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Twelve Skidmore student-athletes earn CSC Academic All-District® At-Large Team honors

Story Links SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Twelve Skidmore College student-athletes from five different teams were selected to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District® At-Large Team as announced on Tuesday. On the men’s side, Skidmore was represented by Will Dow-Kenny, Zach Lindewirth, and Danny Magnuson from men’s hockey, as well as David […]

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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Twelve Skidmore College student-athletes from five different teams were selected to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District® At-Large Team as announced on Tuesday. On the men’s side, Skidmore was represented by Will Dow-Kenny, Zach Lindewirth, and Danny Magnuson from men’s hockey, as well as David Koffler, Collin Kuester, and Marty McFadden from men’s lacrosse. Skidmore also had six honorees from women’s teams including Maddie Aho from women’s rowing, Victoria Bodnar, Kayla Hassett, and CC Wetter from field hockey, as well as Annie Campbell and Lily Schwartzman from women’s lacrosse.
 
The 2024-25 Academic All-District® Men’s and Women’s At-Large teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances in competition and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes At-Large honorees in five divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA, and the College Division.
 
The Division II and III CSC Academic All-America® programs are partially financially supported by the NCAA Division II and III national governance structures to assist CSC with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2024-25 Divisions II and III Academic All-America® programs. The NAIA CSC Academic All-America® program is partially financially supported through the NAIA governance structure. The College Division Academic All-America® program is being financially supported by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) governance structure.



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Myers: Big money signings the latest twist in college hockey’s new world – InForum

At the 2023 NCAA Frozen Four in Tampa, Fla., Gophers coach Bob Motzko took questions before the tournament with future NHLers like Logan Cooley, Ryan Johnson and Jimmy Snuggerud flanking him. On that day, just over two years ago, Motzko was asked about how name, image and likeness money was affecting other college sports and […]

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At the 2023 NCAA Frozen Four in Tampa, Fla., Gophers coach Bob Motzko took questions before the tournament with future NHLers like Logan Cooley, Ryan Johnson and Jimmy Snuggerud flanking him. On that day, just over two years ago, Motzko was asked about how name, image and likeness money was affecting other college sports and how it might affect NCAA hockey in the future.

“Hockey is behind a little bit in the conversation,” Motzko said, perhaps inadvertently quoting Minnesota music legend Bob Dylan in his answer. “I think it’s going to be a conversation that’s going to heat up more and more in hockey over the next couple of years. We just don’t have that many teams compared to football and basketball. But it’s starting to heat up. And there are more discussions. You’re hearing million-dollar deals for football and basketball. Our players get burritos. But I think times are changing.”

It’s 27 months later. And the times have changed in a big, big way.

Gavin McKenna, a Canadian forward with eye-popping offensive numbers in major junior hockey, is 17 years old and projected by many experts to be the top overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. Last week, he was reportedly offered $250,000 to attend Michigan State in the fall and skate for a Spartans team that returns one of the nation’s top goalies in Trey Augustine. The Spartans are a not-overly-risky bet to win the Big Ten’s first NCAA hockey title since an underdog Spartans team did it in 2007.

After visiting campus and mulling their official bid, McKenna handed Michigan State a polite ‘No thank you,’ and instead opted to skate for conference rival Penn State next season. That decision came after the Nittany Lions, who are coming off the program’s first Frozen Four appearance, were able to reportedly triple Michigan State’s monetary offer.

Over the past 15 years, the money game is the fourth seismic shift to hit the world of college hockey, which involves roughly 60 teams from Alaska in the West to Maine in the East and as far South as Arizona State’s rapidly emerging program.

The first came in 2010 when Terry Pegula, the billionaire owner of the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres and the NFL’s Buffalo Bills, gave more than $100 million to his alma mater, Penn State, to build an arena that facilitated the Nittany Lions’ move from club to Division I hockey. That made for a half-dozen Big Ten schools with hockey programs (with the Nittany Lions joining Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Ohio State and Wisconsin). In short order, the Big Ten became the first Power Five conference to include hockey, and long-standing, hockey-only conferences like the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and the original Central Collegiate Hockey Association either disbanded or radically changed their membership.

The next two changes came in the past five years, as NIL meant, for the first time, college athletes could get paid for the use of their name, image and likeness without losing their NCAA eligibility.

