College Sports

Minot State women’s hockey announces 2025-26 schedule

Story Links LINK TO 2025-26 SCHEDULE MINOT, N.D. – The perennial powerhouse Beaver women’s hockey team is set to resume its chase for an ACHA National Championship as Minot State and head coach Ryan Miner are pleased to announce the team’s 2025-26 schedule. The Beavers hit the ice for a pair of […]

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3 weeks ago

May 7, 2025

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LINK TO 2025-26 SCHEDULE

MINOT, N.D. – The perennial powerhouse Beaver women’s hockey team is set to resume its chase for an ACHA National Championship as Minot State and head coach Ryan Miner are pleased to announce the team’s 2025-26 schedule.

The Beavers hit the ice for a pair of exhibition contests against an AAA/Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL) team at the Maysa Arena on Friday and Saturday, September 19 and 20, at the Maysa Arena. Puck drop both days is 3:45 p.m.

The two tune-up games will provide Minot State a chance to prepare for a big season-opening weekend at home as the Beavers host the McKendree Bearcats two weeks later on Saturday and Sunday, October 4 and 5. Puck drop for the official season opener on Saturday, Oct. 4, is set for 3:45 p.m., and Sunday’s contest starts at 1 p.m.

The Beavers then continue a four-game, season-opening homestand with two more tough contests against the Maryville Saints on Friday and Saturday, October 10 and 11. Both games get underway at 3:45 p.m. at the Maysa Arena.

The four opening home games all are Women’s Midwest Collegiate Hockey (WMCH) contests.

Minot State then hits the road for four non-conference games in four days, playing at Adrian College on Oct. 16 and 17, then at Niagara on Oct. 18 and 19.

The Beavers follow up the quick road trip with another four-game home stand as Arizona State visits the Maysa Arena on Saturday, October 25, at 3:45 p.m., and on Sunday, October 26, at 1 p.m.

Then it’s back to WMCH action against long-time rival Midland as the Warriors visit the Maysa Arena on Friday and Saturday, October 31 and November 1, with gametime at 3:45 p.m. both days.

November continues with Minot State playing at Jamestown on Nov. 14 and 15, then the Beavers are back home prior to the Thanksgiving break to host defending national champion Liberty on Friday, November 21, and Saturday, November 22, at 3:45 p.m. both days.

The first semester on the ice wraps up with Minot State playing two WMCH games at Midland on Dec. 5-6 before a home-and-home series with Dakota College of Bottineau with the Lumberjacks hosting Dec. 12. The Beavers closing the 2025 portion of their schedule hosting Dakota College of Bottineau on Saturday, December 13, at 3:45 p.m.

The new calendar year starts with Minot State on home ice for four in a row as the Beavers host in-state rival Jamestown on Friday and Saturday, January 9 and 10, at 3:45 p.m. in WMCH action before the Beavers host non-conference foe Indiana Tech. The Warriors visit the Maysa Arena on Friday, January 16, and Saturday, January 17, with game times at 3:45 p.m. both days.

Minot State next heads to Chesterfield, Missouri for the WMCH Showcase, January 22-25, before the regular season begins to wind down with the Beavers hosting Midland in WMCH action on Friday, January 30, and Saturday, January 31, with puck drop at 3:45 p.m. for both games.

The Beavers then make a quick trip south to take on Jamestown in WMCH games on Feb. 6-7, then close the regular season hosting Minnesota in two final WMCH contests on Friday, February 13, and Saturday, February 14, at the Maysa Arena at 3:45 p.m. both days.

Minot State then heads to Fremont, Nebraska for the WMCH Tournament hosted by Midland, Feb. 19-21, then back to the ACHA National Tournament in Maryland Heights, Missouri, March 16-20.

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College Sports

‘Never seen a team more excited’ New Illinois women’s gymnastics coach preaching team pride

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) – Illinois women’s gymnastics promoted from within for its women’s gymnastics head coach opening. The Illini opted to promoting Josh Nilson after parting ways with previous head coach Nadalie Walsh. Nilson was the associate head coach for Illinois for the 2023-24 and 2025-26 years. Advertisement He does have head coaching experience. Nilson […]

Published

3 hours ago

May 28, 2025

Your Sports Nation

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) – Illinois women’s gymnastics promoted from within for its women’s gymnastics head coach opening.

