Hali Lawrence looking forward to working with SCSU goalie coach Noora Räty
Most of the time, players who go into the transfer portal are looking for an opportunity for more playing time. While more playing time would be nice, Hali Lawrence is more interested in her development as a goalie. Lawrence, a 21-year-old from Okotoks, Alberta, recently decided to transfer to St. Cloud State after playing three […]
Most of the time, players who go into the transfer portal are looking for an opportunity for more playing time.
While more playing time would be nice, Hali Lawrence is more interested in her development as a goalie.
Lawrence, a 21-year-old from Okotoks, Alberta, recently decided to transfer to
St. Cloud State
after playing three seasons at Post University in Waterbury, Connecticut.
She is coming to SCSU knowing that there is not a high likelihood of seeing much playing time for the Huskies. St. Cloud State has two returning goalies who have both seen time as starters in fifth-year senior
Jojo Chobak
and freshman Emilia Kyrkkö. Plus, SCSU has sophomore Paige Hoogenstam on the roster.
Chobak split time with Sanni Ahola
for two seasons before taking a redshirt season in 2024-25. Kyrkkö, a member of the Finnish national team, split time with Ahola last season as a freshman.
But when Lawrence saw that former Finnish national team goalie Noora Räty was the Huskies goalie coach, she decided that it would be a good fit.
“I’m not coming in with any expectations,” she said. “I’m just excited to work and develop and continue to see myself grow with a program like that.
“(Räty) coached me once before in Minnesota. I had a lesson with her. I know she’s one of the best female goalies in the world, so it’s cool to have a chance to learn from her.”
In three seasons at Post, Lawrence was 1-7 with a 4.87 goals-against average and .862 save percentage in 14 games. Idalski understands why she chose SCSU.
“She’s excited to work with Noora because Noora has a track record of doing good things with goaltenders,” he said. “She wants to try to play overseas when she’s done and she wasn’t getting any of that (coaching) where she was. She’s happy to be in a program that’s trying to do it for real. She’s going to get some extra attention to make her game better.
“We wanted someone with some college experience and someone with just one year (left) and Hali fit that bill. It’s good for us. I don’t mind having four goaltenders. She understands the situation.”
Colgate forward Madeline Palumbo (7) goes in for a shot on Post University goalie Hali Lawrence on Oct. 17, 2024, at Class of 1965 Arena, Hamilton, N.Y.
CONTRIBUTED
Her last season before college, Lawrence played for the Calgary Fire Under-18 AAA team. She ended up beginning her college career playing club hockey for Minot State in North Dakota.
“My year was really tricky for recruitment,” she said. “I had offers from other players, but then COVID-19 happened. I lost what I had there. I ended up going online to get started because I didn’t want to take a gap year. After I got to Minot, I was emailing schools to see if I could play NCAA, because that was my dream. Post reached out, and a school in Canada. I chose Post because I thought it would be amazing to move to the (United) States for a few years.”
She only stayed at Minot State for her first semester of college and then transferred to Post. Last season, she played in seven games and was 1-3 with a 3.90 GAA and .862 save percentage for Post.
“It’s been really good. I love the school and everything,” Lawrence said. “I’ve met some really, really great people here. This has helped me become the hockey player I am and to have a chance to go to a school like St. Cloud. I’m really grateful for it. I have nothing bad to say about Post. The one hard thing is that our home rink is 35 minutes away from school.”
While Lawrence may see limited playing time, she said she plays with a lot of determination.
“I think the biggest thing for me is the no-quit attitude, never giving up on pucks,” she said. “The moment you give up, that’s when pucks go in. I’m good with getting to rebounds.”
Lawrence grew up in Okotoks, which is about 40 miles south of Calgary. Her father, James Lawrence, was a forward in the WHL and is the director for Team WestCan Female Elite Hockey Development.
Her younger sister, Mya, recently completed her freshman season as a forward for the University of Vermont. Her sister, Saydi, is a 16-year-old defenseman for Shawnigan Lake School in British Columbia.
She said that the move to St. Cloud State will significantly cut down on her drive time home.
“It’s way closer,” she said. “It’s like an 8-10 hour drive (from St. Cloud). Where I am now, it is like a 40-hour drive.”
