The Atlanta Gladiators announced Monday that the ECHL ice hockey club has acquired defenseman Brendan Less from the Adirondack Thunder in exchange for defenseman Easton Armstrong and forward Nick Wong.

Less, 27, recorded 1 goal and 19 assists with a +11 rating in 51 games with the Thunder last season. The native of Kinnelon, New Jersey brings over 100 games of ECHL experience to the Gladiators blue line having spent time with Worcester, Iowa, and Adirondack over the last four seasons, logging 3 goals and 35 assists for 38 points in 123 career regular-season ECHL games.

The 6-foot-1, 180-pound defenseman spent four years playing NCAA Division I hockey at Dartmouth College from 2017-2021 prior to playing at Quinnipiac for the 2021-22 season. In 125 NCAA games, Less notched 6 goals and 30 assists. After completing his college career, he joined the Worcester Railers to end the 2021-22 season.

“Brendan is a very steady two-way defenseman that will be relied upon to play big minutes for us,” said Gladiators Director of Hockey Operations and Head Coach Matt Ginn. “When it became known that Brendan was available, we jumped at the opportunity right away to improve our backend. He is a great skater and puck mover that uses his feet to his advantage when defending. We have only heard great things about Brendan as a person and teammate, and are excited to add him to our group.”

Joe Castiglione announced his retirement as Oklahoma’s athletic director after 27 years, ending the longest tenure of any current AD in major college sports. He’ll transition to Athletic Director Emeritus while the Sooners search for his replacement.

What does this news mean for the “OU” football team? Will the school find a replacement by the beginning of football season?

What Does AD Joe Castiglione’s Retirement Mean for Oklahoma Athletics?

Joe Castiglione built one of college sports’ most successful programs during his time in Norman. The numbers tell the story: 26 national championships across all sports, including eight softball titles and five Final Four appearances in basketball. He also guided Oklahoma through its move from the Big 12 to the SEC, a transition that reshaped college athletics.

ESPN’s Pete Thamel broke the news that Castiglione will step down during the 2025-26 academic year. The timing gives Oklahoma several months to find its successor while keeping him on campus as Athletic Director Emeritus.

Sources: Oklahoma AD Joe Castiglione will retire from his full-time role during the upcoming school year, bringing an end to the longest-tenured run for a current AD in major college sports. Upon the hiring of his successor, he will stay on as athletic director emeritus. pic.twitter.com/ZHHgMEiITT

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) July 7, 2025

Thamel reported that Castiglione discussed retirement with university officials a month ago. “The timing of the move will allow OU to make a hire in the upcoming months and transition with Castiglione on campus,” he posted on X.

How Did Castiglione Transform Oklahoma Into a National Power?

When Castiglione took over in 1998, Oklahoma football had fallen from its championship heights of the 1970s and 1980s. He hired Bob Stoops in 1999, a move that paid off immediately when the Sooners won the national title in 2000. That championship marked the beginning of Oklahoma’s return to elite status.

His coaching hires shaped the program’s identity. After Stoops retired, Castiglione brought in Lincoln Riley, who led the Sooners to three College Football Playoff appearances. When Riley left for USC, he hired Brent Venables to rebuild the defense-first culture that made Oklahoma famous.

The softball program became Castiglione’s crown jewel. Those eight national championships made Oklahoma the premier destination for elite softball talent. The women’s basketball team reached multiple Final Fours, while men’s basketball had its moments under different coaches throughout his tenure.

HOW WELL WILL OKLAHOMA DO IN YEAR 2 OF SEC PLAY? CHECK OUR SEC SEASON PREDICTIONS

Beyond wins and losses, Castiglione navigated massive changes in college athletics. He managed the transition from the Big 12 to the SEC, a move that will generate millions more in revenue for Oklahoma. The shift to the SEC represents the biggest conference realignment move in school history.

Who Could Replace Castiglione at Oklahoma?

