Bulldogs travel to Grand Forks and NCHC Preview

Start of the NCHC Schedule Brings Promise 

"Back in my day....." is a sentiment oft used by those longing for yesteryear. Over the many years, UMD has seen triumph in conference playoff titles in 2009, 2017, 2019, and 2022; NCAA titles in 2011, 18, and 19; and four Hobey Baker award winners in the span of time since 1993. Why 1993? That was the last time UMD won a regular season conference title. 1993, the old WCHA, names like Hauer, Marinucci, Rohloff, Larson, and Plante. 

Plante... that sounds very familiar. It may very be that with the power and pacing of two Plantes that the 2025-26 Bulldogs may very well be lined up to end the drought.

The drivers of the team may be named Plante, but the secret sauce that makes this team a promising candidate to win a conference championship are the new players added and the improved play of the returners.

Goaltending is the first stop on the tour of improvements. Adam Gajan has found a groove this year. So far he has logged a 7-1-0 record with a 0.938 saves percent and 1.25 GAA. Whatever it is, Gajan's performance has been solid this year. Even with a shaky start in Bemidji, Gajan stayed with it and finished strong for the win.

There are newcomers that are pumping life into UMD also. The freshman trio of Hunter Anderson, Daniel Shlaine, and Dylan Zaremba are proving to be prolific at contributing when they are on the ice. Additionally Scout Truman and Brady Cleveland are fitting right in and leading as portal additions. 

All in all, this is looking like a special season for UMD. As Coach Sandelin said, "It's a different feel. These guys are hungry. They're very driven. It doesn't guarantee anything, but it's a great start." The looks may be deceiving, but it will be a fun team to watch.

Predictions

Our prediction for UMD is to break the drought and take the NCHC regular season title. With the way all the NCHC teams have started, we are confident UMD will finish in the top three and we will go all the way for first.

Either way, it will be a fin season to watch.

Our start to season NCHC prediction:

1. UMD
2. Western Michigan
3. North Dakota
4. Denver
5. Omaha
6. Miami
7. ASU
8. Saint Cloud
9. Colorado College

Bulldogs at Fighting Hawks: Stat Comp

 

Back at the Blog

Hiatus makes the heart fonder.... or flounder... Whatever the case, we are going to take a go at the online columns again. Look here for updates and ponderings. Thanks for stopping.

Saint Cloud to Duluth for Regular Season Finale

 

Bulldogs Travel to CC Tigers

 

Bulldogs Travel to NoDak Looking to Turn Tide

Bulldogs Trying to Snap Winless February

 

Tough Run Continues as UMD Hosts DU

 

Bulldogs Start February at Omaha

 

Playoffs Start: Back to Saint Cloud!!

 

The Huskies are listed as for sure in the NCAA Tourney by CHN, while the Bulldogs need to win the NCHC Tournament collecting the auto-bid to get into the NCAA Tourney.

Last NCHC Weekend; SCSU Likely Foe for Playoffs

 

Miami To Duluth for Bulldogs Last Home Series

 

Found on the Back of a Receipt

Fans from all over to see the great NCHC games in St. Paul. It has come to our attention that a musing on the back of a receipt found in the dumpster behind INCH worldwide HQ:

The many Hawk fans of NoDak:

Some wear a natty champ leather jacket

    Don't like the call?

    Flip the bird to all!

"We aren't #1 in the bracket?!?!"

Frozen Faceoff: Back to Saint Paul in 2022

 The NCHC Party is Back in Saint Paul

Just missing St. Patrick's Day, the party is back in St. Paul for the NCHC. It has been a long two years and that makes having it back just sweeter. Oh, and having your team make it to the Frozen Faceoff helps too. 

If any team knows how to turn it up in March, Scott Sandelin and the Bulldogs of UMD fit that mold.

After a rousing weekend sweep at St. Cloud State int he first round, the Bulldogs are back to the Frozen Faceoff to keep the roll going into the NCAA Tournament starting next week.

