PRINCETON, WV (WVNS) – Beginning Friday, August 8, 2025, West Virginia high school athletes can cash in on their name, image, and likeness.

Communities in Schools Greenbrier County holds supply drive at State Fair

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NIL has been a hotly debated topic on the college scene, as schools are finally figuring out how to navigate a world where their athletes can get paid close to what the pros make before they even hit the big leagues.

The Mountain State joined 43 other states where amateurs can strike their own NIL deals. The West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission passed new regulations where eligible middle and high school athletes can make deals with businesses and other entities to build their own brands.

“It could be a cool opportunity for kids in our program to potentially make some money off that, if that is what comes out of it,” said Princeton Senior High School Football Coach Nathan Tanner.

Coach Tanner was not able to offer any other comments on the new NIL rules.

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One of the rules states that no school or school employee, like coaches, interfere or be involved with a student athlete’s use of NIL. Athletes cannot make any reference to the WVSSAC or their schools when they engage in NIL activity. These athletes also cannot promote anything from their NIL deals during team activities. Advertisements of drugs, alcohol, or weapons are not permitted.

There has been push-back on this new rule, as some athletes think the money might taint the high school sports they know and love.

“You cannot really go for the money. It is all about if you if you love the sport. I mean, like me personally, I am not really worried about getting money while I am in high school because I want to have fun and, you know, like make memories and just play the game. I love football. Always being about the love of the game,” said Wyatt Cline, a local high school student athlete.

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On the flip side, others like parent David Robinson, Sr. argue that NIL at the high school level could help student athletes like his son get a head start on their careers and life beyond high school.

“With the NIL just now here in West Virginia, I believe it will help him financially coming into college. But as far as him changing, you got to love the game first in order to get paid,” said Robinson, Sr.

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No matter what side you’re on, NIL has arrived for West Virginia high school sports.

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The former ECHL and Swedish professional player spent four seasons on the coaching staff at Holy Cross under head coach Bill Riga, including the final season as the associate head coach for the Crusaders. Before then, he was an assistant for the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds from 2017-21.

“It was difficult to leave a place as special to me as Holy Cross, but my family and I are very excited to come to Quinnipiac,” Sommer said. “I have heard nothing but great things about Rand, Joe, and Justin, and I look forward to learning from them and continuing upon all the success that they have had.”

Sommer joins the Bobcats with a standout resume at Holy Cross, most recently helping Holy Cross to its first AHA Regular Season title since 2006. The squad also appeared in a pair of AHA title games, also their first two since the 2006 season. 

He mentored at least one player in all three recruiting classes to the AHA All-Rookie team and coached a total of 21 players to the All-Atlantic Hockey teams, including a two-time AHA Scoring Champion, AHA Player of the Year and Hobey Baker finalist.

The teams’ special teams also thrived under Sommer, with the penalty kill finishing top in the nation at 91 percent and the power play finishing ninth in the country at 25 percent.

Quinnipiac will begin its 2025-26 campaign on Oct. 3 when they head to Chestnut Hill to take on Boston College. The home opener will be Oct. 17 when the Bobcats open a two-game series against Maine.

For an inside look at the Quinnipiac men’s ice hockey program, be sure to follow it on social media @QU_MIH or go to gobobcats.com/mih.

DULUTH — Shattuck St. Mary’s forward

Rennick Hendrickson announced his commitment to the Minnesota Duluth men’s hockey program

Wednesday, becoming the first from the high school graduating class of 2027

to join the Bulldogs.

Hockey players entering their junior year of high school became eligible on Aug. 1 to take official visits to schools

and make verbal commitments.

Hendrickson, 16, of Excelsior,

is the son of former Minnesota Wild player and longtime assistant coach

Darby Hendrickson.

Rennick has two older brothers already playing college hockey. His oldest brother,

Mason,

is entering his senior year at NCAA Division III Gustavus Adolphus in 2025-26 while Beckett —

a 20-year-old 2023 Boston Bruins draft pick

— will be a sophomore at Minnesota this fall.

Rennick Hendrickson, at 5-foot-11, 152 pounds, played bantams in Minnetonka before enrolling at Shattuck. He had 10 goals and 23 assists in 54 with Shattuck’s U16 AAA team last season en route to a national championship. Before that, he finished with 11 goals and 34 assists in 57 games with Shattuck’s U15 AAA team in 2023-24.

The Bulldogs now have two from Shattuck, the legendary hockey academy in Faribault,

committed for the future

along with 17-year-old forward

Luke Puchner,

who played on the prep team last season.

