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Report: Potential NHL 2026 No. 1 overall pick Gavin McKenna down to Michigan State, Penn State

According to SN’s Elliotte Friedman, prized hockey prospect Gavin McKenna is down to two schools. McKenna met with four via Zoom but Friedman believes the race to sign him will come down to Michigan State and Penn State. The Nittany Lions were previously the main program Friedman heard and now, McKenna appears to have a […]

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According to SN’s Elliotte Friedman, prized hockey prospect Gavin McKenna is down to two schools. McKenna met with four via Zoom but Friedman believes the race to sign him will come down to Michigan State and Penn State. The Nittany Lions were previously the main program Friedman heard and now, McKenna appears to have a decision to make.

“I heard over the past couple of weeks, he did some Zooms,” Friedman said via 32 Thoughts: The Podcast. “He did Penn State, he did Michigan State, he did Michigan, and he did Denver. And it sounds like it’s probably coming down to Penn State, who we guessed, and Michigan State. Nothing decided but it sounds like that’s where he’s at. We’ll see where it goes.”

Although the 2025 NHL Draft is set to take place on Friday, the entire hockey world is mesmerized by McKenna, a prospect for the following year. He is not draft-eligible until 2026, which means one more season is required. McKenna last played for the Medicine Hat Tigers in the WHL. However, due to an influx of NIL money in college hockey, top prospects are coming stateside.

McKenna put up absurd numbers during the 2024-2025 season despite only being 17 years old. In 56 games played, he recorded 129 points with 41 goals and 88 assists. For a comparison, recent No. 1 overall pick Connor Bedard put up 100 points in the WHL a year removed from being drafted back in 2021-2022, scoring 51 goals and assisting on another 49.

Ping pong balls will determine the fate of NHL franchises sometime next summer. McKenna is widely viewed as the league’s next special player. And based on what Friedman says, Big Ten fans will get to enjoy him for one season.

More on Michigan State, Penn State hockey

Michigan State was one of the top programs in college hockey last season, finishing with a record of 26-7-4. For the second consecutive season, the Spartans won the Big Ten regular season and tournament championships. Earning the No. 2 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament was nice for a few moments before being upset by Cornell in the first round.

As for Penn State, they finished last season with a 22-14-4 record, finishing fifth in the Big Ten. They made their way into the NCAA Tournament before going on an incredible run to the Frozen Four for the first time in program history. A dream journey with wins against Maine and UConn was unfortunately halted by Boston University in St. Louis in the semifinals.



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Saquon Barkley and Mike Gesicki express gratitude for Penn State at golf showdown

Penn State football and Pittsburgh had their Alumni Golf Rivalry Showdown and former Nittany Lions Saquon Barkley, Christian Hackenberg, and Mike Gesicki among others. While keeping the in-state rivalry upbeat and lively on the golf course, Barkley and Gesicki reflected on their time at Penn State. The running back and tight end played for the […]

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Penn State football and Pittsburgh had their Alumni Golf Rivalry Showdown and former Nittany Lions Saquon Barkley, Christian Hackenberg, and Mike Gesicki among others. While keeping the in-state rivalry upbeat and lively on the golf course, Barkley and Gesicki reflected on their time at Penn State.

The running back and tight end played for the Nittany Lions for three years together. Gesicki came to Penn State a year earlier than Barkley, who started his three-year career in 2015. During Barkley’s sophomore year (also Gesicki’s junior year), the Nittany Lions brought home the Big Ten title to Happy Valley. It was the first time in eight years that Penn State won the conference championship, defeating Wisconsin 38-31.

“We pushed things over the hump for sure,” now-Philadelphia Eagle Barkley said in regards to Penn State winning the 2016 Big Ten Championship Game. “It’s a beautiful thing . . . There’s just so much tradition history at Penn State and obviously there was a point in time where [it] wasn’t talked about the way it needed to be, but that’s gone and that’s a great thing.”

Saquon Barkley

Former Penn State football and current Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Now that Nittany Lions are looking to reclaim that title almost a decade later. In 2024, Penn State suffered a heartbreaking loss in the championship game to Oregon. Head coach James Franklin’s group of returners came back with the intention of taking home as many wins as possible, looking for redemption in conference playoffs and the College Football Playoffs.

Following the 2025-26 season, notable faces, like Drew Allar, Nicholas Singleton, Kaytron Allen, Zakee Wheatley, Nolan Rucci, Zane Durant, Dani Dennis-Sutton, and Riley Thompson among others, will be finished with their collegiate careers. It’s possible that younger players forgo the rest of their college eligibility to declare for the 2026 NFL Draft in addition to the redshirt seniors and four-year players.

Mike Gesicki

Former Penn State football and current Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki | Todd Rosenberg/GettyImages

They’re the face of the Penn State program for the time being until the season wraps up. Regardless of where they end up, though, their foundation always circles back to Beaver Stadium. At the golf showdown, now-Cinncinati Bengal Gesicki reflected on how his time as a Nittany Lion made him into the player he is today.

