College Sports
Seton Hall basketball adds TJ Simpkins, transfer guard from Elon
More backcourt help is on the way for Seton Hall basketball.Ten days after landing point guard Budd Clark from Merrimack, the Pirates have added another guard transfer in Tajuan “T.J.” Simpkins. Here are three things to know about the 6-foot-5 sophomore from Elon. 1. He was productive at Elon TJ Simpkins, not to be confused […]

More backcourt help is on the way for Seton Hall basketball.Ten days after landing point guard Budd Clark from Merrimack, the Pirates have added another guard transfer in Tajuan “T.J.” Simpkins.
Here are three things to know about the 6-foot-5 sophomore from Elon.
1. He was productive at Elon
TJ Simpkins, not to be confused with twin brother and teammate TK Simpkins – who earlier this week announced his transfer from Elon to Oregon – averaged 14.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.5 steals per game this past season. He shot 40.8 percent from the field, 26.3 percent from 3-point range and 81.1 percent from the free-throw line.
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jcarino@gannettnj.com.
College Sports
Rangers prospect Scott Morrow gets massive compliment: ‘Jack Eichel of the blue line’ in college
Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images When the New York Rangers traded K’Andre Miller to the Carolina Hurricanes on July 1, the return included a 2026 conditional first-round draft pick, a 2026 second-round pick, and 22-year-old defenseman Scott Morrow — himself, a second round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. Though the Rangers were thrilled to add […]

When the New York Rangers traded K’Andre Miller to the Carolina Hurricanes on July 1, the return included a 2026 conditional first-round draft pick, a 2026 second-round pick, and 22-year-old defenseman Scott Morrow — himself, a second round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft.
Though the Rangers were thrilled to add a pair of premium picks in what’s expected to be a loaded draft next year, don’t sleep on Morrow.
Popular NHL reporter Jonny Lazarus has been riding the Morrow bandwagon since the latest Rangers acquisition starred at UMass, averaging nearly a point per game over three seasons in college.
“I was on the record saying’s he’s like the Jack Eichel of the blue line — that kid moves,” Lazarus said on the Buds Mafia podcast. “He’s still got a lot to learn, but he’s matured a lot over the past few years.”
That’s a wild comparison. But does speak to the potential of the highly skilled Rangers defenseman prospect.
Related: Why Rangers face dilemma with imperfect center options on 3rd line
Scott Morrow was standout at UMass, prompting big expectations for Rangers prospect

Before turning pro, Morrow built an impressive resume at UMass and was an elite offensive defenseman. Over three seasons with the Minutemen, Morrow tallied 94 points (28 goals, 66 assists) in 109 games — the second most by a defenseman in program history.
He entered the spotlight in 2021-22, leading all Hockey East defensemen in scoring and was the first freshman in school history to be named a First Team All-American. His 13 goals and 33 points put him among the top-scoring defensemen in the nation.
Morrow followed that up with two more dominant seasons, recording 31 points as a sophomore and 30 as a junior. By the time he left UMass, Morrow carved out a reputation as one of the most dynamic puck-moving defensemen in college hockey.
Scott Morrow’s transition to professional hockey

Morrow turned pro in April 2024 and made his NHL debut late in the 2023-24 season, appearing in two games with the Carolina Hurricanes, logging over 35 total minutes of ice time. Though he posted a minus-4 outing against the Columbus Blue Jackets, it gave Morrow his first exposure to the NHL game.
His first full season as a pro was in 2024-25. He had 39 points (13 goals, 26 assists) in 52 games with Chicago of the American Hockey League. — earning him a spot on the AHL Top Prospect Team. He was third among all rookie defensemen in scoring and second in goals scored.
Though his offensive numbers stood out, Morrow also showed growth in managing zone exits, absorbing contact, and learning to defend against pro opponents. His overall game earned him a another look at the NHL level. Morrow appeared in 14 games with the Hurricanes last season, recording one goal and five assists, and averaging just over 15 minutes TOI.
He made his postseason debut shortly after, skating in five Stanley Cup Playoff games against the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Final. Pressed into duty because of injuries sustained by Jalen Chatfield and Sean Walker, Morrow didn’t record a point and struggled defensively as the Panthers too that best-of-7 series in five games, en-route to winning their second straight Stanley Cup championship.
Now entering his first season with the Rangers, Morrow will have a chance to compete for a roster spot out of training camp — likely in a sheltered third-pair role on the right side. With Braden Schneider eyeing a top 4 role, and possibly shifting to his off (left) side of the defense corps after adding Vladislav Gavrikov, the door could be open for Morrow to make an early impact.
He still has plenty of room to grow, but if Morrow continues to trend upward, the Rangers may have landed something special in the Miller trade package.
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College Sports
When Penn State ice hockey star Gavin McKenna makes his NCAA debut
VIDEO: Experience Penn State football’s White Out game atmosphere Penn State football’s White Out game has become one of college football’s top traditions. Our video takes you inside Beaver Stadium to experience it. York Daily Record Penn State ice hockey is expected to be a national championship contender with the addition of top prospect Gavin […]


