By Joshua Boyd / USPHL.com

Ray Sylvester knows that his new coaching position in the NHL will be a Wild ride, and he can’t wait to get started.

Sylvester, a former Charlotte Rush video coach, was recently hired by the Minnesota Wild as a video coach. Players in the USPHL receive top-notch coaching, as shown by Sylvester’s career path.  

This is the pinnacle of a video coach career path that started in the NCAA, moved into the USPHL Premier and Elite, then on to the United States Hockey League and American Hockey League, and now sees Sylvester as a member of an NHL hockey operations staff.

“I had a couple interviews with [Wild head coach] John Hynes, who already knew about me as I was with their farm team, the Iowa Wild,” said Sylvester. 

“From talking to different people, two of the biggest changes will be working with a video coach who has already spent 15+ years in the NHL to learn from, and the challenge system,” Sylvester added.  

Sylvester, who worked as video coach for the Rush between 2020 and 2022, also talked about other details about his new position, including some of the similarities with what he did with the Iowa Wild from 2023 to 2025. 

“I would watch prescout games and create prescout packages. You break the game down into categories – time on ice, scoring chances, special teams. You also have other jobs like building practice plans, making sure Excel sheets are in line, creating a power point for the coaches,” he added. “During intermissions, you’d present to the coaches what happened the prior period, using hot buttons to mark certain events that they want to focus on before the next period.” 

Building A Career

After playing high school hockey with Canon-MacMillan High School in Canonsburg, Pa., he moved on to study at Robert Morris University in nearby Pittsburgh. There, he met current Rush co-owner Ryan Cruthers, who was an assistant coach for the NCAA Division I Colonials team. Cruthers, a former Colonials captain, became close friends with Sylvester at RMU when Sylvester was the RMU video coach as a college junior. 

That same season, 2019-20, was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the uncertainty on whether or not there would be collegiate hockey left Sylvester wondering where he could next take his career. 

“Not knowing what was going on, Ryan reached out to me and told me the USPHL was definitely going to play, so he brought me on board as their video coach for the next two seasons. This included 2020-21, when the Rush won both the USPHL Premier and USPHL Elite National Championships. 

“I keep those championship rings in a safe space,” he said. “They’re pretty big, so I don’t wear them around.” 

“Working for the Rush was well-needed. I was allowed to make mistakes, and I learned how a business and a hockey team is run. Similar to my time in the AHL, I was wearing 8-10 hats, whether it was making a practice plan, selling merchandise, making sure there was food on the bus, etc.,” said Sylvester. “You could not fit in a single article how much I learned from the Rush and Ryan Cruthers. For my two years there, we treated it like it was the NHL. Certainly, not many USPHL teams had a video coach position. 

“Ryan and Julie Cruthers really are No. 1 in terms of how they treat their players, their staff, and their billet families. They and [co-owner] Jocelyn Langlois really have it down to a science there in Charlotte. I lived two years with the Cruthers family in their home. Their children became like brothers to me, as well. I’m very close with that family, and I also keep in touch with Trevor Jewell, and Troy Schwab, who was a coach there at the time.”

When Cruthers was hired by the Sioux Falls Stampede as an assistant coach in 2022-23, he was able to help Sylvester get a job as the Stampede’s video coach that year. 

“After that season, I reached out to Keith Paulsen, who was Iowa’s former video coach. He was someone I made a connection with, seeking advice while I was still at RMU. I messaged him after I saw he was moving on from Iowa to Minnesota State-Mankato as an assistant coach, and he put my resume for Iowa at the top of the list, for which I am very grateful. I had two interviews with Brett McLean [Iowa’s former Head Coach, recently hired as an Assistant Coach with the Vancouver Canucks], and I was hired by Iowa.” 

Preparing For The NHL Life

He goes back to praising the Charlotte Rush culture when talking about when the news was posted by the Wild that he had been hired as their new video coach. 

“I got a ton of different texts of congratulations from Rush players, and this includes alumni who were on the team even before I got there,” said Sylvester. “That just shows you how much of a family it is. The amount of players who reached out and said ‘congrats’ was pretty cool.” 

With his time in Iowa, he got to know most of the Minnesota Wild coaching staff and hockey operations personnel. The Iowa staff would help with prospects and training camps, so Sylvester was alongside many of those he’ll be working with more regularly now in St. Paul. 