While football and basketball players were receiving six-figure deals from the start, the immediate impact on hockey was players hosting summer hockey camps, websites giving players a few hoodies in exchange for the use of an athlete’s name, and the aforementioned free burritos, with the Mexican chain Chipotle signing several Gophers skaters to endorse their food.

With the money offered to top players skyrocketing, there seems to be a movement afoot in Dinkytown to get the Gophers more involved in that game. Last month, social media posts were sent and a bare-bones website went live announcing the Golden Helmet Collective, which is lacking detail but seems to be the start of a hockey-specific effort to raise NIL money for future Gophers.

The opening of the transfer portal allowed players to move from one program to another without having to sit out or lose eligibility. This brought de facto free agency to college hockey, where smaller schools are now routinely losing their top players to bigger schools after a year or two.

One coach in Atlantic Hockey America, which is home to mid-major programs like Air Force, Bentley, Mercyhurst and Robert Morris, compared their conference to a shopping center, where many of the six players named to the AHA all-rookie team one season are likely to be playing in the Big Ten or Hockey East by the time they’re sophomores.

The Gophers have been sporadic but effective users of the transfer portal, bringing in players like NHL first-rounder Matthew Wood from Connecticut and goalie Liam Souliere, who backstopped much of last season’s Big Ten title run, from Penn State.

In November 2024, a lawsuit prompted the NCAA to allow players from Canadian major junior leagues to maintain college hockey eligibility, which had not been the case for the past four decades or so. Because major junior players often receive a stipend of a few hundred dollars per month for living expenses, they were long considered professionals in the eyes of the NCAA. So, in 2012, when current Minnesota Wild forward Ryan Hartman, who was committed to play college hockey at Miami of Ohio, went to play for a major junior team instead, his NCAA eligibility disappeared.

The opening up of major junior players to college recruitment has meant a windfall of new talent available to NCAA programs. McKenna is just the latest player from the Canadian leagues to pack for a home on campus in the fall, with Wild prospect Ryder Ritchie (Boston University), defenseman Benjamin Vigneault (Bemidji State), defenseman Henry Mews (Michigan), left winger Blake Montgomery (Wisconsin), defenseman Ethan Armstrong (Minnesota State Mankato), left winger Nathan Piling (St. Thomas), defenseman Grayden Siepmann (Minnesota Duluth) and center Cayden Lindstrom (Michigan State) all moving from major junior to college hockey in the fall.

North Dakota, which is a program in transition after a coaching change in the spring, landed two of the top players from the Victoria (B.C.) Royals, center Cole Rischny and defenseman Keaton Verhoeff.

McKenna made his future Nittany Lions announcement live on ESPN SportsCenter, in a move reminiscent of LeBron James and his infamous, nationally-televised “Decision” from 2010. While some decried the big-money signing as an omen of college hockey’s demise, others noted that having the sport covered on national TV in the middle of the summer, and attracting the top young talent on ice, at least for one season, is a net positive, even as the sport goes through yet another recent change.

Whatever your personal opinion, it’s clear that the future of college hockey has arrived. And for programs large and small to attract and keep the game’s best players, more than burritos will be required.

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Leanne Wong joins Gators gymnastics as Student Assistant Coach

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) – In the beginning of July, Leanne Wong repeated as College Sports Communicators Academic All-American and was named the Gators Student Assistant Coach on Thursday. In 2025, Wong claimed one of nine multiple 10.0s in the nation, led the Gators with 27 event wins and was one of four in the nation […]

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) – In the beginning of July, Leanne Wong repeated as College Sports Communicators Academic All-American and was named the Gators Student Assistant Coach on Thursday.

In 2025, Wong claimed one of nine multiple 10.0s in the nation, led the Gators with 27 event wins and was one of four in the nation to earn maximum of five 2025 Women’s Collegiate Association regular-season All-American honors.

After she graduated magna cum laude in May 2025 with a bachelor’s degree in Health Education and Behavior, the program announced her return on the coaching staff.

RELATED: SEC Media Days: Gator QB Lagway looks at the pressure to win as a “privilege.”

Following another NCAA Championship run and a 22-7 overall record last season, Florida added 10-time All-American eMjae Frazier to the 2026 roster.

