College Sports
Graduates from Archdiocesan High Schools Head to Collegiate Athletics – CatholicPhilly
By CatholicPhilly Staff • Posted June 24, 2025 A total of 288 graduating senior student-athletes from archdiocesan high schools will continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level in the 2025–2026 academic year. These students will compete across a wide range of sports including football, basketball, soccer, lacrosse, track and field, cross country, softball, baseball, […]

A total of 288 graduating senior student-athletes from archdiocesan high schools will continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level in the 2025–2026 academic year.
These students will compete across a wide range of sports including football, basketball, soccer, lacrosse, track and field, cross country, softball, baseball, field hockey, wrestling, volleyball, golf, cheerleading, swimming, gymnastics, crew, acrobatics and tumbling, dance, and ice hockey.
Below is the full listing of student-athletes and the colleges or universities they will attend.
ARCHBISHOP CARROLL
- Bridget Archbold, Girls’ Basketball – The Catholic University of America
- Michael Bugler, Track & Field – Muhlenberg College
- Ryan Cook, Boys’ Soccer – Goldey–Beacom College
- Pete Cudjoe, Football – Millersville University
- Nick D’Alicandro, Football – Stevenson University
- Jason DiRita, Golf – Albright College
- Dakotah Johnson, Softball – East Stroudsburg University
- Omar Johnson, Football – Wheeling University
- Grace Kucia, Girls’ Lacrosse – Neumann University
- Madison Long, Softball – Caldwell University
- Maddie McFillin, Girls’ Basketball – United States Air Force Academy
- Matt McGaughey, Football – Ursinus College
- Olivia Nardi, Girls’ Basketball – Ursinus College
- Brooke Olender, Girls’ Basketball – University of Scranton
- Kate O’Neill, Girls’ Lacrosse – Villanova University
- Tory Quintois, Acrobatics & Tumbling – La Salle University
- Mei Rader, Girls’ Lacrosse – Drexel University
- Claire Sexton, Girls’ Lacrosse – William & Mary
- Ava Talago, Girls’ Lacrosse – Canisius University
- Jalyn Tidwell, Baseball – Erskine College
- Sophia Verglinhieri, Girls’ Soccer – Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania
- Dana Williams, Crew – La Salle University
ARCHBISHOP RYAN
- Rylee Baird, Field Hockey – Gwynedd Mercy University
- Drew Bark, Boys’ Soccer – Gwynedd Mercy University
- Isabella Baron, Softball – Widener University
- Peyton Barton, Boys’ Soccer – Penn State Abington
- Molly Botthof, Field Hockey/Track & Field – Gwynedd Mercy University
- Francesca Brunkel, Girls’ Flag Football – Immaculata University
- Carter Buccello, Football – Delaware Valley University
- Alexis Byrne, Girls’ Lacrosse – Western New England University
- Kaitlyn Cannon, Girls’ Flag Football – Holy Family University
- Shawn Dixon, Boys’ Soccer – Penn State Abington
- Madelyn Grier, Girls’ Bowling – Holy Family University
- Hayden Johnston, Girls’ Soccer/Lacrosse – Chestnut Hill College
- Brianna Kolodij, Field Hockey/Lacrosse – Immaculata University
- Riley Lukach, Girls’ Soccer – Drexel University
- Kate MacAlister, Swimming – Lock Haven University
- Willette Makor, Girls’ Flag Football – Holy Family University
- Jake Marchesano, Baseball – University of Delaware
- Moira Maw, Softball – Chestnut Hill College
- Connor McLaughlin, Track & Field – Holy Family University
- Adrianna Moffo, Cheerleading – La Salle University
- Damien Morgan, Football/Lacrosse – Widener University
- Hugh Owens V, Football – Eastern University
- Dave Perez, Baseball – West Virginia University
- Jaide Quarles, Ice Hockey – Stevenson University
- Brandon Russell, Boys’ Basketball – Saint Francis University
- Angelina Salera, Girls’ Volleyball – Alvernia University
- Lailah Scarborough Nguyen, Cheerleading – La Salle University
- Tori Shamanow, Girls’ Volleyball – DeSales University
- Arianna Shinholster, Girls’ Flag Football – Neumann University
- Mikayla Steger, Field Hockey – Neumann University
- Madison Velez, Softball – Alvernia University
- Sarah Wright, Cheerleading – Widener University
ARCHBISHOP WOOD
- Sophia Azzarano, Softball – Delaware Valley University
- Jason Baldwin, Football – Ursinus College
- Richard Bayachek, Baseball – Stockton University
- John Bogdan, Baseball – Alvernia University
- Sage Bost, Girls’ Soccer – Seton Hill University
- James Casey, Baseball – Stockton University