UMD is bringing in

a Shattuck alum this season in forward Daniel Shlaine, who last played in Faribault in 2023-24. He spent last season with the Lincoln Stars of the USHL.

The Dubuque Fighting Saints own Rennick Hendrickson’s rights in the USHL.

WILKES-BARRE — Following Monday’s Senate hearing, Sen. Dave Argall said there are many questions about the rapid increase of data centers, as evidenced by the more than 300 people who attended or watched online.

“Why are so many new centers needed? Why locate in Pennsylvania? How could this affect my neighborhood? Our goal today was to answer as many of these questions as we possibly could,” Argall said.

As the development of new data centers accelerates throughout Pennsylvania, Argall, R-Pottsville, and Sen. Rosemary Brown, R-Monroe County, hosted a public hearing of the Senate Majority Policy Committee to review the potential impacts on nearby communities and the economy.

“I have heard from many residents who felt they lacked clear information about data centers and their potential impact on our community,” Brown said. “The hearing addressed that need directly,” said Brown. “I requested this hearing to ensure that reliable, factual information was accessible to our community.”

The hearing gathered economic development organizations, utilities, environmental commissions, municipal associations and other stakeholder groups for a discussion on the benefits and drawbacks of establishing data centers in Pennsylvania.

Energy and water resources

One panel focused on two of the widely cited concerns with operating data centers — the demands on local electrical grids and watersheds.

Christine M. Martin, president of PPL Electric Utilities, shared that summer peak energy demand will double in five to six years because of the growth of data centers.

“In practical terms, we are doubling the energy demand that took more than 100 years to reach,” said Martin.

She noted that infrastructure improvements and legislative changes to maximize the efficiency of the transmission grid are key to ensuring reliable electricity for all.

She also stated that PPL customers may see decreased transmission costs because of new large-load customers.

“Data centers represent a significant opportunity for Pennsylvania, supporting job growth and economic development, and technological advancement,” Martin said. “In addition, these load additions have the potential to drive down costs for all existing customers, while enhancing reliability through infrastructure improvements.”

Martin said Pennsylvania is uniquely positioned to lead the next wave of data center expansion. Our Commonwealth offers a rare combination of natural resources, critical infrastructure, and business use proximity to major population centers.

“Additionally, our state’s skilled workforce and elite research institutions make us a magnet for innovation and talent,” Martin said. “This surge in growth requires a modern, resilient power grid that is ready to meet the needs of Pennsylvanians today and for generations to come.”

Martin said PPL’s investments are about more than just wires and substations — they directly benefit our customers by enhancing reliability, driving down costs and delivering a grid that can power opportunity for households, communities and businesses.

Economic development

Another panel featured employers and economic development organizations.

Merle Madrid, Senior Manager of Public Policy for Amazon Web Services (AWS), discussed AWS’ plans to invest $20 billion and create at least 1,250 new jobs in Pennsylvania.

Madrid said AWS is the cloud computing arm of Amazon.

In June, AWS announced plans to invest $20 billion in Pennsylvania to expand its data center infrastructure supporting artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing technologies.

He said Salem Township in Luzerne County, and Falls Township in Bucks County are the first two communities that have been announced as sites for these future data center campuses. He said additional Pennsylvania communities are under consideration, and we anticipate making those announcements at a later date.

The new high-skilled jobs will range from data center engineers and network specialists, to engineering operations managers, security specialists, and many more technical roles.

In addition to these direct positions, this planned investment is expected to support thousands of local construction jobs and businesses in the data center supply chain, as well as other jobs in the local community.

“We’re constantly innovating our data center designs and operations to reduce their impact on the environment and community, working to power them with carbon-free energy, and making them more energy and water efficient,” Madrid said. “First and foremost, the most efficient watt of energy is the watt you never use. So, you make sure that every level of the infrastructure is being utilized optimally.”

Madrid said AWS’ investment in the new Salem Township data center campus, for example, includes significant financial support for the neighboring Susquehanna nuclear power plant, owned and operated by Talen Energy.

He said the Talen and Amazon relationship will ensure that safe, reliable nuclear energy continues to be generated at Susquehanna for years to come, maintaining its contributions to the local community and supporting Pennsylvania’s energy future while also powering Amazon’s AI innovation commitments in the commonwealth.

Local impact

The final two panels focused on the potential positive and negative impacts data centers could have on nearby communities.

John Yudichak, president of Luzerne County Community College, provided an update on the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges’ work to prepare for the workforce needs that come with new data centers.

“To meet the demands of data center development in Pennsylvania, community colleges are collaborating and combining resources like never before to build a new and historic Technology and Trades Workforce Consortium,” said Yudichak.