When I look at the schedule, I am really excited. I think we have a nice balance of some big games, especially here at home. Ultimately, these games will get us sharp and ready for conference. I am confident the schedule we have put together will do that.”
The Vaqueros will host Rice on Aug. 17 at 11 a.m. before hitting the road for the first time on Aug. 21 at Prairie View A&M.
The Vaqueros will then return home for a three-match homestand that will see them host Louisiana on Aug. 28 at 6:30 p.m., Texas A&M-San Antonio for Senior Day on Sept. 4 at 4 p.m., and Texas Lutheran on Sept. 7 at 11 a.m.
The Vaqueros will close out their non-conference slate on the road when they visit Houston on Sept. 11 and Texas Southern on Sept. 14 before kicking off their Southland Conference schedule by hosting Northwestern State on Sept. 18 at the UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex.
Ferris State’s hockey team welcomes one of the nation’s top transfer classes for upcoming season
July 24, 2025 New Ferris State hockey head coach Brett Riley and his staff have attracted what college hockey experts are touting as one of the nation’s best incoming classes. BIG RAPIDS, Mich. — The Ferris State University hockey team announced 13 new players will join the Bulldog roster for the upcoming season […]
New Ferris State hockey head coach Brett Riley and his staff have attracted what college
hockey experts are touting as one of the nation’s best incoming classes.
BIG RAPIDS, Mich. —
The Ferris State University hockey team announced 13 new players will join the Bulldog
roster for the upcoming season under first-year head coach Brett Riley, a group labeled
as one of the nation’s top five transfer classes in college hockey.
Brett Riley
The incoming class consists of four defensemen, seven forwards and two goaltenders.
Five players come from Long Island University, following Riley to Big Rapids after
a 20-win season with the Sharks in 2024-25.
Out of the remaining eight players in the class, three hail from schools in the NCHC,
two from BIG 10 programs and one each from Hockey East, Atlantic Hockey and the ECAC.
An in-depth look at each player can be found below.
Incoming Players:
Valtteri Piironen, a senior defenseman from Finland who played at Long Island University
Valtteri “Wade” Piironen is one of five transfers from Long Island to join the Bulldogs.
A 6-4, 201-pounds, he brings size and physicality to the blueline. He played in 97
games for Riley across three seasons at Long Island, tallying 12 points each of the
past two years. In 2024-25, Piironen set a career-high with 11 assists while leading
the team with 61 blocked shots. He finished the season plus-8, tied for second highest
on the squad. Piironen is an elite shot blocker, totaling 186 blocked shots across
three seasons with the Sharks. Prior to playing collegiate hockey, Piironen spent
three seasons with the Sioux Falls Stampede and competed for Finland’s U17 team in
2017-18. He participated in the Colorado Avalanche’s development camp last summer.
Riley on Piironen: “Valtteri is a dynamic, all-situations defenseman with excellent
skating and shutdown ability. A top shot-blocker in college hockey, he’s logged big
minutes and brings a reliable, battle-tested presence to our blue line.”
Nic Belpedio, a graduate student who plays defense from Skokie, Illinois who played
at Colgate University.
Belpedio joins the Bulldogs as a graduate transfer after four years with Colgate in
the ECAC. He has appeared in 115 collegiate games, which leads Ferris State heading
into the upcoming season. Belpedio has 15 goals and 22 assists for 37 points in his
career, tops among Bulldog defensemen. Belpedio set career-highs with five goals,
nine assists, 14 points, two power play goals and 40 games played during the 2022-23
season before suffering a season-ending injury after nine games in 2023-24. Last year,
he made 31 appearances and registered nine points on three goals and six assists.
Prior to his time at Colgate, Belpedio skated in 96 games across two seasons for the
Waterloo Black Hawks in the USHL.
Riley on Belpedio: “Nic brings veteran leadership and four years of experience at
Colgate, where he played in every situation. His character, poise, and compete level
will make an immediate impact in our locker room and on the ice.”
Jack Mesic, a junior defenseman from Plymouth who played for Western Michigan University.
After winning the national championship with Western Michigan last season, Mesic returns
to Big Rapids for his junior year. As a freshman for FSU in 2023-24, Mesic had 10
points, good for the second most by a Bulldog freshman that year. He blocked 46 shots,
second most on the team and most by a Bulldog freshman since 2016-17. He started the
season +5 in his first four games with a goal and two assists during the same span.
Last year, Mesic skated in five games for the Broncos and brings championship experience
to the Bulldog roster.
Riley on Mesic: “Jack is a warrior. We’re thrilled to welcome him back to Big Rapids.
Our fans may remember that he is a tough, reliable defenseman. We expect him to be
a major presence on our back end.”
Brian Morse, a freshman defenseman from Fresno, California who played at University
of Maine.