She is looking forward to seeing what the competition is like in practice at SCSU. At Post, the Eagles went 25-78-6. They play in the New England Women’s Hockey Alliance. Post finished eighth in the NEWHA when she was a freshman, seventh as a sophomore and sixth last season.
Hali Lawrence
POST UNIVERSITY
The WCHA is considered the best conference in women’s hockey. The Huskies have gone 50-50-9 and finished in fifth place (out of eight teams) in the WCHA in each of Idalski’s first three seasons. But that is a big turnaround after 12 straight losing seasons and finishing above sixth in the WCHA just one season (fifth in 2015-16 under Eric Rud).
“When I talked to Brian, it was really good,” Lawrence said. “I pretty much was asking about the team and the culture. It sounds like a really exciting team to be a part of, the competition and the conference. The work they put in to be a team sounds amazing.
“I think what impresses me about him is the culture he created. Everyone is on the same page and has the same goal. The way he keeps that going with a strong group of people.”
She is glad that her experience in the transfer portal is over and is looking forward to getting to SCSU.
“It was kind of a stressful process, having schools reach out and deciding which one would be best for you,” Lawrence said. “I had a few good options. I looked really into it and St. Cloud, by far, was my first choice after hearing about the coaching, the facilities and the team culture.”
Lawrence is working on a degree in criminal justice.
Post University goalie Hali Lawrence tries to look around Long Island forward Paige Vreeman during a New England Hockey Alliance game on Feb. 13, 2025, at at Northwell Health Ice Center, East Meadow, N.Y.
CONTRIBUTED
Mick Hatten is a reporter and editor for stcloudlive.com. He began working for Forum Communications in November 2018 for The Rink Live and has covered St. Cloud State University hockey since 2010. Besides covering Huskies hockey, he is also covering other sports at SCSU and high school sports. A graduate of St. Cloud State, he has more than 30 years of experience as a journalist and has been a youth hockey coach since 2014. mick@stcloudlive.com
For more coverage of St. Cloud and the surrounding communities, check out St. Cloud Live.
Bishop Kearney hockey team to meet President Trump at White House
Champion sports teams are often invited to the White House to meet the president. The Bishop Kearney girls under-19 hockey team in Irondequoit are the latest to be on the guest list. Kearney’s Selects, a USA Hockey national champion, expects to meet President Donald Trump and tour the White House May 22. “We’re incredibly honored […]
Champion sports teams are often invited to the White House to meet the president.
The Bishop Kearney girls under-19 hockey team in Irondequoit are the latest to be on the guest list.
Kearney’s Selects, a USA Hockey national champion, expects to meet President Donald Trump and tour the White House May 22.
“We’re incredibly honored to be recognized by the White House and invited to celebrate our national championship,” Bella Fanale, one of the team captains, said in a press release from Bishop Kearney. “This experience is something we’ll remember for the rest of our lives, and it’s a true testament to the hard work and dedication we have put in all year.”
The Kearney Selects were a juggernaut in 2024-25, skating to a 56-3-0 record. Kearney Selects won the U19 USA hockey national final 9-0. According to the school, “every graduate of the U19 program has advanced to NCAA Division I or III hockey – many prestigious conferences such as the Ivy League, Big Ten and New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC). Several alumni have gone on to represent their countries at the highest levels of international competition, including the Olympic Games.”
“The current U19 roster is composed of a diverse, globally represented group of student-athletes whose relentless work ethic and commitment to excellence define the program,” according to Bishop Kearney’s release. “Many team members are not only standout athletes but also scholars, recognized by the National Honor Society and the high honor roll for their academic accomplishments.”
Bishop Kearney president Paul Colontino said in the release that the invitation to the White House “is an extraordinary honor” and “a powerful acknowledgment of what our student-athletes have achieved through discipline, character and unity.”
“We are thrilled for our players to be recognized on a national stage—not just as athletes, but as leaders, scholars, and role models,” Colontino added in the statement from the school.
James Johnson, who grew up in the city of Rochester, has worked as a full-time journalist covering high school sports for the Democrat and Chronicle since 1996. His career began as an intern during the summer of 1990, before the start of his senior year at Edison in the Rochester City School District.