Shout out.

As one of the fewer and fewer conference tournaments at a neutral site, the NCHC gets to show off their top product again at the Xcel Energy Center and on CBSSN. Fans of the NCHC teams are truly treated to a first rate, and reliable, tournament site and first rate, top ten PWR teams competing.

Tipping Point

We hear about the tipping point when a major change is afoot. A looming event has been building for a while, but not clear when it will arrive… until it does, in the drop of a hat. 

Are we at a possible tipping point with UMD Hockey and their NCAA aspirations? The easy answer is no. Many may look at their quality wins through the season and see all the positives they bring. Spitting the season series with Denver, sweeping Minnesota, and going 2-0-1 against Western Michigan are all feathers in the Bulldog cap. At the same time there is also the 15-13-4 record that came about from their fair share of losses and ties.

The PairWise (PWR) looks at it all, in a mathematical way, and have put UMD currently at #8. Is there a tipping point looming if UMD doesn’t earn their first series sweep of the NCHC schedule? The inconsistent play by the Bulldogs, often involving missing players due to illness and injury, has come to a head here at the end of the season.

Playing with the PWR for UMD’s last four games, keeping on the same track of not sweeping opponents could leave UMD right at the double digit mark of the PWR, not the safest of spots going into the NCHC playoffs to get passage into the NCAA Tournament.

Speculation, yes, but possibilities of a tipping point are real. To end speculation quickly, a sweep this weekend by the Bulldogs over the Redhawks would be the best medicine. UMD can then tackle the next hurdle, home ice in the playoffs.

Bulldogs Tangle With Gophers

 After Taking a Year Off, In-Staters Resume Meetings

Back again and looking to make more memories of good games are Minnesota Duluth and Minnesota Twin Cities. Last year's lack of non-conference games makes these first weekends sweeter as UMD played Bemidji State again and now get to see UMTC up close and personal. 

Personal is it? Is it too much of a stretch to think that the eyes of Saint Cloud will be on the Gophers this weekend? Probably not and maybe even some gopher voodoo dolls may be in use after the game last weekend in Saint Cloud. The Gophers benefitted from a huge non-call in OT that helped them put the game away. It is not a stretch at all to know that Huskies fans will take more pleasure in every Gopher loss this year even it is at the hands of an NCHC rival in UMD.

Results and Schedules. The NCHC has a very nice non-conference record so far this season at 22-10-2 (0.676), but the Big Ten has been the best in the NCAA with a record of 22-7-0 (0.759). 

That all said, this weekend's teams have gotten to their records is different ways. Both the Gophers and Bulldogs have 3-1-0 records, but the Gophers have the 26th SOS (strength of schedule) and the Bulldogs have the 3rd ranked SOS.

Just the Stats.

Bulldogs and CollegeHockeyHH: Back Again for 2021-22

 The Long Hiatus of "Normal" is Over

A return is here. The normal return of college hockey in the fall is here. The more scintillating return is that of the fans to college hockey arenas around the country. It has been a long wait and fans have been as patient as can be, but the time is now. 

So when fans return, what will they see from their favorite squads? Players have not stopped and the product on the ice is expected to the the same as any other fall. Some rust maybe, but that is the way the any regular fall season goes.

Comings and Goings. Due to the unusual times we are in, there are many very familiar faces returning. The fifth year COVID option is being taken up by some successful and household names for UMD: Kobe Roth, Koby Bender, Louie Roehl, and Matt Anderson. Those players coming back will make this more of a push ahead season than a circle back to move forward season.

Old but New. UMD is expecting big things from transfer Casey Gilling who used to be on the opposite side a couple times per year while playing for Miami. With Gilling taking a center position, Noah Cates can move back to wing, his more natural position.

Who is the Starter? Still waiting on the announcement of the starting netminder for the Bulldogs in this season opener after all three goalies saw time in the exhibition game against Wisconsin. UMD has a good tandem of Zach Stejskal and Ryan Fanti who teamed up together for the memorable win against North Dakota in the NCAA Regional Final last season.