- Jack Costello, Baseball – Bucks County Community College
- Joseph DeAngelis, Cross Country/Track & Field – DeSales University
- Davis Deihl, Football – Ursinus College
- Deven Demusz, Football – Wheeling University
- Graciene Gale, Softball – Washington & Jefferson College
- Abigail Gilroy, Beach Volleyball – Saint Leo University
- Michael Green, Boys’ Basketball – Lock Haven University
- Kevin Griffin, Wrestling – King’s College (Pennsylvania)
- Regan Kelso, Girls’ Soccer – Saint Michael’s College
- Emerson Kiss, Girls’ Soccer – Saint Vincent College
- Haley Kley, Softball – Delaware Valley University
- Emily Knouse, Girls’ Basketball – Saint Joseph’s University
- Yasin Lowry, Football – Ursinus College
- Logan Madison, Baseball – Stockton University
- Sebastian McNab, Baseball – Immaculata University
- Zachary Neeld, Baseball – Penn State Harrisburg
- Isabella Preston, Dance – Temple University
- Casey Schuette, Girls’ Lacrosse – Holy Family University
- Tamir Taylor, Football – McDaniel College
BISHOP SHANAHAN
- Ryan Ambrose – Boys’ Basketball, King’s College (PA)
- Ava Barnhart – Girls’ Volleyball, Endicott College
- Brooke Bowden – Girls’ Soccer, Bridgewater College
- Sam Conte – Football, Ursinus College
- Devan Cosgrove – Girls’ Soccer/Flag Football, Immaculata University
- Carly Cunningham – Girls’ Lacrosse, Coastal Carolina University
- Stella D’Ambro – Girls’ Lacrosse, Rutgers University–New Brunswick
- Cat Detweiler – Girls’ Volleyball, Stonehill College
- Thomas Fischer – Boys’ Lacrosse, Holy Family University
- Colin Gaffney – Boys’ Lacrosse, Elizabethtown College
- Gabriella Gigliotti – Girls’ Volleyball, York College of Pennsylvania
- Gillian Greco – Girls’ Lacrosse, Drexel University
- Marissa Haragos – Girls’ Lacrosse, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
- Julia Hashem – Golf, Methodist University
- Julian Haylock – Football, Millersville University
- Charly Hungerford – Cheerleading, Providence College
- Matthew Manley – Boys’ Lacrosse, The Catholic University of America
- Meghan McGonagle – Girls’ Soccer, Elizabethtown College
- Morgan McIntyre – Girls’ Lacrosse, Lock Haven University
- Medeline Metcalf – Girls’ Volleyball, Temple University
- Riley Murray – Girls’ Lacrosse, Manhattan College
- Luke Nicolas – Boys’ Lacrosse, Ursinus College
- Elise Pezone – Girls’ Lacrosse, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
- Jack Polizzi – Track & Field, Hillsdale College
- Anna Ruhno – Field Hockey, Central Michigan University
- Jake Scott – Baseball, Millersville University
- Jayden Snook – Football, Millersville University
- Karoline Springman – Girls’ Volleyball, Lees-McRae College
- Gabriella Stephens – Cheerleading, West Chester University
- Adrianna Sward – Girls’ Lacrosse, University of Scranton
- Julia Taylor – Swimming, The Catholic University of America
- Michael Ziegler – Boys’ Soccer, La Salle University
BONNER & PRENDIE
- Tamasen Allen Bey, Indoor/Outdoor Track & Field – Saint Joseph’s University
- Amaya Cash, Girls’ Basketball – Washington College
- Jeremiah Coleman, Football – Indiana University of Pennsylvania
- Michael Coleman, Baseball – Gettysburg College
- Taylor Eagan, Field Hockey – Immaculata University
- Rob Ford, Football – King’s College (Pennsylvania)
- Joey Graziani, Baseball – Ursinus College
- Jalil Hall, Football – Purdue University
- Khalil Holley, Football – King’s College (Pennsylvania)
- Chaz Ingram, Football – Pennsylvania Western University, California
- Mick Johnson, Football – West Chester University
- Chris Jones, Football – Stevenson University
- Michael Klawansky, Baseball – Alvernia University
- Xavier Mills, Football – Indiana University of Pennsylvania
- Devon Nelson, Boys’ Basketball – Lock Haven University
- Robert Nettles-Carter, Football – Pennsylvania Western University, California
- Gbenga Olaore, Football – Delaware Valley University
- Johnny Ortegae, Baseball – La Salle University
- Jack Redding, Baseball – Holy Family University
- Emily Riehl, Softball – University of Scranton
- Samari Rodriguez-Panepinto, Field Hockey – Immaculata University
- Cory Sheridan, Baseball – Rutgers University–New Brunswick
- Drew Spahr, Boys’ Lacrosse – Widener University
- Dylan Spriddle, Football – Pennsylvania Western University, California
- Elizabeth Tomassetti, Indoor/Outdoor Track & Field – Marywood University
CARDINAL O’HARA
- Jay Borelli, Boys’ Lacrosse – Pennsylvania College of Technology