Frazier coming from the University of California the last three seasons. In addition to her 10-All-America honors while with Cal, Frazier earned a total of 11 all-conference honors across the Pac-12 (2023, 2024) and Atlantic Coast Conference (2025). 

Tune into TV20 Sports on WCJB TV20 ABC daily at 6:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. with Jake Rongholt and Olivia Eisenhauer with more here.

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Six Minnesotans named to Hlinka Gretzky Cup Selection Camp Roster

Thirty-eight players – including 20 forwards, 14 defensemen and four goaltenders — have been invited by USA Hockey to its Hlinka Gretzky Cup Selection Camp, set to take place from July 28-August 3, at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan. Six players are natives of Minneosta and one is form Hudson and one from Fargo […]

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Thirty-eight players – including 20 forwards, 14 defensemen and four goaltenders — have been invited by USA Hockey to its Hlinka Gretzky Cup Selection Camp, set to take place from July 28-August 3, at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan.

Six players are natives of Minneosta and one is form Hudson and one from Fargo (see roster below).

The players are looking to earn a spot on the final 23-player U.S. Under-18 Men’s Select Team that will compete at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Brno, Czechia, and Trenčín, Slovakia, from August 11-16.

To view the complete 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Selection Camp roster, click HERE. For more information on the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, click HERE.

U.S. UNDER-18 MEN’S SELECT TEAM STAFF ANNOUNCED

Rod Braceful (Detroit, Mich./USA Hockey) is serving as general manager of the U.S. Under-18 Men’s Select Team with Marc Boxer (Hancock, Mich./USA Hockey) and Tony Gasparini (Sioux Falls, S.D./Sioux Falls Stampede) assisting with player personnel.

The U.S. coaching staff is led by head coach Kevin Porter (Plymouth, Mich./USA Hockey) with associate coach Ben Syer (Princeton, N.J./Princeton University) and assistant coaches Cody Chupp (Big Rapids, Mich./University of Minnesota Duluth) and Joe Howe (Plymouth, Minn./Yale University).

The staff also includes team leader Parker Metz (Kindred, N.D./USA Hockey), equipment managers Nate LaPoint (Stoughton, Wis./University of Wisconsin) and Marcus Allen (Angola, N.Y./Niagara University), team physician Dr. Michael Beasley (Omaha, Neb./Northeastern University), athletic trainer Phil Varney (Seattle, Wash./Seattle Kraken) and communications coordinator Francis Forte (Independence Township, N.J./USA Hockey).