Austria reaches ice hockey worlds playoffs for the first time since 1994
Associated Press STOCKHOLM (AP) — Austria reached the ice hockey world championship playoffs on Tuesday for the first time in 31 years. Austria defeated Latvia 6-1 and became the fourth and final team to advance to the quarterfinals from Group A. Sweden and Canada face each other later Tuesday for top spot in the group. […]
Story Links NEW YORK – A total of 186 CUNY Athletic Conference senior student-athletes have been named to the 2024-25 CUNY Vice Chancellor’s Honor Roll. The CUNYAC Vice Chancellor’s Honor Roll honors senior student-athletes who are graduating or who have exhausted their athletic eligibility. In order to be eligible, a student-athlete must have at least […]
NEW YORK – A total of 186 CUNY Athletic Conference senior student-athletes have been named to the 2024-25 CUNY Vice Chancellor’s Honor Roll.
The CUNYAC Vice Chancellor’s Honor Roll honors senior student-athletes who are graduating or who have exhausted their athletic eligibility. In order to be eligible, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 GPA.
This year’s Vice Chancellor’s Honor Roll honorees boast an impressive 3.58 cumulative grade point average.
New boys soccer coach has global experience Published 10:55 am Tuesday, May 20, 2025 Johannes Steffin is the new head coach of Davie’s boys soccer program. Steffin – who is replacing Russ Fisher, who led the War Eagles for one season – brings more than 20 years of international soccer experience to the team.Steffin’s soccer […]
Johannes Steffin is the new head coach of Davie’s boys soccer program. Steffin – who is replacing Russ Fisher, who led the War Eagles for one season – brings more than 20 years of international soccer experience to the team. Steffin’s soccer career spans both playing and coaching at the highest levels. He played professionally in Berlin, Germany from 1998-2004 before continuing his career as a student-athlete in the United States. From 2004-08, Steffin played college soccer at Southwestern Christian University in Oklahoma City, earning All-American honors four years in a row, and was named MVP All-American in 2008. In addition to his playing experience, Steffin served as the assistant head coach at Southwestern Christian University from 2009-11, where he helped develop players and grow the university’s soccer program. His coaching background, combined with his years of global experience, will bring a unique perspective to Davie’s soccer program. Outside of soccer, Steffin is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, an American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists approved supervisor, and a qualified clinical supervisor. He holds a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Southern Nazarene University, and a Bachelor of Science in Human and Family Services from Southwestern Christian University. In 2020, Steffin was named one of the Triad Business Journal’s 40 Leaders Under 40 in the Triad. When asked about the program, Steffin said: “I am very excited to join the Davie County High School soccer program. I look forward to working together with the staff and players to keep building a strong soccer program.” In 2024, Davie went 4-17-2 overall and 0-14 in the CPC.
“It’s Just Pro Football Now”: Julian Edelman and Josh Duhamel Detail How NIL Hurts Small Schools Like NDSU
NIL has completely transformed the landscape of college football, alongside the rise of the transfer portal. Student-athletes are no longer tied to one program; they now have the financial freedom to take control of their careers and switch schools when they see fit. But with little regulation or oversight around NIL, controversy was inevitable. The […]
NIL has completely transformed the landscape of college football, alongside the rise of the transfer portal. Student-athletes are no longer tied to one program; they now have the financial freedom to take control of their careers and switch schools when they see fit. But with little regulation or oversight around NIL, controversy was inevitable. The situation involving Nico Iamaleava is a prime example of how murky things have become. The once-clear line between amateur and professional athletics is now blurry.
While these changes have undeniably benefited players, they’ve also created serious challenges, especially for smaller programs. The NIL era has supercharged the recruiting power of powerhouse schools, allowing them to throw money at top high school prospects and poach rising stars from lower-tier programs.
This growing imbalance was the focus of a recent episode of Games with Names, where former Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman and actor Josh Duhamel discussed the unintended consequences of the NIL boom.
Julian Edelman voiced his concern about college football morphing into a version of professional football, where smaller programs like North Dakota State University (NDSU)—once rich in pipelines of NFL talent—are being left behind in the NIL era.
” Those schools are going to get hurt with NIL. Because if a kid pops off at college, he’s going to dip out to the Pac 12 or go to the MAC and go to the Big 12 after that. It’s just Pro Football now. It’s crazy.”