- John Brown, Football – The Catholic University of America
- Khalil Epps, Football – Pennsylvania Western University, California
- Auria Greto, Gymnastics – Kutztown University
- Nate Kutufaris, Football – Duke University
- Logan Maloney, Track & Field – Saint Joseph’s University
- Ishane McEwan, Football – Indiana University of Pennsylvania
- Marina Mersch, Girls’ Lacrosse – University of Delaware
- Julia Riley, Girls’ Volleyball – Kutztown University
- Molly Rullo, Girls’ Basketball – Drexel University
- Hayden Sissons, Softball – Widener University
- Solei Staggs, Girls’ Volleyball – Neumann University
- Zydan Stewart, Boys’ Soccer – Delaware Valley University
- Emma Thorton, Girls’ Volleyball – Immaculata University
- Brendan Till, Baseball – La Salle University
- Raymond Wong, Football – Williamson College of the Trades
CONWELL-EGAN
FATHER JUDGE
- Everett Barnes, Boys’ Basketball – Loyola University Maryland
- Kevin Beck, Boys’ Basketball – Montclair State University
- Matteo Cancelliere, Crew – La Salle University
- Bobby Clark, Track & Field – Widener University
- Eddie Collins, Track & Field – Widener University
- Thomas Connolly, Track & Field – Immaculata University
- James Conte, Boys’ Lacrosse – Marymount University
- George Conway, Baseball – Chestnut Hill College
- Gavin Dunlop, Boys’ Soccer – Thomas Jefferson University
- Gavin Dwyer, Track & Field – Holy Family University
- Aidan Emmett, Boys’ Lacrosse – Holy Family University
- Brian Hackert, Boys’ Lacrosse – Gwynedd Mercy University
- Dylan Handley, Boys’ Basketball – Elizabethtown College
- Derrick Kennedy, Football – McPherson College
- Joseph Kennedy, Boys’ Soccer – DeSales University
- Kevair Kennedy, Boys’ Basketball – Merrimack College
- Justin Kennish, Boys’ Soccer – Rutgers University–Camden
- Colin Mahon, Track & Field – Widener University
- Joseph Mahon, Boys’ Soccer – Penn State Abington
- Matt Marino, Baseball – Rutgers University–Camden
- Michael Regan, Boys’ Soccer – West Chester University
- Kiev Rucker, Football – Lock Haven University
- Ryan Shelton, Football – Delaware Valley University
- Ryan Stankiewicz, Track & Field – La Salle University
- John Stelacio, Boys’ Lacrosse – Immaculata University
- Kenny Weatherall, Baseball – Immaculata University
LANSDALE CATHOLIC
- Shannon Duffy, Girls’ Soccer/Flag Football – Neumann University
- Gabrielle Innaurato, Cheerleading – Rutgers University–New Brunswick
- Madeline Kennedy, Girls’ Lacrosse – The Catholic University of America
- Lauren Leshak, Softball – Elizabethtown College
- Sanyiah Littlejohn, Girls’ Basketball – George Mason University
- Grace McDonough, Girls’ Basketball – James Madison University
- Taylor McKeta, Baseball – Delaware Valley University
- Sean McMahon, Boys’ Lacrosse – Moravian University
- Isabella Mignogna, Cheerleading – Indiana University of Pennsylvania
- Kevin Montagna, Boys’ Volleyball – Penn State Altoona
- Gavin Selchert, Boys’ Lacrosse – Pennsylvania College of Technology
- Zachary Shragher, Golf – Susquehanna University
- Hayden Stasuk, Baseball – University of Virginia’s College at Wise (UVA Wise)
- Chris Ulmer, Football – Monmouth University
LITTLE FLOWER
- Alexa Harr, Girls’ Soccer – La Roche University
- Addyson Sparks, Girls’ Soccer – Gwynedd Mercy University
- Rylee Sundermeir, Girls’ Soccer – Penn State Abington
NEUMANN-GORETTI
- Daniel Adefolarin, Football – United States Military Academy at West Point
- DonJuan Clark, Football – Eastern University
- Anthony Coppola, Baseball – Harford Community College
- Luca Costabile, Baseball – Eastern University
- Carryn Easley, Girls’ Basketball – Fordham University
- Adriana Elnicki, Cheerleading – Holy Family University
- Julissa Lewis, Track & Field – La Salle University
- Devon Major, Football – Widener University
- Jewell McConnell, Girls’ Flag Football – Neumann University
- Addison McGinnis, Cheerleading – University of Scranton
- Christian Meitzler, Baseball – Rutgers University–Camden
- Juliana Pinto, Cheerleading – Rowan University
- Richard Rosati, Baseball – Rutgers University–Camden
- Deante Ruffin, Football – Kent State University
- Amya Scott, Girls’ Basketball – Delaware State University
- Nicholas Torres, Football – Ursinus College
POPE JOHN PAUL II
- Josie Arezina, Girls’ Volleyball – Eastern University
- Reece Benner, Girls’ Volleyball – Gettysburg College
- Emma Bond, Girls’ Volleyball – St. Petersburg College