The Illini opted to promoting Josh Nilson after parting ways with previous head coach Nadalie Walsh. Nilson was the associate head coach for Illinois for the 2023-24 and 2025-26 years.

He does have head coaching experience. Nilson led the Temple women’s gymnastics program for five years, helping the Owls to three conference titles.

He hopes to instill a sense of pride in his athletes and fellow coaches.

“We need to take pride in Illinois,” Nilson told WCIA. “I think that’s something that’s been missing. People are here, they love the school. But in the past, the gymnastics program has been lacking that pride in the ‘Block I.’ I mean, it starts there. They need to understand who we are. This is a storied program that has struggled a little bit in the past, but it starts there.”

He hopes to have everyone on the same page, with that goal in mind, within his team.

“Make the vision clear… Everyone on my team, everyone on my staff will all understand their role,” he said. “And that leads to success. We’re a penny stock. You want to pay attention to what’s about to happen here because we’ve got the administration backing us up. We’ve got the university backing us up. And I’ve never seen a team more excited.”

Nilson signed a five-year contract.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.

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College Sports

Retton, US gymnastics icon, arrested in WVa on suspicion of DUI | Sports

FAIRMONT, W.Va. — American gymnastics icon Mary Lou Retton faces a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence following her arrest in her West Virginia hometown. Fairmont police stopped Retton on May 17 following a report about a person in a Porsche driving erratically. According to the criminal complaint, Retton smelled of alcohol and was […]

Published

4 hours ago

May 28, 2025

Your Sports Nation

FAIRMONT, W.Va. — American gymnastics icon Mary Lou Retton faces a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence following her arrest in her West Virginia hometown.

Fairmont police stopped Retton on May 17 following a report about a person in a Porsche driving erratically. According to the criminal complaint, Retton smelled of alcohol and was slurring her words, and she failed a field sobriety test. Officers also reported observing a container of wine in the passenger seat.

Retton, 57, refused a roadside breath test and a blood test. She was released from custody after paying a $1,500 personal recognizance bond.

Her attorney listed in court records, Edmund J. Rollo of Morgantown, did not immediately respond to phone and email requests from The Associated Press seeking comment.

Retton was 16 when she became the first American female gymnast to win the all-around at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. She also won two silver and two bronze medals to help bring gymnastics into the mainstream in the United States.

In 2023, Retton’s family disclosed she was recuperating from a rare form of pneumonia that landed her in intensive care. Doctors found her oxygen levels dangerously low. Her medical team considered putting her on a ventilator as her conditioned worsened. Retton went on oxygen treatment and, after weeks in the hospital, improved enough to be sent home.

AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports

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College Sports

Men’s Golf Announces Team Awards

By: Callie Cyr Story Links HANOVER, N.H. – Bill Johnson Head Coach of Men’s Golf, Rich Parker, has announced the program’s annual team awards for the 2024-25 season. Tyler Brand took home the Most Valuable Player award while Alex Gu received the Tommy Keane award for his dedication and hard […]

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5 hours ago

May 28, 2025

Your Sports Nation

By: Callie Cyr

HANOVER, N.H. – Bill Johnson Head Coach of Men’s Golf, Rich Parker, has announced the program’s annual team awards for the 2024-25 season.

Tyler Brand took home the Most Valuable Player award while Alex Gu received the Tommy Keane award for his dedication and hard work to the program and his nature of being an outstanding teammate. Colin Keith was honored as the team’s Rookie of the Year.

Brand played in 11 matches this season and recorded three first place finishes throughout. His first-place finishes came at the Columbia Autumn Invitational where he shot a -17, the Columbia Spring Invitational with a -1 and the ROAR-EE Invitational after shooting a -6. Brand’s top finish at the Columbia Autumn Invitational broke the tournament record and secured a nine-stroke victory over the second-place individual. At the Ivy League Championships, Brand finished tied for 18^th and was named First Team All-Ivy. After his play in the month of September, he was named Ivy League Golfer of the Month.

