UMass men's hockey falls to Western Michigan in NCAA Fargo Regional final
Get Starting Point
A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday.
Enter Email
Sign Up
After failing to capitalize on a power play after UMass forward Aydar Suniev was whistled for boarding, Western Michigan (32-7-1) cashed in when Suniev took another penalty. The Broncos' challenge for a major was successful, and Suniev's night was done when the call was upgraded to a five-minute major and a game misconduct for hitting NCHC player of the year Alex Bump from behind at 18:14 of the second.
Advertisement
The Minutemen, who were the third least penalized team in the NCAA this season, would not only be a man down for the next five minutes, but also without their second leading scorer in Suniev. The sophomore had 20 goals this season, two coming in the 5-4 win over Minnesota in Thursday's semifinal, including the overtime winner.
The Broncos needed just 21 seconds to convert, with Providence College transfer Liam Valente blasting a one-timer from the top of the right circle off a pass from Grant Slukynsky at 18:35. Western Michigan landed the last 10 shots of the period and held a 20-18 edge through 40 minutes.
When the third period resumed, Western Michigan still had 3:14 remaining on the power play and took advantage, grabbing a 2-1 lead when Tim Washe re-directed a shot from Brian Kramer past Michael Hrabal (25 saves) at 2:47.
Advertisement
Less than a minute later, UMass (21-14-5) went on the power play when Western Michigan's Iiro Hakkarainen went off for elbowing. The call was upgraded to a standalone five-minute major for contact to the head, but the Minutemen failed to find the back of the net.
UMass had several opportunities in the closing minutes with Hrabal pulled for the extra skater, but failed to get a shot by Slukynsky as the Broncos held on to clinch their first trip to the Frozen Four in 10 NCAA tournament appearances.
Follow Andrew Mahoney
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Judge Approves Landmark NCAA Settlement, Paving Way for Revenue Sharing
Judge Approves Landmark NCAA Settlement, Paving Way for Revenue Sharing originally appeared on Athlon Sports. A federal judge on Friday approved a historic settlement that will allow colleges to begin directly paying student-athletes, signaling the most significant shift in the history of college sports and effectively dismantling the amateurism model that defined the NCAA for more than a century. Advertisement U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken, who has long presided over high-profile NCAA cases, gave final approval to the House v. NCAA settlement, nearly five years after Arizona State swimmer Grant House and others filed suit seeking to end restrictions on athlete compensation. Under the agreement, schools can distribute up to $20.5 million annually to athletes, beginning as soon as July 1. Additionally, $2.7 billion will be paid out over 10 years to thousands of former athletes. The ruling completes the transition that began with Wilken's earlier decisions, including her 2014 ruling in favor of Ed O'Bannon, and the NCAA's 2021 decision to allow athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness. The new revenue-sharing model pushes even further, professionalizing college athletics and placing much of the power in the hands of the four major conferences. While athletes in high-revenue sports like football and men's basketball stand to benefit significantly with some reportedly landing NIL deals worth more than $10 million, the settlement could reduce opportunities for walk-ons and Olympic sport athletes. In response, Wilken mandated a process to allow athletes cut during early implementation to be reinstated. Related: Kentucky Basketball Beats Cap Proposal With NIL Power Play Key dates include the June 11 launch of the NIL Go portal, a June 15 opt-in deadline for non-defendant schools, and the start of revenue sharing on July 1. Schools must also comply with new roster limits by their sport's season start or by Dec. 1 for winter and spring sports. Advertisement Related: Michigan Running Back's Groundbreaking NIL Deal Redefines College Football Despite the sweeping changes, legal uncertainty remains. Varying state laws and the absence of a federal NIL framework leave room for future litigation. NCAA President Charlie Baker continues to push for national legislation and antitrust protection to stabilize the rapidly evolving landscape. Still, attorneys behind the settlement argue it delivers what athletes have long deserved, which is a share of the billions their efforts generate from TV deals, merchandise, and championships. As the 2025–26 academic year begins, the college sports model will look unlike anything seen before. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
42 minutes ago
- Yahoo
MLB Executive Brian Seeley Named CEO of College Sports Commission