Finding Castiglione’s replacement won’t be simple. The new AD will inherit a program with high expectations across multiple sports and the pressure of competing in the SEC. They’ll also need to handle Name, Image, and Likeness deals, transfer portal management, and facility upgrades.

Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger reported that Castiglione and university officials will hold a press conference Tuesday at 9 a.m. local time to discuss the transition and his new emeritus role.

Oklahoma announces that AD Joe Castiglione will hold a news conference Tuesday, with other school officials, to announce his retirement. It ends one of the longest running AD stints in the history of major Division I athletics. pic.twitter.com/P7DBBJLqSv

— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) July 7, 2025

The search committee will likely target candidates with Power Five experience and proven fundraising abilities. Oklahoma’s athletic budget exceeds $200 million annually, requiring someone comfortable managing large-scale operations. Experience with conference realignment and media negotiations could also factor into the decision.

Castiglione’s emeritus role should help smooth the transition. His institutional knowledge and relationships with donors, coaches, and conference officials will be valuable resources for whoever takes over. The 28th year of his tenure will serve as a bridge to the next era of Sooners athletics.

The 2025 NHL Entry Draft saw five current and five incoming college hockey players selected in the first round, 76 total across seven rounds. The NCAA landscape is changing after a rule dictated that CHL players would be allowed to enroll and play college hockey. Thus, this draft was uniquely intriguing, as 15 CHL players with college commitments were selected, including two through the first 18 picks.

College hockey is viewed as a higher level of competition than the OHL, WHL and QMJHL because players are older and more experienced. After all, it’s not uncommon for NCAA teams to have multiple players over 24 years old, while CHL teams prohibit players who are 21 years old when the season begins. This rule change has ramifications across the hockey world, as players who age out of juniors can now enter college at 21 years old and play for four years. 

This article will focus on players selected in the first two rounds who will play college hockey during the upcoming season. The ever-changing landscape could mean additions such as sixth-overall pick Porter Martone has been rumored to be interested in joining Penn State, while No. 1 2026 prospect Gavin McKenna is also flirting with an NCAA commitment for the upcoming season. 

For up-to-the-minute updates on injuries, lineups, roster changes and more, head to RotoWire’s NHL News or follow @RotoWireNHL on X.

FORWARDS

James Hagens, Bruins (Round 1, 7th

The 2025 NHL Entry Draft saw five current and five incoming college hockey players selected in the first round, 76 total across seven rounds. The NCAA landscape is changing after a rule dictated that CHL players would be allowed to enroll and play college hockey. Thus, this draft was uniquely intriguing, as 15 CHL players with college commitments were selected, including two through the first 18 picks.

College hockey is viewed as a higher level of competition than the OHL, WHL and QMJHL because players are older and more experienced. After all, it’s not uncommon for NCAA teams to have multiple players over 24 years old, while CHL teams prohibit players who are 21 years old when the season begins. This rule change has ramifications across the hockey world, as players who age out of juniors can now enter college at 21 years old and play for four years. 

This article will focus on players selected in the first two rounds who will play college hockey during the upcoming season. The ever-changing landscape could mean additions such as sixth-overall pick Porter Martone has been rumored to be interested in joining Penn State, while No. 1 2026 prospect Gavin McKenna is also flirting with an NCAA commitment for the upcoming season. 

For up-to-the-minute updates on injuries, lineups, roster changes and more, head to RotoWire’s NHL News or follow @RotoWireNHL on X.

FORWARDS

James Hagens, Bruins (Round 1, 7th overall)

The Long Island kid was in the conversation for the No. 1 pick ahead of the 2024-25 season, but an underwhelming 11 goals and 26 points in 37 games at Boston College caused him to slip to No. 7. For reference, Macklin Celebrini – a superstar in the making for the Sharks – posted 32 goals and 32 assists across 38 games at Boston University before being selected first overall last draft. Hagens will likely stay at BC for a second season where he’ll be the focal point of a forward corps that lost Ryan Leonard (Capitals) and Gabe Perreault (Rangers). He should be a top-six center for the Bruins by the 2026-27 season. 