Camp Roster

Nathan Bienstock D 5-9 (175) 175 (79) 5/22/08 R Hillsborough, N.J. NJ Rockets 16U Quinnipiac University (ECAC Hockey)
Nick Bogas D 6-0 (183) 175 (79) 7/23/08 L Bloomfield Hills, Mich. Waterloo Blackhawks (USHL) Michigan State University (Big Ten)
Sean Burick D 6-8 (203) 205 (93) 1/9/08 R San Clemente, Calif. Shattuck St. Mary’s Prep University of Denver (NCHC)
Henry Chmiel D 6-0 (183) 212 (96) 2/29/08 L Woodbury, Minn. Shattuck St. Mary’s 16U Arizona State University (NCHC)
Gavin Clark F 6-2 (188) 180 (82) 4/22/08 R Mission Viejo, Calif. Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 16U Merrimack College (Hockey East)
Noah Davidson F 6-3 (191) 213 (97) 11/1/08 L Irvine, Calif. Shattuck St. Mary’s Prep Boston College (Hockey East)
Nicholas Desiderio F 6-1 (185) 190 (86) 6/16/08 L North Caldwell, N.J. NJ Rockets 16U Providence College (Hockey East)
Kaiden Donia D 6-6 (198) 190 (86) 1/16/08 R Townsend, Mass. Groton School
Nolan Duskocy F 6-2 (188) 190 (86) 1/26/08 R Ellington, Conn. BK Selects 16U University of Massachuestts (Hockey East)
Jimmy Egan F 6-2 (188) 185 (84) 3/19/08 L Mahtomedi, Minn. Sioux Falls Power 16U Arizona State University (NCHC)
Colin Feeley D 6-7 (201) 190 (86) 3/7/08 L Wyckoff, N.J. Salisbury School Harvard University (ECAC Hockey)
Ryder Fetterolf G 6-1 (185) 175 (79) 1/5/08 L Sewickley, Pa. Gilmour Academy Prep Penn State University (Big Ten)
Brody Gillespie F 6-1 (185) 191 (87) 2/16/08 L Vancouver, Wash. Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll F 6-1 (185) 185 (84) 11/26/08 R Midway, Utah Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
Jake Gustafson F 6-4 (193) 185 (84) 4/3/08 R San Jose, Calif. Shattuck St. Mary’s 16U Colorado College (NCHC)
Levi Harper D 5-11 (180) 175 (79) 10/3/08 R Tampa, Fla. Shattuck St. Mary’s 16U
Caden Harvey F 6-1 (185) 180 (82) 2/13/08 R Beaver, Pa. Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 16U Penn State University (Big Ten)
Aidan Hesse G 6-2 (188) 178 (81) 2/23/08 L Saint Paul, Minn. Sioux Falls Power 16U
Jack Hextall F 6-0 (183) 185 (84) 3/23/08 R Rolling Meadows, Ill. Youngstown Phantoms (USHL) Michigan State University (Big Ten)
Nikita Klepov F 5-11 (180) 165 (75) 6/27/08 L Deerfield Beach, Fla. Sioux City Musketeers (USHL) Michigan State University (Big Ten)
Brady Knowling G 6-5 (196) 205 (93) 3/9/08 L Chicago, Ill. U.S. National U17 Team
George Komadoski D 6-3 (191) 200 (91) 8/3/08 R St. Louis, Mo. Mount St. Charles 16U
Leo Laschon D 6-2 (188) 200 (91) 3/19/08 L Pittsburgh, Pa. Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 16U Northeastern University (Hockey East)
Will McLaughlin D 6-2 (188) 175 (79) 3/10/08 L Hudson, Wis. Drumheller Dragons (AJHL) Colorado College (NCHC)
Kade Meyer D 5-9 (175) 181 (82) 11/5/08 L Minocqua, Wis. Little Caesars 16U
Nicklas Nelson D 6-1 (185) 173 (78) 8/11/08 L Monticello, Minn. Monticello High School
Zaide Penner D 6-0 (183) 183 (83) 7/8/08 R Fargo, N.D. Northstar Christian 16U
Luke Puchner F 5-10 (178) 184 (83) 1/2/08 L New Germany, Minn. Shattuck St. Mary’s Prep University of Minnesota Duluth (NCHC)
Brooks Rogowski F 6-6 (197) 228 (103) 6/24/08 R Brighton. Mich. Oshawa Generals (OHL)
Joseph Salandra F 5-10 (178) 190 (86) 2/15/08 R Pleasantville, N.Y. Brunswick School Harvard University (ECAC Hockey)
Rowen Sang F 6-2 (188) 183 (83) 3/3/08 L Skillman, N.J. Kimball Union Academy
Kaenan Smith G 6-2 (188) 200 (91) 7/21/08 L Duluth, Minn. Sioux Falls Power 16U
Cooper Soller F 5-11 (180) 172 (78) 8/11/08 R Los Angeles, Calif. Shattuck St. Mary’s 16U
Alofa Tunoa Ta’amu D 6-2 (188) 220 (100) 5/28/08 L Encinitas, Calif. Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
Trevor Theuer F 5-11 (180) 190 (86) 2/12/08 L Clarkston, Mich. Oakland Junior Grizzlies 16U Miami University (NCHC)
Kalder Varga F 6-0 (183) 180 (82) 6/24/08 R Geneva, Ill. Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
Jaxon Williams F 5-10 (178) 165 (75) 7/3/08 R Cary, N.C. Carolina Jr. Hurricanes 16U
Blake Zielinski F 6-0 (183) 186 (84) 3/5/08 L Berlin, N.J. Des Moines Bucaneers (USHL) Providence College (Hockey East)

Team Staff

General Manager Rod Braceful Detroit, Mich.
Player Personnel Marc Boxer Hancock, Mich.
Player Personnel Tony Gasparini Sioux Falls, S.D.
Head Coach Kevin Porter Plymouth, Mich.
Associate Coach Ben Syer Princeton, N.J.
Assistant Coach Cody Chupp Big Rapids, Mich.
Assistant Coach Joe Howe Plymouth, Minn.
Team Leader Parker Metz Kindred, N.D.
Team Doctor Dr. Michael Beasley Omaha, Neb.
Athletic Trainer Phil Varney Seattle, Wash.
Equipment Manager Nate LaPoint Stoughton, Wis.
Equipment Manager Marcus Allen Angola, N.Y.
Communications Coordinator Francis Forte Independence Township, N.J.