- AJ DiAddezio, Baseball – West Chester University
- Ryan Edde, Track & Field/XC – Eastern University
- Chase Frantz, Baseball – East Stroudsburg University
- Maeve Gallagher, Girls’ Volleyball – West Chester University
- Shae Gonzales, Swimming – Roger Williams University
- Camryn Grimley, Girls’ Ice Hockey – University of Connecticut
- Molly Houchins, Softball – Roanoke College
- Mallory Hurlock, Girls’ Soccer – Gettysburg College
- Jason Krum, Boys’ Soccer – Susquehanna University
- Patrick McNerney, Baseball – Chestnut Hill College
- Abigale Millhouse, Softball – Alvernia University
- Brooke Pappa, Girls’ Soccer – University of Lynchburg
- Makel Parker, Football – Monroe College
- Braden Reed, Football – Villanova University
- Carl Robinson III, Boys’ Soccer – Shippensburg University
- Luke Sandor, Baseball – Eastern University
- Hannah Satalin, Track & Field/XC – Gwynedd Mercy University
- Christopher Scruggs, Football – Lycoming College
- Abby Simmers, Softball – Thomas Jefferson University
- Luke Terlesky, Baseball – West Chester University
- Ian Young, Boys’ Lacrosse – Misericordia University
ROMAN CATHOLIC
- Christian Adams, Boys’ Volleyball – Widener University
- Louis Cerone, Football – West Chester University
- Fernando DiNardo, Football – Eastern University
- Sebastian Edwards, Boys’ Basketball – Shippensburg University
- William Felder, Football – Duke University
- Jehiel Ferrell, Track & Field – Widener University
- Mykell Ford, Football – East Stroudsburg University
- Louis Gaddy, Football – Stony Brook University
- Julian Green, Football – Howard University
- Shareef Jackson, Boys’ Basketball – Lafayette College
- Zxavier Kingcade, Football – Millersville University
- Tayden Mines, Football – Lock Haven University
- Zamir Newsuan, Football – Saint Francis University (Pennsylvania)
- Christian Palmer, Football – Monmouth University
- Axley Ramos, Soccer – Rutgers University–Camden
- Rayshawn Scott, Football – West Chester University
- Jaasai Simmons, Football – Marshall University
- James Taft, Wrestling – Arcadia University
- LaZaryus Toombs, Football – Central Connecticut State University
- Rocco Trivelli, Wrestling – West Chester University
ST. HUBERT’S
- Mya Baker, Cheerleading – Rider University
- Mackenzie Bolduc, Cheerleading – Widener University
- Hope Bucci, Cheerleading – University of Delaware
- Jenna Carr, Swimming – Arcadia University
- Allie McNesby, Cheerleading – The Pennsylvania State University, University Park
- Rachel Nice, Girls’ Volleyball – Penn State Brandywine
- Sophia Sermarini, Cheerleading – Temple University
WEST CATHOLIC
- Jaden Banner, Boys’ Basketball – Delaware Valley University
- Kal El Durham, Football – Shippensburg University
- Saaid Lee, Boys’ Basketball – Salem Community College
- Jaden Meekins, Football – Millersville University
- Isaiah Muhammad, Boys’ Basketball – Thomas Jefferson University
College Sports
Inside 2026 NHL Draft sensation Gavin McKenna’s path to Penn State, and his big season ahead
On a warm Wednesday summer evening in late July, Gavin McKenna is in Calgary. After announcing his groundbreaking commitment to play at Penn State University on ESPN’s SportsCenter earlier this month, he had just spent a week at home in Whitehorse, Yukon, where the 2026 NHL Draft’s No. 1 prospect pitched in at a hockey […]

On a warm Wednesday summer evening in late July, Gavin McKenna is in Calgary.
After announcing his groundbreaking commitment to play at Penn State University on ESPN’s SportsCenter earlier this month, he had just spent a week at home in Whitehorse, Yukon, where the 2026 NHL Draft’s No. 1 prospect pitched in at a hockey camp for First Nations youth.
His older sister, Madison, helps organize the camp through her work at Council of Yukon First Nations, and McKenna says he gave “a little speech” and helped out on the ice.
“This is my first time this year getting home and it’ll be my last probably,” McKenna said in a one-on-one interview with The Athletic.
He misses home — his parents, Willy and Krystal, Madison and his 14-year-old sister, Kasey — and wishes the stay hadn’t been so short.
“I love being up north and kind of away from everything. And when I’m there, I love dirt biking, I love fishing, I love golfing. It helps me get away from the game and resets me in the summertime,” he said.
But in what’s already been a busy summer schedule for McKenna, he’s chosen to squeeze in some skates and workouts in Calgary.