MLB Executive Brian Seeley Named CEO of College Sports Commission originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The landscape of college athletics took a historic turn Friday. With the approval of the House settlement, the news of Bryan Seeley taking over as CEO of the newly formed College Sports Commission followed. Advertisement Seeley, who was Major League Baseball's executive vice president of legal and operations, is expected to play a pivotal role in reshaping the enforcement framework of college sports. Sources told ESPN's Pete Thamel and Jeff Passan that Seeley had been a top target for weeks, and his hiring was formalized following the settlement's approval. He is expected to earn a seven-figure salary in his new role, making him one of the most influential figures in the evolving college athletics model. Seeley brings extensive legal and investigative experience to the position. He led MLB's Department of Investigations since 2014 and later oversaw compliance and security. His resume includes prosecuting federal white-collar crimes as a former assistant U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C., and a law degree from Harvard. The Commission will replace the NCAA as the primary enforcement body for most rules. It will oversee compliance with new regulations surrounding revenue sharing, NIL deals, and roster limits. The NCAA will retain limited oversight on academics and certain other areas, but won't have nearly as much power as it previously had. According to a formal release, Seeley is tasked with building out investigative and enforcement teams, managing operations, and handling stakeholder relationships. He was selected by the commissioners of the Power Four conferences, who praised his integrity and leadership in a joint statement. Advertisement 'Bryan brings unwavering integrity and a wealth of relevant experience,' the commissioners wrote. 'We look forward to his leadership as we transition into this new era of college sports.' The CSC will work alongside partners such as LBi Software and Deloitte. Deloitte will manage the NIL clearinghouse, called NIL Go, a platform designed to verify athlete NIL deals and ensure they are legitimate business agreements rather than recruiting incentives. Related: Judge Approves Landmark NCAA Settlement, Paving Way for Revenue Sharing The enforcement is expected to be faster and more decisive than under the NCAA. Investigations will aim to conclude within 45 days. The CEO will have authority to impose penalties and make final determinations on rule violations. Advertisement With a fast-approaching timeline, direct revenue sharing with athletes will begin July 1. Related: Michigan Running Back's Groundbreaking NIL Deal Redefines College Football Seeley's leadership arrives at a critical moment with college sports entering an uncharted territory. The hope is the CSC can restore order to what has been widely referred to as the 'wild, wild West' of college athletics. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
3 hours ago
- USA Today
Texas WCWS final win sets ESPN record with most-watched College softball game ever
Texas WCWS final win sets ESPN record with most-watched College softball game ever ESPN reported that the decisive Game 3 of the championship series averaged 2.4 million viewers and peaked at 2.7 million, making it the most-watched NCAA softball game ever. The Texas Longhorns made history at the 2025 Women's College World Series, capturing their first-ever national championship and setting new television viewership records across all three games of the finals. ESPN reported that the decisive Game 3 of the championship series averaged 2.4 million viewers and peaked at 2.7 million, making it the most-watched NCAA softball game ever. Games 1 and 2 also broke records, each averaging 2.1 million viewers—the highest ever for the opening two games of a WCWS final. Game 1 peaked at 2.8 million viewers, while Game 2 reached a peak of 2.6 million. The all-Texas matchup between the Longhorns and Texas Tech Red Raiders marked the first time since 2004 that both championship participants hailed from the same state, reviving the storied rivalry from their Big 12 days. The series spotlighted a marquee pitching showdown between Texas ace Teagan Kavan and Texas Tech's NiJaree Canady. Kavan, who entered the finals with a perfect 3-0 record against Canady, extended her dominance to 5-0 after two more victories in the championship series. Fans were treated to a dramatic three-game set. Game 1 delivered a classic pitchers' duel, featuring a controversial obstruction call and a bizarre game-winning hit for Texas in the sixth inning. The Red Raiders bounced back in Game 2, capitalizing on Texas errors to force a decisive Game 3. In the winner-take-all finale, the Longhorns erupted for five runs in the first inning, forcing Canady out of the game. A grand slam sealed Texas' commanding victory and their first national title in program history.