ABOUT BRACEFUL

Rod Braceful is serving as general manager for the U.S. Under-18 Men’s Select Team for the first time in 2025, after serving as the director of player personnel for the team in 2024 and 2022.

He’s also held the assistant general manager role for the U.S. Under-18 Men’s National Team at the 2025 and 2024 IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship events and was a player development staff member for the championship-winning U.S. Junior Select Team at the 2022 World Junior A Challenge.

Braceful, a native of Detroit, currently serves as the director of player personnel for USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program, returning to the program in 2023 after a stint as assistant director of player personnel from 2018-21.

Prior to returning to the NTDP, he was a scout for the Chicago Blackhawks for two seasons (2021-23). He also was the director of scouting for the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL (2017-18) and a scout for the Sioux Falls Stampede (2015-17) in the same league.

ABOUT PORTER

Kevin Porter, who currently serves as an assistant coach with USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program, will make his debut as the head coach of the U.S. Under-18 Men’s Select Team.

Prior to his first season as an assistant coach with the NTDP, Porter spent the previous four seasons with the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, helping the team to a pair of Calder Cup playoff appearances.

As a player, Porter played 12 professional seasons with four NHL and five AHL teams, winning the Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016. He also played four seasons with the University of Michigan, winning the Hobey Baker Memorial Award in his senior season in 2007-08.

On the international stage, Porter represented the U.S. at two IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championships, winning silver in 2004, and played for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program from 2002-04. He also competed for Team USA at two IIHF World Junior Championships, serving as captain of the 2006 U.S. National Junior Team.

ABOUT SYER

Ben Syer, head coach for Princeton University’s men’s hockey team, will serve on the coaching staff of the U.S. Under-18 Men’s Select Team for the first time in 2025.

With over 25 years of NCAA Division I hockey coaching experience, Syer recently concluded his first season with Princeton. Prior to his time behind the Tigers bench, he spent 13 seasons, 12 of them as associate head coach, at Cornell University from 2011-2024. He was also associate head coach and director of recruiting at Quinnipiac University from 1999-2011.

His time with Cornell featured seven Ivy League championships and three ECAC Hockey regular-season titles, along with one ECAC Hockey tournament championship in 2024. During his time with the Big Red, Cornell made seven NCAA Tournament appearances.

ABOUT CHUPP

Cody Chupp, assistant men’s hockey coach at the University of Minnesota Duluth, is serving as an assistant coach for the U.S. Under-18 Men’s Select Team for the first time in 2025.

Chupp, who recently concluded his third season as an assistant at UMD, brings 12 years of coaching experience to the U.S. Under-18 Men’s Select Team’s staff. After beginning his career at Utica College (2013-14), Chupp spent three seasons as an assistant coach of the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL (2014-17).

The Big Rapids, Michigan, native also served as the head coach for the USHL’s Lincoln Stars from 2017-20. After his tenure in Lincoln, Chupp spent two years (2020-22) as an assistant coach for the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the USHL before landing in Duluth.

Chupp played four seasons at Ferris State University before suiting up for the AHL’s Texas Stars and ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers as a professional.

ABOUT HOWE

Joe Howe, assistant coach for Yale University’s men’s hockey team, is serving as an assistant coach for the U.S. Under-18 Men’s Select Team for the first time in 2025.

Howe served as an assistant coach for the U.S. Under-17 Men’s Select Team that won the 2024 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament.

The Plymouth, Minnesota, native began his coaching career in 2015-16 at the University of Denver as a volunteer assistant. He was elevated to director of hockey operations in 2017-18 before accepting a role at the University of Alaska Fairbanks as an assistant coach, a role he held for three years (2018-21) before joining Yale prior to the 2021-22 season.

As a player, Howe spent four seasons with Colorado College before embarking on a professional career that featured stints in the ECHL and AHL.