He’s there for his first summer of training with DASH (Dynamic Athletic Strength & Hockey), skating and working out with the likes of Cale Makar.
He’s staying with his girlfriend (who is from Calgary) and her family for the time being.
Then, on Saturday, he’ll join Hockey Canada in Minnesota for the World Junior Summer Showcase.
After a week in Minneapolis, he’ll return to Calgary for a couple more weeks of training before heading to Penn State on Aug. 15 to begin prep for his freshman year in college — a freshman year that may be the most hotly anticipated in NCAA hockey history.
All eyes were always going to be on him. He knows that. But in choosing Penn State, a program that has only played at the Division I level since 2011, and that only made its first appearance in the Frozen Four a few months ago, all eyes will be on the Nittany Lions, really for the first time in the program’s history, as well.
He says that he just felt a pull toward Hockey Valley, and that he’s ready for all of the bright lights.
“From the start of this whole entire process, I got the feeling that it was going to be Penn State that I was going to go to,” McKenna said. “And then once I toured the area and I got to see the facilities and meet some of the people there and some of the guys, it was just a place that I knew right away I could call home and then on top of that they have a great team and they have a chance of winning it, and obviously that’s the goal next year.”
He admits that he was nervous for the SportsCenter announcement — a first for a college hockey player.
“It was a little bit more pressure and higher stakes” than even he was used to, he said.
When he arrives on campus, he’ll jump right into university classes as well. Though it’ll be a for-one-year-only situation, “the school part comes with it and I’ve got to take some course,” McKenna said.
“It’s all part of the college experience, so I’m looking forward to it,” he added.
He knows new teammates Jackson Smith, Shea Van Olm and Aiden Fink a little, which he hopes will help with the transition.
Once he pulls on a Nittany Lions jersey and the puck drops on the season, the hockey part will come much easier. It always has.
McKenna registered 174 in 123 games (1.41 points per game) in his age 15-16 seasons in the CHL, better than Connor McDavid’s 165 points in 119 games (1.39 points per game) in his same seasons (their birthdays are less than a month apart).
He registered 20 points in seven games as a double underager at U18 worlds, the most points ever by a U17 player in the tournament’s history, surpassing Alex Ovechkin’s 18 points in eight games (at the same age, McDavid had 14 points in seven games). In the gold medal game, he scored a hat trick in a come-from-behind win for Canada.
Last year, he registered 129 points in 56 games, 30 more than the 99 that McDavid registered in the exact same number of games at that age.
He’s the reigning CHL Player of the Year and was the reigning CHL Rookie of the Year before that. Last season, though he only turned 17 on Dec. 20, he led the WHL in assists (88) and plus-minus (plus-60).
And he’s only just beginning.
In stepping into the next chapter of his career in college hockey, McKenna closed his last chapter with Medicine Hat in the WHL.
The WHL, or Dub as he calls it, “was a great league for me,” he says.
“I loved my time there and it was a lot of fun in Med Hat,” McKenna said. It was a great spot for me, and obviously having a coach like Willie (Desjardins) that has been through it all to guide me and mentor me through my Dub career, it for sure prepared me for this next step. And he has already coached in the NHL, so he knows the next step after that, too.”
Desjardins talks about McKenna as a “great kid (who) wants to be a great player.”
On the ice, his greatness starts with his vision, according to Desjardins.
“He’s got incredible vision, and he can see plays before they develop and when they develop,” Desjardins said. “He sees plays really, really early.”
He remembers spotting that the very first time he saw him play on a trip to Nashville. He’d already drafted him by then, but he went down to watch him at a spring hockey showcase and he “couldn’t believe what he could see.”
Once he got to coach him, he noticed his developing leadership qualities and that he has “an incredible stick both defensively and offensively.”
“He turns a lot of pucks over and generates a lot of takeaways with his stick. And then all of a sudden he has a chance for offense because of it,” Desjardins said. “I think he’s grown in being a leader. I think he wants to win. He’ll do things for the team.”
Desjardins’ favorite McKenna story is from the 2023-24 season. It was Christmastime, and though he was first in his age group in scoring, he wasn’t first among all rookies, and he showed up unannounced in Desjardins’ office.
“This isn’t good enough,” McKenna told his head coach. “I’ve got to be better than this.”
From that point on, Desjardins said he watched video and started skating himself after practice “every day.”
“He skated himself hard. And that translated from 1.3 points, which is what he was averaging, to I think 2.6 in January. That was a player that wasn’t satisfied with being good, he wanted to be elite. You forget how young he is. You always forget. But he’s way faster than people think,” Desjardins said. “At times I’m surprised by how fast he is. He’s pretty athletic, and he pushes himself, but things also just come to him.”
Predators first-rounder Tanner Molendyk played against McKenna with the Saskatoon Blades and then with him at the 2025 World Juniors and in Medicine Hat following the trade deadline. He saw him register 38 points in 16 WHL playoff games en route to a WHL title and a 54-game point streak. He’s also been on the other end of it.