VIDEO: Experience Penn State football’s White Out game atmosphere
Penn State football’s White Out game has become one of college football’s top traditions. Our video takes you inside Beaver Stadium to experience it.
York Daily Record
- Penn State ice hockey is expected to be a national championship contender with the addition of top prospect Gavin McKenna.
- McKenna, projected as the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL draft, chose Penn State over other top programs.
- The Nittany Lions’ non-conference schedule includes a season opener at Arizona State and home series against Clarkson, Long Island, and Stonehill.
Yet another Penn State national championship run begins in a little more than two months.
This one will be led by possibly the most highly-regarded PSU athletic recruit ever.
The Nittany Lion ice hockey team announced its 2025-26 non-conference schedule Wednesday, which includes the suddenly anticipated debut of Gavin McKenna, the expected No. 1 pick in next year’s NHL Draft.
Coach Guy Gadowsky’s team is a national championship betting favorite since adding McKenna and a few other Canadian Hockey League stars following last fall’s NCAA eligibility rule change.
The ice hockey team will follow the lead of coach James Franklin’s football team, the women’s volleyball team and its perennial No. 1 wrestling team as top national title contenders in the coming year.
For ice hockey, those expectations only began rising a few months ago, when the Lions caught fire down the stretch of their breakthrough season and barreled into their first Frozen Four.
Since, they’ve elevated their strong returning core of players with a host of CHL standouts, like defenseman Jackson Smith, the No. 14 pick in this year’s NHL Draft, and forward Luke Misa, a top Calgary Flames prospect.
Then they became the talk of college hockey by landing McKenna. He was the top CHL player last year and is regarded as, perhaps, the top hockey prospect, for his age, in the world.
McKenna (6-foot, 170 pounds) is the third-youngest player to win the top CHL award, behind only legendary Sidney Crosby and NHL all-star John Tavares. McKenna accomplished that with a stunning season of production and creativity for the Medicine Hat Tigers, highlighted by a 54-game scoring streak, the CHL’s longest in 25 years.
McKenna talked during his ESPN announcement about bypassing another year in the CHL in order to develop against the bigger, older players in NCAA hockey. In picking PSU over hockey stalwart Michigan State and others, McKenna reportedly received and “extremely generous six-figure offer” that may be the richest regarding NIL and revenue sharing in hockey, according to ESPN.
He expects to play just one season in college.
On Tuesday, Gadowsky gushed about McKenna during a 30-minute media session with reporters. Every other question was about the 17-year-old Canadian forward.
“I was fortunate enough to grow up to watch Wayne Gretzky play from Edmonton, and I think one of the things that makes (McKenna) so special is that he is so creative,” Gadowsky said. “His mind is just very different, and there’s no way that I or anybody else on our staff thinks like Gavin does. He is a very, very special, special, special athlete who thinks very differently. And I’m gonna enjoy watching him. By no means am I ever going to talk to him about how his mind creates. That’s him and it’s going to be really fun to watch.”
Penn State opens its season Oct. 3-4 at Arizona State. The Lions will celebrate their Frozen Four appearance and McKenna’s home debut at the Pegula Ice Arena on Oct. 9-10 against Clarkson.
The Lions also will play home non-conference series against Long Island (Oct. 17-18) and Stonehill (Oct. 24-25).
“I’m pumped for the Penn Staters that get to watch this guy,” Gadowsky said.
“He’s so fun to watch because of his physical skill level but also how his mind is able to slow things down and create.”
Penn State will announce its 2025-26 Big Ten schedule at a later date.
Frank Bodani covers Penn State sports for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at fbodani@ydr.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @YDRPennState.
College Sports
Kanewa-Hermelyn Elevated to Head Coach of Women’s Gymnastics Program
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Warde Manuel, the University of Michigan’s Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics, announced Wednesday (July 16) that Maile’ana Kanewa-Hermelyn has been named the head women’s gymnastics coach. Kanewa-Hermelyn has spent seven total seasons with the coaching staff — six as a full-time assistant (2020-25) and one as a volunteer assistant coach […]