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Urban Meyer Shoots Down Deion Sanders’s Plea for an NIL Cap

Deion Sanders was one of the many coaches to speak to the media this week as football season is fast-approaching. Sanders, entering his third season at Colorado, suggested that college football might need a salary cap on NIL to even the playing field for all schools. Urban Meyer, Mark Ingram II, and Rob Stone discussed […]

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Deion Sanders was one of the many coaches to speak to the media this week as football season is fast-approaching. Sanders, entering his third season at Colorado, suggested that college football might need a salary cap on NIL to even the playing field for all schools.

Urban Meyer, Mark Ingram II, and Rob Stone discussed Sanders’s comments from Big 12 media day on the the latest The Triple Option podcast. The former Ohio State coach simply dismissed what Sanders had to say as more of the same conversation has surrounded college football for quite some time.

“I could care less,” Meyer said. “This is I think the 780th time we’ve talked about this. It will never happen. It will never happen because Colorado is not the same as Ohio State and Alabama and big market cities that have alumni that are willing to do that, but in the perfect world you’d like it to be like the NFL, but it’s not. It’s like Major League Baseball. And we said this over and over again. You’ve got the starting left fielder of the Dodgers, uh, left side of the infield making more than most major league teams. That’s going to happen.”

Ingram jumped in to confirm that Meyer was talking about Shohei Ohtani while Rob Stone pointed out that Big 12 preseason favorite and their huge NIL war chest was not asking for a salary cap.

So don’t expect any sympathy for Coach Prime. If he wants to compete with the big boys, he’s going to have to figure out a way to spend like the big boys. Or take a job with one of the actual big boys. Down a Heisman winner and the only starting QB Sanders has ever known at Colorado, it’s something worth watching as the season goes on.

More College Football on Sports Illustrated



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TSU hockey begins Inaugural Season in 2026-27

TSU Hockey is set to kick off its first season in 2026-27. The launch of Tennessee State University’s historic men’s hockey program will shift to the 2026-27 season. The decision, made in collaboration with the National Hockey League (NHL); the Nashville Predators; and College Hockey, Inc., underscores a shared commitment to building a sustainable and […]

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TSU Hockey is set to kick off its first season in 2026-27.

The launch of Tennessee State University’s historic men’s hockey program will shift to the 2026-27 season. The decision, made in collaboration with the National Hockey League (NHL); the Nashville Predators; and College Hockey, Inc., underscores a shared commitment to building a sustainable and competitive program from day one.

The announcement coincides with a $250,000 grant from the NHL/National Hockey League Players Association (NHLPA) Industry Growth Fund and continued support from the Nashville Predators. TSU remains poised to become the first Historically Black College or University (HBCU) to sponsor NCAA Division I men’s ice hockey.

“Working closely with the NHL and the Predators, we agree that an additional year will provide the program with the time and resources it needs to launch at full strength and with long-term financial success in mind,” said TSU Interim President Dwayne Tucker.

The extra preparation period will focus on recruiting, facility planning, staff development, and fundraising efforts. It also aligns with a broader vision to grow the sport of hockey in diverse communities.

“We continue to look forward to helping to make the Division I hockey dream a reality at Tennessee State,” said Bill Wickett, ‘chief marketing officer’ of the Nashville Predators. “We applaud university leadership, led by interim President Tucker, for its desire to ensure that when the Tigers step on the ice for the first time, they are doing it for a long time, and we pledge to walk hand-in-hand with that leadership in making it happen.”

The NHL and the NHLPA Industry Growth Fund have been catalysts for the historic launch of TSU hockey. From funding the initial feasibility study to providing seed funding that is attracting even greater investment, the IGF exemplifies how bold, innovative initiatives can grow the game and expand hockey’s reach into new communities.

“Deferring the inaugural season of TSU Tigers hockey to 2026-27 is the right step to build a foundation worthy of the university,” said Kevin Westgarth, NHL vice president of Hockey Development & Strategic Collaboration. “TSU has faced challenges before and always met them and come back stronger, and we expect hockey to be the latest chapter of that story. We have faith in President Tucker’s vision and look forward to adding new names to the TSU Athletics history alongside legends like Olympic Gold medalist Wilma Rudolph and NBA Champion Dick Barnett. Hopefully, we’ll see an ex-Tiger raise the Stanley Cup one day, not too far in the future.”