“Seeing it first person, I’ve probably been a victim of him walking me sometimes. It’s pretty special,” Molendyk said.
One longtime scout said, “his hockey IQ is off the charts.”
“He sees plays that others don’t see and he can make passes that other players can’t make so he’s got a combo pack of being able to read, see situations, and at an elite level know who’s open and when they’re open and then he’s got the puck skills to move the puck to those people before sometimes they’re even ready for it. His vision and his creativity are high, high-end,” the scout said.
“And he’s a lot more competitive than people would expect without the puck. He’s a guy that angles and picks people’s pockets when they’re not expecting it because he’s got such a quick stick. He defends not like most people think of defending, where you knock other players off the puck or you run people through the boards, but he’s always got his stick in lanes deflecting pucks and picking people’s pockets by lifting blades and being in good spots to intercept pucks. So he’s an elite offensive mind and then a good defensive player as well.”
Alan Millar, the new general manager of Canada’s 2026 World Junior team, saw it in his previous role as general manager of the Regina Pats, too.
He uses the same word Molendyk did: special.
“You just look at his talent level, you look at his offensive abilities, you look at what he did in the WHL as a 17-year-old, really impressive young man, really special player. He’s going to be a real important player for us, and I think Gavin’s the kind of kid who, along with a Porter Martone, those guys are going to be real motivated through this process based on the results a year ago (a quarterfinal defeat at the 2025 World Juniors in Ottawa). We’ll look for Gavin to be a focal point for us. He’s exciting, he’s dynamic, it’s obviously a big year for him with the change that he has made, but we look forward to him being a big part of our team,” Millar said.
McKenna looks forward to that challenge, and to all the others that will come in his draft year under the microscope — and his career beyond that.
“There’s a lot of things to be excited about next season,” he said. “Heading to college, playing my first game. That’ll be pretty amazing. And then with the World Juniors, last year wasn’t the best way to go out, and I know a lot of us will have a big chip on our shoulders this year, and that’s going to be exciting. And then for us, I know there’s a lot of talk around Penn State and how good the team’s going to be, and hopefully we can win a national championship. That’s on the bucket list, and I know with my draft year there’s going to be a lot of attention, but it’ll be fun.”
(Photo: Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images)
College Sports
Hockey Canada trial live updates: Judge does not find complainant’s evidence ‘either credible or reliable’
By Katie Strang and Dan Robson All five defense teams were given the chance to put forth final reply submissions and focused on a variety of aspects of the case. David Humphrey, attorney for McLeod, argued that the Crown was manipulating evidence, distorting the timeline and jettisoning arguments that were inconsistent with their arguments. Riaz […]

By Katie Strang and Dan Robson
All five defense teams were given the chance to put forth final reply submissions and focused on a variety of aspects of the case.
David Humphrey, attorney for McLeod, argued that the Crown was manipulating evidence, distorting the timeline and jettisoning arguments that were inconsistent with their arguments.
Riaz Sayani, Hart’s attorney, largely focused on what he argued was the Crown’s misapplications of law, including invoking trauma principles for circular reasoning and “bootstrapping” information to augment their case.
Hilary Dudding, attorney for Formenton, argued that myth-based stereotypes should not be applied to defense arguments, nor for Crown positions. She cautioned the judge against accepting false binary propositions and to instead allow for the possibility that a woman could be enthusiastic and consenting within the environment the defense describes without it being characterized as “bizarre” or “odd.”
Lisa Carnelos, attorney for Dubé, addressed the contact her client had with E.M.’s buttocks, calling it “playful” and arguing that the “Crown has not disproved that she was consenting.”
“It was playful, possibly foreplay,” Carnelos said. “And in no way looked to be harmful or with the intention to be abusive.”
Julianna Greenspan, who represents Foote, took aim at the Crown, criticizing what she said was an earlier suggestion that further evidence exists that was not permitted to be considered in court. Without a jury, those documents are available to the public. “That was a factually wrong and unfair comment to make,” Greenspan said.
She also took issue with a slide shown earlier in the day that indicated there was “no evidence from Callan Foote.” Had this still been a jury trial, Greenspan said, she would have called for mistrial, even at this late stage — calling the slide “illegal.”
“It runs contrary to the Canada Evidence Act, which states failure of the accused to testify shall not be made the subject of comment by counsel for the prosecution,” Greenspan said.
She further suggested that the slide was purposefully included to influence the media.
“Everyone in this courtroom knows the attention in this case has garnered from the media and public,” Greenspan said. ”The Crown, I submit, has throughout this trial been preoccupied with litigating the public opinion through the media. This is an upsetting final example on behalf of my client.”