“We’ve known each other, including Patrick Dwyer, an assistant coach in Iowa who was promoted during the 2023-24 season to the Minnesota Wild,” said Sylvester. 

Expecting the almost 24-7 grind of the NHL season, Sylvester said that the organization has given him a chance to spend family and vacation time. 

“There are some different things with video from last year, and some power point materials to prepare for when we meet for the first time as a full staff,” said Sylvester. “During the off-season, many coaches spend time with their families.”

What is ahead is a great new opportunity for a young coach to put his positive stamp on an NHL franchise for the first time. 

The USPHL congratulates Ray Sylvester for his new position with the Minnesota Wild. 

LSU wide receiver Barion Brown is entering his final season of eligibility in 2025. The former top-100 recruit is looking to have a big season playing with star quarterback Garrett Nussmeier in Death Valley. However, the former Kentucky wide receiver still remains one of the best special teams players in college football.

The Nashville (Tenn.) Pearl-Cohn product is once again receiving some preseason recognition as a return specialist. Brown was named a first-team All-SEC member in Phil Steele’s College Football Preview.

Barion Brown started his career at Kentucky and spent three seasons playing for head coach Mark Stoops. During his time in the Bluegrass, Brown recorded 122 receptions for 1,528 yards and 11 touchdowns to go along with 195 rushing yards and two more touchdowns. There were inconsistencies during each of his three seasons but this has always been a player with explosive play potential. Brown’s most consistent act has always been as a kick returner with five career return touchdowns and a return average of 29.3 yards. The SEC transfer should make a big impact immediately for LSU’s special teams.

The former Kentucky wideout is expected to have a big role for a true College Football Playoff contender in Baton Rouge.

This is where every outgoing Kentucky player landed this offseason.

• DL Keeshawn Silver (Committed to USC on Dec. 19)
• DB Avery Stuart (Committed to Ball State on Jan. 5)
• LB Jayvant Brown (Committed to Temple on Jan. 9)
• TE Tanner Lemaster (Committed to Eastern Michigan on Dec. 22)
• TE Khamari Anderson (Committed to Arizona State on Dec. 22)
• TE Jordan Dingle (Committed to South Carolina on Dec. 18)
• OL Courtland Ford (Committed to UCLA on Dec. 17)
• OL Ben Christman (Committed to UNLV on Dec. 27)
• OL Dylan Ray (Committed to Minnesota on Dec. 21)
• OL Koby Keenum (Committed to Mississippi State on Dec. 22)
• DL Tommy Ziesmer (Committed to EKU on Dec. 15)
• WR Dane Key (Committed to Nebraska on Dec. 24)
• WR Barion Brown (Committed to LSU on Dec. 14)
• WR Anthony Brown-Stephens (Committed to Tulane on Jan. 7)
• WR Brandon White (Committed to Hawaii on Dec. 28)
• EDGE Tyreese Fearbry (Committed to Wisconsin on Dec. 22)
• EDGE Noah Matthews (Committed to Delaware on Jan. 7)
• EDGE Caleb Redd (Committed to Kansas on Dec. 20)
• RB Chip Trayanum (Committed to Toledo on Dec. 24)
• QB Gavin Wimsatt (Committed to Jacksonville State on Jan. 5)
• DL Kendrick Gilbert (Committed to Louisville on April 29)
• OL Daniel Mincey (Committed to UAB on May 16)
• OL Anfernee Crease (Committed to Texas State on April 29)
• CB Jiquavious “Quavo” Marshall (Committed to Liberty on April 27)
• OL Marc Nave Jr. (Committed to Purdue on April 22)
• OL Wallace Unamba (Committed to Virginia on April 20)
• DL Dennious Jackson (Committed to Colorado State on May 8)
• DL Darrion Henry-Young (Committed to Coastal Carolina on May 2)

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. Keep closer tabs on the Cats with at KSBoard. Not a KSR+ member? Try it out today.

Most college football coaches spend their offseason relaxing with family, hitting fishing spots, or working on their short game. But Tulsa’s new head coach Tre Lamb just proved he’s not your average weekend golfer.

The 35-year-old coach fired a three-over 75 at the Oklahoma State Amateur Qualifier, putting him in serious contention for the state championship. While Tulsa fans are still waiting to see what he can do on the gridiron, Lamb’s already making waves on the fairways.

How Did Tre Lamb Perform at the Oklahoma State Amateur Qualifier?