Gu, a two-time captain for the Big Green, played in nine tournaments this season. He finished tied for 10^th at the Columbia Spring Invitational after shooting a +6 for his top finish of the season. Gu recorded a tied for 17^th finish at the Glen Arbor Invitational with a +13. At his final Ivy League Championships, he placed 34^th with a +21.

Keith made his collegiate debut at the Temple Invitational and competed in 10 total tournaments in his first-year campaign. In his debut, he finished tied for 27^th after shooting a +8. His top finish of the season came at the Columbia Autumn Invitational where he shot a -1 to finish 12^th.He recorded a tied for 14^th finish at the ROAR-EE Invitational with a +3. The first year competed at the Ivy League Championships and finished 32^nd with a +19.

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College Sports

Michigan State hockey star Isaac Howard wins another national award

A decorated season earned Michigan State star Isaac Howard yet another accolade. USA Hockey announced Howard as its Jim Johannson College Player of the Year on Tuesday, just days after Howard won a gold medal as a reserve for Team USA at the IIHF Men’s World Championship. Awarded since 1994 and renamed for the late […]

Published

5 hours ago

May 28, 2025

Your Sports Nation

A decorated season earned Michigan State star Isaac Howard yet another accolade.

USA Hockey announced Howard as its Jim Johannson College Player of the Year on Tuesday, just days after Howard won a gold medal as a reserve for Team USA at the IIHF Men’s World Championship.

Awarded since 1994 and renamed for the late USA Hockey executive Jim Johannson, the College Hockey Player of the Year award boasts a strong list of past winners, including Chris Drury, Johnny Gaudreau, Jack Eichel and Adam Fox. Howard is the fourth Spartan to win the honor, joining Mike York in 1999, Ryan Miller in 2001 and Jeff Lerg in 2007.

In April, Howard won the Hobey Baker Award as the top player in men’s college hockey, already named Big Ten Player of the Year and a first team All-American. He was the first Hobey Baker winner since Miller in 2001 and only the third in program history.

In his junior season, his second with Michigan State, Howard’s season was among the best in the country. He led the Spartans with 52 points (fifth in Division I), split evenly at 26 goals (third) and assists. He led the nation in points per game at 1.41.

Led by Howard, Michigan State won the Big Ten regular-season and tournament titles — the latter won by Howard’s goal in double-overtime — and earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. That run ended short of expectations. It lost its first and only game in the single elimination tournament, 4-3 to Cornell.

Days before Howard won the Hobey Baker Award, his agent confirmed to The Detroit News that he plans to return to Michigan State this season. Negotiations with Tampa Bay — who drafted him 31st in the 2022 NHL Draft — fell through. Barring a trade of his NHL rights, Howard could enter next offseason as an unrestricted free agent when his rights expire Aug. 15, 2026.

Even with all the hardware he earned this season — a list that’s only growing with Tuesday’s addition — Howard said that he is chasing a bigger trophy this coming season.

“I want to win a national championship,” Howard said, standing on stage mere feet behind the trophy he’d just won. “I didn’t play to win a Hobey. I want to win a national championship. I think we’re gonna have the group to do it. It comes down to the Tournament at the end of the year. … We just gotta be ready and make sure (we don’t leave anything on the table).”

Howard and the Spartans embark on a revenge tour this fall. Howard and star goaltender Trey Augustine lead the charge, joined by a number of offseason reinforcements. Michigan State added defenseman Colin Ralph, a second-round pick of Buffalo, in the transfer portal before picking up commitments from Vancouver pick Anthony Romani and top European prospect Eric Nilson in recent weeks. After losing the pledge of defenseman Tyson Jugnauth of the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks, the Spartans added defenseman Travis Shoudy — brother of forward Tiernan Shoudy — from Ferris State.