Cole Reschny, Flames (Round 1, 18th overall)

Reschny will enroll at the University of North Dakota after being selected No. 18 by the Flames in June’s draft. In the WHL last year, Reschny rang up 92 points across 62 regular-season games and 25 points over 11 playoff games. He’s on the smaller side (5-foot-10, 187 pounds), but he’s defensively sound and an elite playmaker, giving him a chance to stick at center in the NHL, although he’ll be a fine fantasy option even if he gets bumped to the wing. It wouldn’t be surprising if he spent two seasons at North Dakota before signing. 

Will Horcoff, Penguins (Round 1, 24th overall)

Horcoff joined the University of Michigan halfway through the 2024-25 season and fit right in with 10 points through 18 games as the team’s youngest player. The 6-foot-4, 190-pound winger needs to get a bit quicker before making the jump to the NHL in a couple of years, but he should at least fit in as a third-liner for the Penguins at that point.

Ryker Lee, Predators (Round 1, 26th overall)

Lee led the Madison Capitols of the USHL with 31 goals and 68 points last season. It’s easy to see how the Predators fell in love with his wicked wrist shot, but he has a lot to prove at the NCAA level. Specifically, his size (6-foot, 181 pounds) isn’t offset by elite skating, and he doesn’t consistently attack the slot. Michigan State is a program that’s more than qualified to round him out as a player, but Lee’s a riskier option at this point.

Cullen Potter, Flames (Round 1, 32nd overall)

Potter’s an elite skater who enrolled at Arizona State as a 17-year-old and posted 13 goals and nine assists across 35 games. He’s smaller (5-foot-10, 172 pounds) and isn’t a standout playmaker, but his skills are good enough to become a third-line player with power-play upside after a couple more years of fine-tuning in the desert. 

Malcolm Spence, Rangers (Round 2, 43rd overall)

Spence was the Rangers’ first pick of the draft at No. 43. He was often mocked to go in the mid-20s, so this appears to be an excellent value for the Blueshirts. Spence racked up 73 points over 65 games in the OHL last season. He’s fast and competitive on both ends of the ice with a solid all-around skillset, but offensively, his stats probably won’t be a difference-maker for fantasy purposes at the next level. Expect Spence to develop for a couple of seasons at Michigan before he flirts with signing an entry-level deal. 

Charlie Cerrato, Hurricanes (Round 2, 49th overall)

Cerrato’s freshman season at Penn State was outstanding, as he produced 15 goals and 42 points through 38 games during the Frozen Four run. However, he’s a late bloomer, as he’s already 20 years old. Many players who aren’t drafted until 20 years old have middling athleticism, but Cerrato’s college production is outstanding nonetheless, and he’ll be a compelling player to watch develop over the next couple of seasons. 

DEFENSEMEN

Jackson Smith, Blue Jackets (Round 1, 14th overall)

Smith was the first CHL player taken that had committed to the NCAA (Penn State). The Calgary native has a knack for jumping up on the rush, and while he sometimes spends too much time attacking, it translated to 54 points through 68 games in the WHL last season. Smith has the size (6-foot-3, 190 pounds) and defensive ability to eventually earn a top-four role with the Blue Jackets, and there’s fantasy upside as a power-play quarterback. 

Logan Hensler, Senators (Round 1, 23rd overall)

The youngest player at the University of Wisconsin by 16 months, Hensler was a top-four defenseman and won gold at the U20 World Juniors. He’s an excellent skater whose defensive game is solid and should continue to develop under head coach Mike Hastings, but he needs to prove himself offensively next season. The Senators already had Wisconsin players Blake Montgomery and Tyson Dyck in the pipeline, and they also added Bruno Idzan in the sixth round of this draft. 

Sascha Boumedienne, Jets (Round 1, 28th overall)

Boumedienne was the youngest player in the NCAA last season, but he still managed top-four minutes and posted 13 points through 40 games on a Terriers team that made it to the National Championship. He’s a smooth skater who will continue to develop offensively at BU, but his defensive game is what will propel him to the next level after a couple more college seasons. 