Say what you want about the Tulsa Golden Hurricanes football program, which has won just 12 games in the past three seasons, but one thing you can’t criticize is new head coach Tre Lamb’s golf game.

Lamb hasn’t coached a game at Tulsa yet, but was hired as the program’s head coach this offseason after a successful year at East Tennessee State. The 35-year-old coach is already making waves in Oklahoma, but not on the football field. Instead, he’s impressing everyone on the golf course.

During the State Amateur Qualifier at Forest Ridge in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, the head coach shot a solid 75, going just three over during his round.

Tulsa head football coach Tre Lamb fires a 75 (+3) in the State Amateur qualifier at Forest Ridge.

That SHOULD safely qualify him for the Oklahoma State Am, starting July 21st at Cedar Ridge. Top 33 and ties get in.

Pretty impressive stuff. pic.twitter.com/PMgd8vFlVC

— TJ Eckert (@TJEckertKJRH) July 10, 2025

Lamb finished the round with two birdies, 12 pars, three bogeys, and one double bogey, which put him in a tie for 32nd place.

That performance will likely be enough to qualify him for the Oklahoma State Amateur Championship, which will take place from July 21 to July 24.

What Does This Mean for Lamb’s Transition to Tulsa?

Following the championship, Lamb will return to the Tulsa campus to begin his first season as head coach of the Golden Hurricane. The timing works out perfectly, allowing him to compete at the state level before diving into his coaching duties.

Tulsa fans are hoping that Lamb is as good a coach as he is a golfer, as the program desperately needs to improve. The team hasn’t had a winning season since 2021 and has not won a conference title since joining the American Athletic Conference in 2014.

RELATED: ‘Shout Out’ — Devin Robinson Credits Tulsa Football Teammate for EA Sports College Football 26 Win Over Mason Fleming

Lamb is a young head coach who has been coaching at the FCS level since 2013. He’s had success in his time, winning two Big South conference championships with Gardner-Webb in 2022 and 2023.

This marks Lamb’s first FBS stint, and while he’s unproven at this level, the Golden Hurricane decided to give him a chance. If he can turn the program around, he’ll be beloved by the University and the city.

It’s clear that his golf prowess is already making an impact in the state, but he’ll need to match that performance on the football field to win over Tulsa fans.

Livvy Dunne was ready to buy her dream apartment — one that once belonged to Babe Ruth — with cash in hand. But not even a full-price, all-cash offer was enough to sway the co-op board.

Screenshot from YouTube

The 22-year-old influencer and former LSU gymnast revealed this week that her bid to purchase the Upper West Side apartment once home to baseball legend Babe Ruth was denied, despite her efforts to seal the deal in grand fashion.

In a TikTok video shared with her nearly 8 million followers, Dunne detailed the experience, calling the historic New York City unit her “dream apartment” and explaining how close she came to making it her own. She said she was ready to pay the $1.595 million listing price in full and had already brought her boyfriend, Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes, to visit. An interior designer had even started planning the space.

But just days before she expected to receive the keys, Dunne said she got a call: the co-op board had voted against her application.

“That week I was supposed to move in,” Dunne said in the video. “I got a call that I was denied.”

The three-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom apartment is the stuff of Yankees lore. According to NBC News, Ruth lived there from 1920 to 1940, during the height of his playing career. The apartment’s legacy clearly added to its appeal for Dunne, whose growing presence in baseball circles has included a high-profile relationship with Skenes, one of MLB’s rising stars.

The board didn’t offer a clear reason for the rejection, but Dunne speculated that her celebrity status — and the attention that often follows — may have been a factor.

“Maybe they just didn’t want someone with a public profile,” she noted, hinting at concerns over privacy, media, or potential disruptions.

The rejection marks another bump in what’s already been a challenging stretch for Dunne, who has been juggling life in the spotlight with personal and professional transitions. In addition to her social media empire and NIL deals, she’s also a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model and former member of the U.S. Junior Women’s National Gymnastics Team.

Now, she’ll have to search elsewhere for her first piece of real estate, though it likely won’t come with quite the same legend-in-the-walls appeal.

A new era in hockey prospect development began when the NCAA voted to allow Canadian junior hockey players to leave the Canadian Hockey League and join the college ranks. The move has resulted in several top prospects leaving their junior teams and committing to American college programs. 

One of those prospects is Ryder Ritchie, the Minnesota Wild’s 2024 second-round pick. Ritchie recently committed to play at Boston University, a move that should pay significant dividends for his development. 