“A lot of people kind of look at now where I’m at in my career in the league and kind of forget that 10 years ago it was a grind,” Gesicki said. “. . . I’m grateful for it all and [I] had some good memories in terms the highs and the lows and fighting through adversity.”



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Mauron Promoted to Assistant Coach

Story Links OXFORD, Ohio— Miami Hockey head coach Anthony Noreen announced today that Lionel Mauron has been promoted to Assistant Coach. Mauron had served as Assistant to the Head Coach and handled the RedHawks’ program operations since joining the Miami staff in September 2024. “We are thrilled to elevate Lio to our […]

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OXFORD, Ohio— Miami Hockey head coach Anthony Noreen announced today that Lionel Mauron has been promoted to Assistant Coach. Mauron had served as Assistant to the Head Coach and handled the RedHawks’ program operations since joining the Miami staff in September 2024.

“We are thrilled to elevate Lio to our assistant coach position,” said Noreen. “Lio is self-motivated, has a great mind for the game and is driven to get better. Our program is lucky to have him and we look forward to seeing his impact on Miami Hockey.”
 
Mauron came to Oxford after serving the previous three years as the head coach at Ohio University. In 2023, he was named the American Collegiate Hockey Association Coach of the Year and the Central States College Hockey League Coach of the Year. During his time in Athens, Mauron led OU to a 72-29-11 record, including 12 wins over ACHA top-five teams. Mauron’s program made the ACHA National Tournament final four in 2023 and again in 2024 after advancing to the quarterfinals in 2022.
 
“I am honored to be elevated in my role with the Miami University hockey program,” Mauron said. “I am excited to continue to work with such a dedicated group of athletes and staff to push our culture forward. The energy around this team is incredible, and I can’t wait to get to work.” 
 
A native of Lausanne, Switzerland, Mauron played college hockey for Division III Curry College from 2015-19. He also played for the Lausanne Hockey Club (Swiss League), the Jacksonville Icemen (ECHL) and the Knoxville Ice Bears (SPHL).
 
Mauron earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Curry in 2019 and completed his Master’s in Coaching Education from Ohio in 2021.
 



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Surprising List Of Biggest NIL Spenders In College Football

It’s a well known assumption from college football fans that the Oregon Ducks are in the upper echelon of name, image, and likeness (NIL) investment. Through Nike founder Phil Knight creating Oregon’s NIL group Division Street, to the massive recent opportunities coming from institutions being able to share their revenue directly with athletes, the Ducks […]

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It’s a well known assumption from college football fans that the Oregon Ducks are in the upper echelon of name, image, and likeness (NIL) investment.

Through Nike founder Phil Knight creating Oregon’s NIL group Division Street, to the massive recent opportunities coming from institutions being able to share their revenue directly with athletes, the Ducks are capitalizing off this new frontier in order to bring in the top talent.

Now, according to a new poll conducted by On3 of 17 stakeholders across college football (think coaches, NIL collectives, general managers, agents, and administration members) the Ducks are once again in the spotlight for spending.





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Kai Trump on how sports keep her close to her grandfather, especially on the golf course | National Sports

Kai Trump’s love of golf began at the age of 2, and she credits her grandfather, President Donald Trump, as someone who helps cultivate her passion for the game.  It’s no secret the 47th president of the United States loves to get out on the golf course when he can, and his own love for […]

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Kai Trump’s love of golf began at the age of 2, and she credits her grandfather, President Donald Trump, as someone who helps cultivate her passion for the game. 

It’s no secret the 47th president of the United States loves to get out on the golf course when he can, and his own love for the sport is one of the many things his 18-year-old granddaughter says keeps their bond strong. 

Kai, who will play golf at the University of Miami in 2026, spoke to Fox News Digital about how sports play a role in her relationship with her grandfather.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

“Me and him are very close, and we bond over golf. So, he influenced me a lot with golf, especially when I was talking about schools and colleges,” she said, discussing her NIL partnership with Accelerator Active Energy. “He loved that I was going to Miami because Trump Doral was right there as well, so he’s influenced me a lot with golf.”

President Trump has spent time with his granddaughter on the golf course over the years as she worked on her craft to get to this point of competing at the Division I level. 

Even before his political career, Trump’s love of golf led to 15 courses being run by Trump Golf, 11 of which are in the U.S. Kai has played those courses, while being exposed to resources she knows not every golfer has had the opportunity to have learning the game. 

KAI TRUMP ANNOUNCES 1ST MAJOR NIL PARTNERSHIP WITH ACCELERATOR ACTIVE ENERGY IN PRESIDENTIAL FASHION

“I was very, very lucky, and I’m obviously very thankful for all the resources I had,” she explained. “Obviously, I used those resources to develop into a great golfer now. But I’m very lucky because not many people have those opportunities growing up.” 

But it’s not just golf. President Trump’s passion for sports is much more broad. 

