Amid the relentless churn of the NCAA transfer portal, Drew Pyne has made an anomalous decision.
Pyne is a former quarterback at Notre Dame and most recently Arizona State who entered the NCAA transfer portal on Dec. 1. He told ESPN on Wednesday that he’s enrolling back at Notre Dame for a semester this spring in order to get a degree from the school, where he attended from 2020-2022 and left one semester short of graduation.
Pyne said he needs 15 credits to get his degree in American Studies and a minor business economics. The decision is notable because it’s a rare academic-forward decision made in college athletics. Pyne won’t play football at Notre Dame this semester and will finish up his degree as a conventional student.
“I’ve decided to return to Notre Dame to earn my degree and finish what I started,” Pyne told ESPN. “It means I will fulfill a lifelong dream, and be part of that community forever, which was always very important to me.”
Pyne will then finish his football career after this semester at a destination that’s not yet determined. He plans to enroll at a new school in June.
Pyne, who battled injuries at ASU and played in just two games this year, expects to have three years of eligibility remaining after his transfer. By procuring his degree, he’s also able to transfer and be eligible immediately without a waiver, as this would mark the second football transfer of his career.
He also prioritized the value of a Notre Dame degree enough to return to campus and be sure that happened. He told ESPN on Wednesday that he’s met with both academic and athletic officials at the school and is appreciative of how welcoming they’ve been.
“We are thrilled with Drew’s decision to return to Notre Dame to complete his degree,” Notre Dame athletic director Swarbrick told ESPN. “Drew has always been a great fit with the values of Notre Dame so we are especially pleased that his degree will come from here.”
Pyne went 8-2 as a starting quarterback during his career at Notre Dame, including a 4-1 record against Top 25 teams.
Pyne is a former ESPN300 recruit from the Class of 2020 who played well for Notre Dame in 2022. He completed 64.6% of his passes and set a school record with 15 consecutive completions against BYU.
He entered summer camp as the frontrunner to be Arizona State’s starter this summer, but injuries derailed that opportunity during camp. He lost his only start at ASU this season, which came against USC on Sept. 23. He got injured in camp and then again in that game on Sept. 23, which was the last time he played for the Sun Devils this season.
Against the Trojans, Pyne threw for 221 yards and completed 21-of-36 passes, including a pair of touchdowns.
There could be another former fellow Irish quarterback on campus not playing football, as Tyler Buchner entered the transfer portal for men’s lacrosse. Inside Lacrosse has reported that Buchner plans to enroll back at Notre Dame and join Notre Dame for the 2024 season.
Tyler Johnson has announced his retirement after playing 13 NHL seasons and winning the Stanley Cup twice with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Johnson called it a career in a lengthy message posted on social media Monday. Johnson had battled injuries in recent years and is set to turn 35 on July 29.
“As a short kid from a small town, I saw my chances of playing in the NHL as very slim,” Johnson wrote on Instagram. “But my family — my parents, Ken and Debbie, and my grandparents — believed in me when doubt clouded my mind. Their unwavering faith turned that dream into reality.”
Listed at 5-foot-8 and 191 pounds, Johnson won at just about ever level, capturing the Western Hockey League and Memorial Cup championships in 2008 with his hometown Spokane Chiefs and the Calder Cup championship with Norfolk of the American Hockey League in 2012.
The NHL brought more success, as he skated in 863 regular-season and playoff games since debuting in the league in 2013, putting up 498 points. Johnson was part of the Lightning’s core when they reached the final in 2015 and helped them hoist the Cup back to back in 2020 and ’21.
Johnson finished with Chicago, playing three seasons with the Blackhawks, and Boston, signing with the Bruins early last season following his training camp tryout.
“After a lifetime devoted to hockey, I’m ready for what’s next,” Johnson said. “This moment is bittersweet, but I leave the game with no regrets.”
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Mammoth re-signed center Jack McBain to a five-year contract worth $21.25 million on Monday.
McBain will count $4.25 million against the salary cap through the 2029-30 NHL season, which was announced a little more than 24 hours since the team elected salary arbitration with the restricted free agent forward.
“He is a big, strong, physical player who competes hard on a nightly basis and brings a gritty toughness to our group,” general manager Bill Armstrong said. “Jack is an important part of the championship-caliber team we are building, and we look forward to having him back on our roster for the foreseeable future.”
McBain, 25, is coming off setting a career high with 27 points and playing all 82 games. He was one of six players to skate in every game of the organization’s first season in Salt Lake City.
“Jack’s versatility as a player, his care for his teammates and his demonstrated willingness to do whatever it takes to win, are all critical elements to our future team success,” president of hockey operations Chris Armstrong said.
McBain has 82 points in 241 games with the franchise, which moved to Utah from Arizona. Since debuting in April 2022, he ranks third in the league with 832 hits.
Cam York and the Philadelphia Flyers agreed to terms Monday on a five-year contract worth $25.75 million, with re-signing the restricted free agent defenseman completing perhaps the team’s last important piece of offseason business.
York, 25, will count $5.15 million against the salary cap through the 2029-30 NHL season. That price could turn out to be a bargain with the upper limit rising from $88 million this past season to $113.5 million by 2027-28.
“Cam has been a workhorse for our team over the last few seasons,” general manager Danny Briere said. “We’re excited by his development and look forward to his continued growth and emergence as a young leader within our group.”
The Flyers are trying to shift from rebuilding to contending, and York was the final player on the roster without a contract. They acquired Trevor Zegras in a trade from Anaheim last month and signed fellow center Christian Dvorak and backup goaltender Dan Vladar on the first day of free agency.
York, the 14th pick in the 2019 draft, has skated nearly 21 minutes a game so far in his pro career, all with Philadelphia. He has 77 points in 235 games for the Flyers, who have not made the playoffs since 2020.
“I believe in this team, and I love the direction we are heading,” York said. “I couldn’t be more excited to continue this journey and build something special together.”