People are already hyping Ritchie as a Wild prospect. Hockey Wilderness ranked him as the organization’s No. 7 prospect coming into last season, and he only built on that potential in last year’s campaign. 

Ritchie used his explosive offensive tools to tally 61 points (29 goals and 32 assists) in 53 Western Hockey League games for the Medicine Hat Tigers. The forward from Calgary continued his strong form in the playoffs, scoring 18 points in 18 games on the way to a Memorial Cup appearance. 

While Ritchie has already established himself as an intriguing prospect, Boston University will provide fertile ground for him to develop his game further. 

BU has a storied history, with five national championships, 25 Frozen Four appearances, and several notable alums who have gone on to make an impact in the NHL. Since 2015, 15 Terriers have been drafted in the first round of the NHL draft, including stars like Jack Eichel, Charlie McAvoy, Jake Oettinger, and Macklin Celebrini. 

Head coach Jay Pandolfo has led BU to the national tournament in all three of his seasons since they hired him in 2022. 

Ritchie will be joining a program with winning aspirations, a roster filled with high-level prospects, and a strong track record of preparing players for the NHL. 

The move to the NCAA is an excellent opportunity for any prospect, but it could be especially impactful for Ritchie, given his specific needs and strengths.

One of the primary benefits will be getting Ritchie ready for a more pro-style game. According to EliteProspects, he’s 6-foot-1, 185 pounds. That’s more than enough size to play in the junior league, where players are much younger. 

In the NCAA, Ritchie will be playing against older players who have already filled out their frames. Ritchie has NHL size; he just needs to grow into it. That will happen at BU with a world-class nutrition and strength and conditioning program.

Ritchie’s physical growth will be significant for strengthening his defensive game. While experts already recognize him for his creativity and offensive flair, Ritchie’s two-way play remains an area for improvement.

That perceived lack of defensive upside isn’t due to a lack of effort, though. Steven Ellis of Daily Faceoff states that “Ritchie can take over shifts with his high energy and workhorse attitude.” Meanwhile, DobberProspects notes that the player has “great energy on the forecheck.”

If Ritchie continues to put in high-energy shifts, his defensive impact could improve significantly as he grows into an NHL body. College hockey’s pace and physical demands should help him sharpen that part of his game faster than staying in juniors would.

Ritchie’s jump to Boston University should help him shore up some areas of weakness. However, BU is also a solid choice due to its track record of working with prospects that match Ritchie’s skill set. 

As his defensive game develops, Ritchie’s offensive toolkit, already his most significant asset, should become even more impactful at the college level.

Let’s take a look at some of Ritchie’s best skills. Ritchie is best known for his creativity offensively as a playmaker, puck handler, and scorer. He’s a quick and shifty skater who has a “cannon of a shot,” according to DobberProspects. Boston University has experience developing prospects with Ritchie’s unique blend of skills.

For example, Trevor Zegras excelled as a Terrier in his lone college season in 2019-20 before making his NHL debut. Scouting reports from Zegras’ draft year highlighted similar strengths to Ritchie’s: elite playmaking, dynamic skating, and a dangerous shot.

Zegras is one of the best playmakers in this class who can make unique plays by using his dynamic passing ability.

-Hockeyprospect.com 2019

A slippery and shifty skater, he has exceptional foot mechanics and clean edges that allow him to be evasive.

-Future Considerations 2019

Although creating for others is his specialist, he has a hell of a shot, too.

-McKeen’s Hockey 2019

(Source: Eliteprospects.com)

Zegras is far from the only former Terrier who profiles similarly to Ritchie. Cole Eiserman is a BU forward with an eye-popping shot and developed a high work-rate game in college last year by using his skating and energy to contribute offensively. While Ritchie’s shot doesn’t quite compare with Eiserman’s, having the opportunity to play with that level of scorer should also elevate his game.

Boston University is a fantastic fit for Ritchie. The rigors of college hockey should allow the forward to accelerate his progress in areas where he needs improvement. BU will accentuate his strengths, and they’ve demonstrated the ability to prepare prospects with Ritchie’s skills for the next level.

Ritchie’s commitment to Boston University presents an opportunity for the Wild to refine an already promising offensive weapon into a more well-rounded player. There’s still a long road to go for the 18-year-old prospect, but he made a wise decision signing with BU.