Haoxi Wang (Sharks) and Carter Amico (Flyers) will also head to Boston University next season, and Jacob Rombach (Predators) will skate for Minnesota. The trio was selected in the first six picks of the second round. They’re all at least 6-foot-5 and picked partly because of the potential that comes with such size. They move well but haven’t produced much offensively yet and will face even stiffer competition in the NCAA ranks. 

GOALIES

Jack Ivankovic, Predators (Round 2, 58th overall)

Perhaps the Predators felt comfortable taking a swing on Ivankovic because of their success with Juuse Saros — the league’s shortest goalie. Both goalies measured in at 5-foot-11, and Saros has been a steady No. 1 goalie over the past five seasons. Ivankovic put together two strong campaigns in the OHL and registered a dominant .961 save percentage and 6-0-0 record across six games for Canada’s U18 World Junior team as a 17-year-old.  Still, goalies are inherently risky bets, and his stature makes the margin for error even thinner. The University of Michigan will be a proper test for his future. 

Alexis Cournoyer, Canadiens (Round 5, 145th overall)

Cournoyer wasn’t selected in his first eligible draft, but he posted a .942 save percentage through 21 games in the QMJHL last season and was selected in the fifth round by the Canadiens as a result. Cournoyer was the sixth goalie the Canadiens have taken over the last three drafts, so he’ll have plenty of competition when his time comes. He could start immediately at Cornell, however.

Visit RotoWire’s NHL Starting Lineups and NHL News for up-to-the-minute information!

Urban Meyer has been out of coaching since 2021 and last led a college program in 2018, when he retired from Ohio State. Yet his name still surfaces whenever a major job opens. In today’s rapidly shifting college football landscape — where roster management, NIL strategy and recruiting logistics have given rise to NFL-style front office roles — many programs started hiring general managers. These hires often come from NFL backgrounds or have deep ties to talent evaluation and player development.

Meyer, who won three national championships during his 13 seasons at Florida (2005-10) and Ohio State (2012-18), said one school recently approached him about stepping into that kind of role. He entertained the conversation, until he heard what the job actually entailed.

“I had a school come see me this year and ask if I wanted to be the GM, and a couple other phone calls,” Meyer said last week on The Triple Option podcast while interviewing Oklahoma football general manager Jim Nagy. “And you start to think, ‘OK, they actually came to see me,’ so I said, ‘Yeah, I’ll meet and I’ll sit down with you guys.’ I said, ‘OK, what is the job description?’ They said, ‘Well, basically you meet with all the agents of the 17- and 18-year-olds, and I thought, ‘I’d rather step on a rusty nail and pull it out myself.’ I mean, what in the world — if that’s what you gotta do, Jim, God bless you.”

Meyer did not name which program specifically reached out to gauge his interest.

While a general manager role may not carry the public pressure or the X’s and O’s of coaching, it’s hardly a retirement gig. The job demands deep involvement in every aspect of roster building, from managing scholarship counts and navigating the transfer portal to evaluating talent and negotiating NIL deals. It’s time-consuming work that still requires total buy-in from those willing to take it on.

Nagy, a longtime NFL scout and executive director of the Senior Bowl, was hired in February to bring that professional expertise to Oklahoma’s front office, helping bridge the gap between NFL evaluation models and college football’s unique challenges.

“There’s no succinct way to sum it up because there are a lot of parts to this job,” Nagy said of his job description. “But really, I’m here more than anything to help the coaching staff, help build this roster and streamline the process. Everyone says they’re trying to go to an NFL model, and yes, my background is in the NFL — I’ve never worked in college football before — but I think there are some process things we’ve brought to Oklahoma that are going to help the evaluation process and certainly the valuation process. We’ve never had to really value players.”

But for Meyer, the reality of such a demanding role only reaffirmed why he’s chosen to stay retired rather than return to college football.