Duhamel, a proud NDSU supporter, pointed out how just one big-money move by a powerhouse program can cause a ripple effect across the college football landscape. Like how Caleb Williams went to Oklahoma, and that pushed Spencer Rattler to South Carolina. Williams then went to USC, and that made Jaxson Dart transfer to Ole Miss.
Programs in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS)—formerly known as Division I-AA—have long provided athletes not only with strong on-field development but also quality education. Schools like NDSU have consistently punched above their weight, producing NFL-caliber players like Carson Wentz, Trey Lance, and Easton Stick. But NIL has shifted the power dynamic.
Despite NDSU’s dominance in recent years, ‘All My Children” actor fears the Bison could start losing talent to FBS programs unless something changes. The question now is: Can they remain competitive without matching the spending power of bigger schools?
“Schools like NDSU, who really get hurt by this NIL, this transfer portal thing. NDSU has a big problem with these guys who are popping off, gone. My thinking is that there are also guys at Clemson or whatever school who are supposed to be the guy but aren’t the guy, that are just right there, might go down to NDSU to get a real shot, to make sure they play.”
Wealthy programs have the resources and recruiting power to pluck talent from anywhere, even from schools that have already invested time and effort into developing those players. Smaller schools have taken a hit in this new NIL-driven era. They’re operating in limited markets, with less exposure and fewer funds to offer competitive compensation.
Meanwhile, powerhouse programs are stockpiling talent for the future, often recruiting multiple high-end prospects at key positions and stashing them on the bench for a season or two. Some athletes are even content to sit, so long as the money is good.
This creates a logjam at the top and a drought at the bottom. Talent is no longer trickling down to smaller programs like it used to. So, what can schools like North Dakota State do to stay competitive?
In an era where money and NIL dominate, sometimes the most compelling offer is simple: “We’ll let you play.” For athletes hungry to develop their skills and get on the field early, that opportunity can outweigh a paycheck. Programs like NDSU can focus on attracting driven players who want immediate reps and a chance to prove themselves.
Looking ahead, there’s even potential for a more structured approach—one similar to the Major League Baseball system. The FBS and FCS could function like the majors and minors. Big schools could recruit and “loan” players to smaller programs for one or two seasons. This would allow athletes to gain valuable experience before returning to their original teams more polished and game-ready.
To make this model work fairly, Power Five programs should compensate smaller schools from their NIL pool for helping develop their talent. It would be a win-win: big programs benefit from improved players, and smaller schools get financial support and continued relevance in a shifting landscape.
Jacobs and Sosa Named to All-Liberty League Second Team
Story Links
TROY, N.Y. – Senior Ben Jacobs and first-year Jesus Sosa of the Union College men’s tennis team were recognized as one of the top doubles teams in the Liberty League this season with a spot on the All-Liberty League second team, the conference office announced on Monday morning. Jacobs […]
TROY, N.Y. – Senior Ben Jacobs and first-year Jesus Sosa of the Union College men’s tennis team were recognized as one of the top doubles teams in the Liberty League this season with a spot on the All-Liberty League second team, the conference office announced on Monday morning.
Jacobs is the first player in recent program history to earn All-Conference honors in all four seasons with Union, earning his second doubles honor to go with three singles laurels as well. Sosa starts off his career with his first All-Liberty League recognition.
Jacobs and Sosa spent the season as Union’s top doubles tandem in 2024-25, posting a 9-8 mark overall and a 6-6 mark at first singles. The pair won four of their six doubles matches in Liberty League play and finished with first-doubles wins in three of the last four matches despite Union going up against four straight nationally ranked foes, including an impressive 6-2 win over 12th-ranked Aiden Drover-Mattinen and Andy Zhu of #10 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in late April. The pair, who twice earned Liberty League Doubles Team of the Week honors, also started the year by winning the “A” Doubles title at the Garnet Charger Invitational.
A four-year performer at first doubles, Jacobs finished his Union career with 31 doubles wins to his credit, the most for a Union player in at least a decade. Sosa tied for team lead overall with 10 doubles wins on the season, a total matched by three teammates.
Despite a 5-14 (1-7 Liberty League) record this season, Union saw many key contributors gain important collegiate experience that will hopefully help in the future as the Garnet Chargers look to flip their five 4-3 losses (including three conference matches) into wins and more success on the court in 2025-26.