Morse comes to Big Rapids after redshirting last season at Maine. He played two years
of junior hockey with the Chilliwack Chiefs of the BCHL prior to his stint at Maine,
totaling 13 goals, 35 assists and 48 points in 106 games with the Chiefs. In his final
year of junior hockey in 2023-24, Morse recorded eight goals, 19 assists and 27 points,
finishing second among Chiefs defensemen in total scoring. He registered a power play
goal, short-handed goal and dished seven assists on the power play.
Riley on Morse: “Brian is a cerebral defenseman with elite hockey sense and a standout
junior career in Chilliwack. With his offensive upside and composure, we’re excited
to see him take the next step at the NCAA level.”
Caden Brown, a senior forward from St. Louis, Missouri who played at The Ohio State
University.
Ferris State is Brown’s third stop in his collegiate career. He spent the last two
seasons with Ohio State and the two seasons before that with the University of Wisconsin.
Brown comes to Big Rapids with 73 career games played, seven goals scored, 11 assists
and 18 points to his name. Last season, he battled through injuries, appearing in
only two games for the Buckeyes while registering a goal and an assist. In 2023-24,
Brown set career-best marks with four goals, six assists and 10 points. Across two
seasons with Wisconsin, he saw action in 46 games, scoring two goals and dishing four
assists, all during his freshman year. Brown is a two-time Ohio State Scholar Athlete
and was named to the 2025 Academic All-Big Ten Team.
Riley on Brown: “Caden is a creative and intelligent forward with high-end offensive
talent and elite hockey sense. After overcoming injuries, we’re fired up to see him
back at full strength and making plays all over the ice.”
Josh Zary, a senior forward from Nanaimo, British Columbia who played at Long Island
University.
Zary spent the previous three seasons with Riley at Long Island, appearing in 92 games
and registering 68 total points on 44 goals and 24 assists. He scored 12 goals as
a freshman in 2022-23 and again as a junior in 2024-25. As a sophomore in 2023-24,
he led Long Island with 20 goals and was one of only 24 players nationally to score
at least 20 times. With 35 games played that season, he achieved the feat in the third
fewest games of any skater to record 20 goals. Zary led the Sharks last year in faceoff
wins (289) and winning percentage (60.1, minimum 100 attempts). In 2023-24, he won
330 faceoffs and 60.3% of his draws, again leading the squad in both metrics. He paced
the Sharks and was tied for second nationally with 13 power play goals during the
2023-24 season and tacked on seven more power play strikes as a junior last year.
He has 13 career multi-point games and leads all current Bulldogs in career goals
(44), power play goals (25) and points (68).
Riley on Zary: “Josh is a proven scorer at the college level and has been near the
top nationally in both power play goals and faceoff percentage for a few years. He
brings skill, reliability, and experience down the middle.”
Max Dukovac, a senior forward from Aurora, Illinois who played at Miami University.
Dukovac comes to big Rapids after three seasons with Miami in Ohio. During his time
as a Redhawk, Dukovac recorded nine goals, 26 assists and 35 points across 92 games
played. He appeared in at least 25 games each season and brings veteran leadership
and experience to the Bulldog roster. Last season, Dukovac recorded a career-high
five goals that included goals in back-to-back games to close the season against eventual
national champion Western Michigan. As a freshman in 2022-23, Dukovac tallied 15 points
with 14 assists before following that up with 10 points in each of the following two
years. Dukovac played six career games against Ferris State, registering one goal
and four assists against the Bulldogs. Before joining Miami’s roster, Dukovac skated
with current Bulldog Tyler Schleppe as a member of the Langley Rivermen, leading the
team with 59 points.
Riley on Dukovac: “Max adds speed, skill, and versatility to our forward group. He’s
a proven college performer in all situations and we’re eager to see him take his game
to the next level with us.”
Tanner Rowe, a junior forward from Calumet who played at University of Michigan.
Rowe is entering his third year of collegiate hockey after two seasons with the U
of M. He appeared in 45 games as a Wolverine, registering one goal which came during
his freshman season against Stonehill. Before skating in the BIG 10, Rowe played two
seasons for the Omaha Lancers in the USHL. In 2022-23, he served as an alternate captain
and tallied 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in 58 games played. He scored four
goals and had seven assists for 11 points during his first year with the Lancers in
2021-22.
Riley on Rowe: “Tanner combines size, skating ability, and character. He’s a physical
presence who plays with pace and purpose and we’re excited to see his game continue
to grow.”
John Lundy, a senior forward from Brooklyn, New York who played at American International
College.
Lundy spent the previous three seasons with American International College. He played
in 72 games as a Yellow Jacket, registering 24 goals, 18 assists and 42 points. As
a freshman in 2022-23, Lundy had one assist in nine games before jumping to 22 points
as a sophomore on 14 goals and eight helpers. Last season, he finished second on the
team with 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) and led the squad with six power play goals.
Lundy also led the Yellow Jackets with eight power play goals as a sophomore in 2023-24.