College Sports
NIL promises made to recruits, now coaches wait for key decision to learn whether they can keep them
LAS VEGAS — Next week, college football coaches can put the recruiting promises they have made to high school seniors on paper. Then the question becomes whether they can keep them. Uncertainty over a key element of the $2.8 billion NCAA antitrust settlement that is reshaping college sports has placed recruiters on a tightrope. They […]

LAS VEGAS — Next week, college football coaches can put the recruiting promises they have made to high school seniors on paper.
Then the question becomes whether they can keep them.
Uncertainty over a key element of the $2.8 billion NCAA antitrust settlement that is reshaping college sports has placed recruiters on a tightrope.
They need clarity about whether the third-party collectives that were closely affiliated with their schools and that ruled name, image, likeness payments over the first four years of the NIL era can be used to exceed the $20.5 million annual cap on what each school can now pay players directly. Or, whether those collectives will simply become a cog in the new system.
Only until that issue is resolved will many coaches know if the offers they’ve made, and that can become official on Aug. 1, will conform to the new rules governing college sports.
“You don’t want to put agreements on the table about things that we might have to claw back,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day explained at this week’s Big Ten media days. “Because that’s not a great look.”
No coach, of course, is going to fess up to making an offer he can’t back up.
“All we can do is be open and honest about what we do know, and be great communicators from that standpoint,” Oregon’s Dan Lanning said.
Aug. 1 is key because it marks the day football programs can start sending written offers for scholarships to high school prospects starting their senior year.
This process essentially replaces what used to be the signing of a national letter of intent. It symbolizes the changes taking hold in a new era in which players aren’t just signing for a scholarship, but for a paycheck, too.
Paying them is not a straightforward business. Among the gray areas comes from guidance issued earlier this month by the newly formed College Sports Commission in charge of enforcing rules involved with paying players, both through the $20.5 million revenue share with schools and through third-party collectives.
The CSC is in charge of clearing all third-party deals worth $600 or more.
It created uncertainty earlier this month when it announced, in essence, that the collectives did not have a “valid business purpose.” if their only reason to exist was ultimately to pay players. Lawyers for the players barked back and said that is what a collective was always met to be, and if it sells a product for a profit, it qualifies as legit.
The parties are working on a compromise, but if they don’t reach one they will take this in front of a judge to decide.
With Aug. 1 coming up fast, oaches are eager to lock in commitments they’ve spent months, sometimes years, locking down from high school recruits.
“Recruiting never shuts off, so we do need clarity as soon as we can,” Buckeyes athletic director Ross Bjork said. “The sooner we can have clarity, the better. I think the term ‘collective’ has obviously taken on a life of its own. But it’s really not what it’s called, it’s what they do.”
In anticipating the future, some schools have disbanded their collectives while others, such as Ohio State, have brought them in-house. It is all a bit of a gamble. If the agreement that comes out of these negotiations doesn’t restrict collectives, they could be viewed as an easy way to get around the salary cap. Either way, schools eyeing ways for players to earn money outside the cap amid reports that big programs have football rosters worth more than $30 million in terms of overall player payments.
“It’s a lot to catch up, and there’s a lot for coaches and administrators to deal with,” Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti said, noting the terms only went into play on July 1. “But I don’t think it’s unusual when you have something this different that there’s going to be some bumps in the road to get to the right place. I think everybody is committed to get there.”
Indiana coach Curt Cignetti, whose program tapped into the transfer portal and NIL to make the most remarkable turnaround in college football last season, acknowledged “the landscape is still changing, changing as we speak today.”
“You’ve got to be light on your feet and nimble,” he said. “At some point, hopefully down the road, this thing will settle down and we’ll have clear rules and regulations on how we operate.”
At stake at Oregon is what is widely regarded as a top-10 recruiting class for a team that finished first in the Big Ten and made the College Football Playoff last year along with three other teams from the league.
“It’s an interpretation that has to be figured out, and anytime there’s a new rule, it’s how does that rule adjust, how does it adapt, how does it change what we have to do here,” Lanning said. “But one thing we’ve been able to do here is — what we say we’ll do, we do.”
College Sports
NBCSN, again? NBCU reportedly eyeing new sports cable network
Nearly four years after shutting down NBCSN, and months after setting in motion the jettisoning of USA Network, Comcast is reportedly eyeing the launch of a new cable sports network to complement Peacock. Comcast-owned NBC Universal is in early discussions on the launch of a potential sports cable network that would carry events that are […]

Nearly four years after shutting down NBCSN, and months after setting in motion the jettisoning of USA Network, Comcast is reportedly eyeing the launch of a new cable sports network to complement Peacock.
Comcast-owned NBC Universal is in early discussions on the launch of a potential sports cable network that would carry events that are streamed exclusively on Peacock, Joe Flint of The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday. The channel could launch as soon as this fall, ahead of the debut of NBC’s new NBA package.
Per Flint, the intention is not for the channel to compete with Peacock but to complement the streaming service by making its content available to those who are reluctant to leave the cable bundle.
Accordingly, the channel would be only exist on specialty tiers — like the DIRECTV “MySports” bundle launched earlier this year — rather than the basic cable packages that include the likes of ESPN.