And as the hardware keeps coming in for Howard, it’s clear what kind of star Michigan State is bringing back to lead the way.

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College Sports

Bemidji State Soccer announces schedule for 2025 season

BEMIDJI — The Bemidji State women’s soccer team announced the dates and opponents of its 30th season Tuesday afternoon. The Beavers will play an 18-match regular season that begins on Friday, Sept. 5. Prior to the regular season start, the Beavers will play two scrimmages against College of Saint Benedict and St. Catherine University on […]

Published

7 hours ago

May 28, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Bemidji State Soccer announces schedule for 2025 season

Prior to the regular season start, the Beavers will play two scrimmages against College of Saint Benedict and St. Catherine University on August 20 and 24 before officially beginning the 2025 slate. The Beavers kick off the 2025 season on the road against regional opponents Missouri Western State and Northwest Missouri State on September 5 and 7.

Bemidji State then travels west across Highway 2 to battle Minnesota Duluth for a nonconference match against the Bulldogs on Sept. 12.

The Beavers then begin the 15-match NSIC season and host their home opening weekend Sept. 19 and 21 to face Southwest Minnesota State and Sioux Falls.

BSU makes its first NSIC road trip to Augustana and Wayne State the following weekend before returning home to host Mary and Minot State on Oct. 3 and 5.

Bemidji State then travels to St. Cloud State and Minnesota State the following weekend before a home-and-away weekend against Minnesota Crookston (home) and Minnesota State Moorhead (away) on Oct. 17 and 19, respectively.

The Beavers then host Concordia-St. Paul and Winona State on Oct. 24 and 26 before their final road trip of the regular season, Oct. 31 and Nov. 2 to face Northern State and the new NSIC member, Jamestown.

Bemidji concludes the 2025 regular season at home by hosting Minnesota Duluth on Nov. 6.

The eight-team 2025 NSIC Women’s Soccer Tournament begins Nov. 10 with the top four teams hosting the first round matches. The highest remaining seed will then host the semifinal and championship matches on Nov. 14 and 16.

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College Sports

HTX Soccer Celebrates Over 100 Graduating Seniors, Including 64 College Soccer Commits

HTX Soccer is thrilled to congratulate more than 100 of our talented players who will be graduating this spring of 2025. We are incredibly proud of their hard work, dedication, and achievements both on and off the field. As they prepare to take the next step in their journeys, we look forward to seeing them […]

Published

8 hours ago

May 28, 2025

Your Sports Nation

HTX Soccer Celebrates Over 100 Graduating Seniors, Including 64 College Soccer Commits

A special recognition goes to the 64 players who have committed to play soccer in college. These individuals have shown exceptional skill, commitment, and passion throughout their time with our club. We are honored to have played a role in their development and are excited to follow their continued success on the field.

“I would like to thank all the parents, family members, and coaching staff who have supported our players through this long and exciting process,” said Randy Evans, Technical Director. “I want to wish every success to the players and their respective families.”

“The players have worked tremendously hard both on and off the field to get this opportunity,” said Simon Boddison, Director of Soccer Operations | College Center Director. “The admission and recruitment process continues to be more vigorous, with many variables affecting college decisions. We look forward to following their progress and celebrating their accomplishments as future student-athletes.”

“Earning the opportunity to pursue a degree is a tremendous accomplishment,” added Dave Dengerink, Boys Director. “With rising admission standards and competition, our players have proven that they are driven to succeed! I wish them the very best in their academic and athletic journeys.”

“Congratulations to the players moving on to play and study at the next level,” said Andrew Squire, Girls Director. “Their choice of school may have been recent, but their journey towards this opportunity started over a decade ago. We are proud to have supported them and can’t wait to see what the future holds. Best wishes to the Class of 2025!”

We also extend heartfelt thanks to the families, coaches, and supporters who have helped our players achieve their dreams. Your dedication and belief in their potential have been crucial to their success.

Once again, congratulations to all our graduating seniors. We are proud of you and wish you all the best as you begin this exciting new chapter of your lives.

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