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Warde Manuel, the University of Michigan’s Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics, announced Wednesday (July 16) that Maile’ana Kanewa-Hermelyn has been named the head women’s gymnastics coach. Kanewa-Hermelyn has spent seven total seasons with the coaching staff — six as a full-time assistant (2020-25) and one as a volunteer assistant coach (2019).
Kanewa-Hermelyn becomes the seventh head coach in Michigan program history, dating back to 1976, and assumes full control of the U-M women’s gymnastics program following the retirement of 36-year head coach Bev Plocki.
“Maile’ana is an exceptional young coach with a championship pedigree and an unwavering commitment to excellence,” said Manuel. “Over the past six seasons, she has played a pivotal role in our women’s gymnastics program, drawing from her experience as a three-time national champion during her collegiate career to help us win the 2021 national title. Bev has been intentional in mentoring and preparing Maile’ana for this leadership role, and we have been thoughtfully planning this transition together. We are thrilled for Maile’ana to step into the head coach role and confident that she will continue to build upon the tradition of success in our women’s gymnastics program.”
“It’s an absolute honor to lead the University of Michigan Women’s Gymnastics program — a place where excellence is tradition and the block M stands for something bigger than all of us,” said Kanewa-Hermelyn. “I’m committed to continue building a culture rooted in integrity, grit, and joy as well as helping these incredible young women thrive in and out of the gym. I want them to leave here after their four years as powerful and strong women, and leaders ready to take on the world. I am dedicated to not only bettering this team and these athletes, but also our staff and program. We’re here to raise the standard and compete for championships the Michigan way. Let’s Go Blue!”
Kanewa-Hermelyn was the WCGA Assistant Coach of the Year along with Scott Sherman and Lexi Funk following the Wolverines’ national title in 2021 and is a three-time Regional Assistant Coach of the Year, with her first coming in the 2020 season. During her tenure, Michigan earned its first-ever national title in the 2021 season, and has won three Big Ten championships and four Big Ten regular-season titles.
Kanewa-Hermelyn helped coach the Wolverines to their 27th Big Ten title in the 2023 campaign and earned six scores of 198-plus. On the beam, Kanewa-Hermelyn led the Wolverines to a program record 49.625 against both Nebraska and Minnesota and was an integral part of Michigan’s six weeks of ranking No. 1 nationally on floor after choreographing Michigan’s routines. In 2024, Kanewa-Hermelyn’s beam team ranked as high as sixth nationally, while she helped the Wolverines floor squad to a No. 4 ranking and the vault to a No. 23 ranking. During the 2025 season, sophomore Kayli Boozer was the College Gym News Breakthrough Athlete of the Year after breaking into three lineups with the help of Kanewa-Hermelyn.
After the national championship season, the Wolverines topped the national rankings for nine straight weeks to start the 2022 season and continued to set a new standard for Michigan gymnastics. The Wolverines set a program record with a 198.525 at Rutgers, which at the time ranked as the sixth-highest score in NCAA history. In the same meet, U-M set a program record on the vault with a 49.875 — the second highest in NCAA history at the time, which included three straight perfect 10.0s. Michigan also broke its previous floor record, recording a 49.750 at home against Auburn and West Virginia.
In her second season as a full-time assistant coach, she helped Michigan to its first national championship with a program-best 198.2500. The Wolverines eclipsed the 198 mark for the first time in 2021 and ended the season with four scores of 198.000 or higher. U-M also broke the U-M balance beam (49.600) and uneven bars (49.725) records, while notching the second-best score in program history on the vault with a 49.800. The Wolverines finished the regular season ranked in the top 15 in all four events, including leading the nation on the vault, and went into the NCAA Championships ranked second nationally.
Following the 2020 season, she was named the WCGA Northeast Regional Assistant Coach of the Year. U-M won the 2020 Big Ten regular-season title before the postseason was canceled due to COVID-19.
Kanewa-Hermelyn was a gymnast at Oklahoma from 2012-16, and was a part of two national championship teams in 2014 and 2016. She earned All-America honors on both vault and floor in 2014, and finished fourth on vault and as the NCAA runner-up on floor. She was also a two-time Big 12 vault champion (2013, ’14).
As a senior, Kanewa-Hermelyn was a member of the captain’s table for student-athletes. She earned NACGC/W Scholastic All-America honors all four years and was a two-time Academic All-Big 12 selection. She earned the Athletics Council Achievement Award in 2015-16 and graduated from Oklahoma with a bachelor’s degree in human relations in 2016.
Upon graduation, Kanewa-Hermelyn was a student assistant coach at Oklahoma, where she helped coach the team to the third national title in program history.
Kanewa-Hermelyn received her master’s degree in human relations from the University of Oklahoma in May 2018. While in graduate school, she worked as a graduate assistant in athletic development for the Sooners, aiding in fundraising and growing a donor base.
College Sports
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 […]

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.”

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.

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.”
College Sports
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 […]

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.
College Sports
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 […]

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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