He has nine career multi-point performances and scored a career-high three points
in AIC’s victory over Air Force Jan. 13, 2024. Lundy is also capable in the faceoff
circle, winning 62 draws (64%-win rate) last season.
Riley on Lundy: “John has a knack for the net and a proven track record of scoring
timely goals. He’s a smart, instinctive forward who consistently puts himself in the
right place to make an impact.”
Riley Wallack, a senior forward from South Surrey, British Columbia who played at
Long Island University.
At 6-6, 229 pounds, Wallack is the biggest player on Ferris State’s roster. He played
for Long Island each of the past three seasons, accumulating 79 games played, 19 goals,
16 assists and 35 points. Last season, an injury limited him to only 14 games played,
but he recorded 11 points (six goals, five assists). Wallack was 143-122 (54 percent)
on the faceoff circle and scored two power play goals, a short-handed goal and a game-winning
goal. In 2023-24, he was second on the team with 253 faceoff wins (54%-win rate) and
scored four points in 30 games. As a freshman in 2022-23, Wallack was fifth on the
team with 20 points, fourth with 11 goals and tied for second with five power play
strikes. He also led the team with 352 faceoff wins and won at nearly a 60% clip.
Wallack played with Schleppe and Dukovac on Langley’s team, serving as the squad’s
captain and posting 43 points in 38 games.
Riley on Wallack: “At 6-6, Riley brings imposing size and strong two-way play. He
is excellent on faceoffs and responsible in all zones, and we’re excited to see him
return from injury and make his mark.”
Hobie Hedquist, a junior goaltender from Heron Lake, Minnesota who played at North
Dakota University.
Hedquist comes to Ferris State after two seasons in the NCHC with North Dakota. A
6-2, 192-pound goalie from Heron Lake, Minn., Hedquist appeared in 17 games for NODAK
with an 8-5 record and one shutout to his name. Last year, he made 10 appearances
and finished with a 2.80 goals against average and an .894 save percentage. He recorded
a 20-save shutout against Robert Morris in a 1-0 victory for North Dakota. His career-high
of 33 saves came Feb. 1, 2025 in a victory over St. Cloud State. As a freshman in
2023-24, Hedquist led the team with a 2.51 goals against average and .905 save percentage,
finishing with a 5-1 record.
Riley on Hedquist: “Hobie is a driven, athletic goaltender who’s ready to take another
step. Technically sound and fiercely competitive, he’ll be a key part of our goaltending
unit.”
Noah Rupprecht, a junior goaltender from Thief River Falls, Minnesota who played at
Long Island University.
Rupprecht is a 5-11, 179-pound goaltender who played his first two collegiate seasons
for Riley at Long Island. With a 17-7 overall collegiate record, Rupprecht is a proven
winner. Last year, he was 12-5 and recorded a victory against No. 17 Notre Dame on
Oct. 26, allowing just two goals. He finished the season with a .901 save percentage
and 2.33 goals against average. His career-high is 34 saves, which came in a 4-3 loss
at Providence on Nov. 16, 2024. He ended the season with six straight wins, allowing
no more than two goals in any game during that stretch. As a freshman in 2023-24,
Rupprecht was 5-2 with a 2.14 goals against average and .900 save percentage. His
lone career shutout came Jan. 20, 2024 against Stonehill. Rupprecht played with Bulldogs
Trevor Taulien, Emerson Goode and Jacob Badal during two seasons with the Odessa Jackalopes
in the NAHL from 2020-22.
Riley on Rupprecht: “Noah joins us with a 17–7 college record and a reputation for
winning big games. His relentless work ethic and fiery compete level will help elevate
our culture and our crease.”
Carter Rapalje, a junior forward from Monument, Colorado who played at Long Island
University.
Rapalje has played two full collegiate seasons, both of which saw him record at least
30 points. He began his career at Stonehill in 2022-23, scoring 20 goals and dishing
15 assists for 35 points, becoming the first Stonehill skater since 2006-07 to score
20 goals in a season, and he did it in just 23 games. Rapalje had six games with two
or more goals, including two hat tricks and had multi-point performances in 10 of
his 23 games played. He scored eight power play goals, two short-handed goals and
had three game-winners. Rapalje then missed the 2023-24 season before transferring
to Long Island for the 2024-25 season, where he led the team with 30 points, 17 goals,
eight power play goals, two short-handed goals, four game-winning goals and 10 multi-point
games. He has the most career assists (28) and multi-point games (20) of any current
Bulldog and is second with 37 goals and 16 power play goals (trailing on Zary). His
career mark of 1.14 points per game is also highest on the team.
Riley on Rapalje: “Carter is electric — blazing speed and a nose for the net. Coming
off a 17-goal season, he’s dangerous in all situations and primed to be a major offensive
force for us this year.”
The Bulldogs open their season Oct. 3 at Miami of Ohio. Ferris State’s first home
game is Oct. 10 against defending national champion Western Michigan University.