The decision to create an entirely new cable network is perhaps a circuitous route to what has become a regular occurrence, the inclusion of direct-to-subscriber streaming services in specialty cable tiers. Peacock itself is already available for no extra fee as part of Charter’s Spectrum TV Select package. ESPN+ is also available to some Charter and DIRECTV subscribers free of charge (and the ESPN direct-to-subscriber app will be as well, though that is fairly redundant given it consists of channels already available through the cable bundle).
Peacock this year is raising its monthly price from $8 to $11/mo ahead of its first season carrying NBA games. The NBA package — which at $2.5 billion/year will cost NBCU more each season than its Sunday Night Football package (at least until the NFL renegotiates, as expected, by the end of this decade) — is perhaps the highest-stakes addition to the streamer’s line-up, given the sheer tonnage of exclusive games (50 per season in the regular season, plus up to 14 in the playoffs).
As previously noted, NBC in 2021 shut down its cable sports channel NBCSN, which originated as the Comcast-owned OLN. NBCSN programming then shifted to USA Network, which Comcast is spinning off into a new company (“Versant”). After that spinoff — which also includes Golf Channel and CNBC, which regularly carry NBC Sports programming — the only cable channel of any kind under the Comcast umbrella will be Bravo.
College Sports
Soccer Releases 2025 Home Promotional Schedule
Story Links The Abilene Christian Soccer Team begins its season on August 9, with the end in November, culminating in the conference tournament for the Wildcats, who strive to win their first Western Athletic Conference Title. “We’re thrilled to have a dynamic home schedule filled with themed events that bring energy and excitement to our […]


The Abilene Christian Soccer Team begins its season on August 9, with the end in November, culminating in the conference tournament for the Wildcats, who strive to win their first Western Athletic Conference Title.
“We’re thrilled to have a dynamic home schedule filled with themed events that bring energy and excitement to our campus,” said Head Coach Salas. “These games are more than just matchups, but they’re meaningful moments that unite our community and inspire the next generation.”
The fun kicks off with the Camper Kickback on Saturday, August 9, as ACU hosts UIW in an exhibition match, giving summer campers a chance to reconnect with the team and enjoy the game.
“We’re especially looking forward to welcoming young soccer players from across the Big Country,” Salas said. “Encouraging them to dream big and see what hard work and resilience look like through the game. It’s a special opportunity for our players to compete with passion, knowing they have the full support of the university and the Big Country behind them.”
The regular season opener on Thursday, August 21, against Tulsa will feature a Freshman Tailgate, inviting ACU’s newest students during Wildcat Week to celebrate their first Wildcat game day and experience the spirit of ACU Athletics.
On Sunday, August 24, the Wildcats host Houston Christian for She Can Be, a day dedicated to empowering women and girls in sports and leadership.
The team will honor local heroes on Thursday, September 11, during First Responders Night, as ACU faces Northwestern State, showing appreciation for the service and sacrifice of police, firefighters, EMTs, and other first responders.
ACU will showcase school spirit on Thursday, October 2, when they host Utah Tech for the annual Purple Game—fans and other student-athletes are encouraged to wear their boldest ACU purple to pack the stands.
The Wildcats will celebrate their seniors on Sunday, October 5, in a special Senior Day match against Southern Utah, recognizing the accomplishments and contributions of the 2025 graduating class.
After a bye week, the team kicks off a double-themed matchup on Sunday, October 26, as ACU takes on rival Tarleton State during Greek Night and Pink Out the Pitch, honoring breast cancer awareness and the Greek life on campus.
The festive fun continues on Homecoming Weekend, Thursday, October 30, with Kicks or Treats against Utah Valley. Families are invited to enjoy a trunk-or-treat event before the game, where they can enjoy candy, costumes, and on-field action.
The regular season finale arrives on Sunday, November 2, against Cal Baptist, where ACU will celebrate cultural diversity with International Day, highlighting the global reach of the ACU community and its student-athletes.
“Each year, we aim to create an atmosphere that’s both innovative and impactful, and we’re grateful for our athletic department’s efforts in making that possible,” Salas said. “We’re proud to represent Abilene Christian with excellence while pursuing something greater than ourselves.”
To stay up to date on all things ACU Soccer, you can find them on acusports.com, and also can be found on all social medias.
College Sports
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Florida Gators gymnast Kaylee Bluffstone is congratulated for her floor exercise. The Florida Gators hosted Iowa State, NC State and LIU at Exactech Arena at The Stephen C O’Connell Center in Gainesville, FL on Friday, March 15, 2024. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun] David Lopez […]
Florida Gators gymnast Kaylee Bluffstone is congratulated for her floor exercise. The Florida Gators hosted Iowa State, NC State and LIU at Exactech Arena at The Stephen C O’Connell Center in Gainesville, FL on Friday, March 15, 2024. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]
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