College Hockey, Inc. has provided key support throughout the process, beginning with its initial feasibility study in 2021. Its continued guidance will help ensure TSU’s successful transition into NCAA Division I hockey.

“College Hockey, Inc. remains fully supportive of Tennessee State’s commitment to adding men’s ice hockey to its athletics program,” said Sean Hogan, ‘executive director’ of College Hockey, Inc. “We’re excited to work closely with TSU as it prepares to launch and to see the impact this historic initiative will have on both the university and the growth of college hockey.”

TSU’s inaugural season is now set for Fall 2026. In the meantime, preparations will continue through the upcoming academic year, including community engagement, donor initiatives, and program development.

For more information or to support TSU hockey, visit .



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Arkansas coach Sam Pittman says House settlement provides level NIL playing field in competitive SEC

Associated Press ATLANTA (AP) — Sam Pittman says a $2.8 billion antitrust settlement that went into effect this month levels the college football playing field in a good way for his Arkansas team. Pittman said Arkansas now has a chance to compete on more even terms with other Southeastern Conference powers like Georgia, Alabama and […]

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ATLANTA (AP) — Sam Pittman says a $2.8 billion antitrust settlement that went into effect this month levels the college football playing field in a good way for his Arkansas team.

Pittman said Arkansas now has a chance to compete on more even terms with other Southeastern Conference powers like Georgia, Alabama and Texas. Pittman said Thursday at SEC media days his program previously dealt with a financial disadvantage against the schools with more established name, image and likeness collectives since NIL payments began in 2022.

According to the terms of the House settlement, each school now can share up to about $20.5 million with their athletes.

“Financially with revenue sharing I think we are finally back on even keel with everybody, which we weren’t,” said Pittman, whose team finished 7-6 in 2024. “If I was going to make an excuse, it would be financially is why we haven’t done quite as well. … But I think now with it being even, look out, the Razorbacks are coming.”

Pittman and most other coaches brought seniors and graduate players to represent their teams at SEC media days, which concluded on Thursday. Pittman brought two 2021 recruits and a transfer, but Arkansas could have difficulty finding seniors next year from his original 2022 signing class because many members of that class have transferred.

Pittman, whose Razorbacks have earned bowl bids in four of his five seasons, said players have different reasons for transferring but many were lured away from Arkansas by more attractive NIL packages at other schools. When asked about the 2022 class, Pittman said, “Here’s what it’s not because of: the way they’re treated, because of the way they’re developed, because of the way they’re taught.”

“That’s not the reason. It could be playing time. It could be finances. Probably the majority of it is finances.”

The House settlement era began on July 1.

The enforcement of the House settlement is still being worked out as the new College Sports Commission has informed athletic directors in letters last week it was rejecting payments to players from collectives created only to pay players instead of as payment for name, likeness and image.

Some seniors at SEC media days said NIL payments and the transfer portal have contributed to their decisions to complete their eligibility instead of leaving school early to pursue opportunities in the NFL.

“I would most definitely say so,” Missouri offensive lineman Connor Tollison said. “Obviously, you know, you have a chance to make some money these days. … With the transfer portal, if you don’t have a necessarily a good opportunity at this place you’re at, you have the chance to go somewhere else and get a fresh start. It wasn’t necessarily something I experienced to my college career, but I’ve seen it. You know, it works for plenty of players. So yeah, I think it’s good for the players.”

When asked if NIL makes it easier for players to complete their eligibility, Kentucky coach Mark Stoops, coming off a 4-8 season, said, “Listen, we all love our players, whether they’re one year in our program, six months, or four years.”

Linebacker Alex Afari, defensive back Jordan Lovett and tight end Josh Kattus were the seniors who accompanied Stoops to Atlanta.

“Of course I love making money from name, image and likeness,” Lovett said. “But I love football first. You know, football was my first love. So I play for the game, not for money.”

Lovett added his primary motivation for returning was to earn his first win over Georgia.

“It’s the big part of college football now because some dudes just make decisions off, you know, the financial stuff,” Lovett said. “I love football. … I still haven’t, you know, beat Georgia yet. You know, Georgia’s one of my goals.”

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AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football





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