For example, UFC matches are a frequent stop for the president, and Kai joined her grandfather and other family members in Miami for UFC 314. She walked alongside him as he entered the Kaseya Center to a raucous crowd. 

“I don’t think I ever heard such a loud arena in my entire life,” she said about the experience. “But it was really cool to see everyone supporting him, especially in Miami. It was really nice. And when I was driving there, I stopped by my school just to see the campus and what not. It was really cool.” 

While Kai isn’t a football fan like her grandfather, they do share a love for sports outside of golf. 

“We have watched a lot of tennis together,” she revealed. “I love tennis. I grew up actually playing tennis when I was 2 years old, just like golf. So, I started with tennis and golf. We enjoy watching that together, especially like Wimbledon. I know it was yesterday, but we enjoy doing that together.”

PARTNERING WITH ACCELERATOR

Being a college athlete in today’s NCAA means having the ability to profit from your brand, and Kai has already developed a following through her social media and content creation passions. 

She struck an NIL partnership with Accelerator Active Energy, becoming the brand’s first golf NIL partner, while also being an equity partner. 

Accelerator Active Energy is the brand that earned acclaim for launching “The Livvy Fund” with former college gymnastics champion Livvy Dunne to support women’s college athletes. Dunne is also an equity partner, as is Kansas City Chiefs superstar Travis Kelce. 

A presidential-themed video in which Kai addresses “fellow Americans and content creators” announced the move, which she could not be more excited about. 

“It’s pretty cool, especially being partners with such great athletes and being up there to with him,” she said.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.





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Penn State men’s hockey releases 2025-26 nonconference slate | Sports

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Fresh off its first Frozen Four appearance, the Penn State men’s ice hockey team announced its 10-game nonconference schedule for the 2025-26 season earlier this week. The Nittany Lions open their 2025-26 campaign away from Pegula Ice Arena for the third straight season with a trip to Arizona State Oct. 3-4. […]

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STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Fresh off its first Frozen Four appearance, the Penn State men’s ice hockey team announced its 10-game nonconference schedule for the 2025-26 season earlier this week.

The Nittany Lions open their 2025-26 campaign away from Pegula Ice Arena for the third straight season with a trip to Arizona State Oct. 3-4. The Sun Devils were the first team out of the 2025 NCAA tournament after finishing the 2024-25 season No. 15 in the Pairwise Rankings. Arizona State finished second in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference during the regular season, advancing all the way to the Frozen Faceoff in St. Paul, Minnesota before losing to Denver during its inaugural season in the league.


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Michigan gymnastics coach Bev Plocki announces retirement

Legendary Michigan gymnastics coach Bev Plocki announced her retirement on Wednesday, July 16. She has been the head of the team since 1990. Over her 36 seasons with the program, Plocki transformed the Wolverines from a team which struggled to put together winning seasons into one of only eight teams to ever win the NCAA […]

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Legendary Michigan gymnastics coach Bev Plocki announced her retirement on Wednesday, July 16. She has been the head of the team since 1990.

Over her 36 seasons with the program, Plocki transformed the Wolverines from a team which struggled to put together winning seasons into one of only eight teams to ever win the NCAA women’s gymnastics championship, which they accomplished in 2021.

“”It’s hard to put into words what this moment means to me,” Plocki said in a statement. “At 23 years old, I was just a young woman with a passion for gymnastics and a dream, when three incredible leaders — Bo Schembechler, Jack Weidenbach and Phyllis Ocker — took a chance on me. They believed in me before I had proven anything, and because of their faith, I’ve had the privilege of spending my entire career here at the University of Michigan.”

A native of Butler, Pennsylvania, Plocki began with the Wolverines in 1990, elevated from an assistant job she held at West Virginia to the head coach position with a Big Ten team. The team went 2-19 the year before Plocki was hired. In her first year with the team, they went 7-15 and were a 20-win team by her third year.

In her tenure as the Michigan head coach, Plocki led the Wolverines to 26 Big Ten championships – the most by any coach in any sport in the conference. Seven of them came consecutively between 1999 and 2005. Michigan has also seen eight Big Ten regular-season titles, 26 NCAA championship appearances and 10 NCAA Super Sixes.

Part of Plocki’s work as the Wolverines’ head coach was in recruiting and improving the caliber of gymnast the program attracted. Beth Wymer became the program’s first NCAA All-American in 1992, and the program has since added 52 more. Gymnasts have also received 191 All-Big Ten honors. Plocki has coached 14 Big Ten Gymnast of the Year and 13 Big Ten Freshman of the Year.

Plocki has been recognized for her coaching prowess numerous times over the years. She’s garnered 11 Big Ten Coach of the Year awards, 13 NCAA Regional Coach of the Year awards and is a two-time National Coach of the Year, earned in 1994 and 2021.

Michigan has not announced who will succeed Plocki as head coach.

Contact Matthew Auchincloss at mauchincloss@freepress.com.



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