UMD at WMU: The Home Stretch

Bulldogs Take Four Game Win Streak to Kalamazoo

With three weeks left in the NCHC regular season, teams are actively jockeying for position and the Penrose Cup. North Dakota definitely has the inside track to the Cup and have already locked up home ice for the playoffs. The Bulldogs and Broncos both are currently in line for home ice, but nothing is locked up yet.

Where They Stand Now
Western Michigan is coming off of a somewhat disappointing weekend taking four points at Miami. But the Broncos are looking up losing only one game in their last 11. Their last loss was at the hands of the Bulldogs in Duluth.

The Broncos have endured more than a fair share of injuries this season and have lately looked like a top half team. As usual, seniors Hugh McGing and Dawson DiPietro lead scorers for WMU.

UMD has also improved their standing since these teams last meeting losing one game in their last 12, IF you take out the terrible sweep at the hands of Saint Cloud State.

Home ice for Duluth can happen this weekend if they sweep or SCSU is swept and many matriculations in between.

Currently the Bulldogs are lead in points by Scott Perunovich and goals by Noah Cates who is also second in points.

Prognostications
I haven't been correct often recently and have been reluctant to go full in with the Bulldogs, but I do see UMD coming on strong and sweeping the Broncos this weekend.

StatPack

Omaha at UMD: Things are Looking Up

Omaha and UMD are Both Better than Last Meeting

Almost exactly two months ago, December 6 and 7, the Mavericks and Bulldogs met in Omaha with UMD sweeping the series. Things have changed for both teams since then.

Where The Teams Are Now
Omaha has arguably been the hottest team in the NCHC since early December turning a basement place in the conference into the lead pack pushing for hime playoff series. Albeit a long shot for home playoffs, Omaha has seen great growth this year as predicted by many close to the program.

Much of Omaha's success has been an uptick in offense catapulting them into the top ten in the nation for scoring. But that is not all as freshman goaltender Isaiah Saville is getting into the groove of what it takes to play in the NCHC and has been steadily improving.

Signature wins at North Dakota and home against Western Michigan along with a road sweep of Colorado College has seen the Mavericks stock rise in 2020.

Not to take any fanfare from the host Bulldogs as they too are starting to play like a real contender for making it into April again this year.

Although it was a rough start to 2020 being swept at Saint Cloud State who is tied with Omaha for the fifth spot in the NCHC, they backed that up by beating North Dakota at home and last weekend sweeping at Denver. Those Bulldog wins last weekend broke Denver's 11 game win streak with a crash.

Similar to Omaha, UMD goaltending has seen a surge as of late with Hunter Shepard upping his GAA and save percentage while being a steady saving force in net.

Prognostications
It won't be an easy weekend for UMD by any means. But these are games that they need to win to keep the PWR momentum going. Too many losses to much lower teams has been a hinderance to the Bulldogs and these games could be more dark marks if they lose one or both.

A sweep very could be in the cards, but last time UMD played a lower team it wasn't good (swept at Saint Cloud). A sweep is likely but I still may see a Bulldog win and tie.

StatPack

UMD at Denver: We Meet Again

Second NCHC Series Between Pioneers and Bulldogs

It is a common occurrence in recent years for Denver and Minnesota Duluth to be battling for the NCHC lead and the national lead.

Not so this year.

Battling for second, and more likely for keeping out of fourth, the Pioneers and Bulldogs meet for their second NCHC series. Both teams are trying to keep up with front runner North Dakota while keeping ahead of fourth place Western Michigan. Being swept this weekend for either team will likely mean fourth place and maybe with some distance up to third.

In the national picture, Denver is at fourth in the PairWise Ranking (PWR), by losing only one non-conference game and putting in a strong season in the NCHC. Meanwhile UMD has posted a 5-5-0 record in non-conference play while playing mostly mediocre competition. Now UMD has had a good, but not great, conference record and that does make the road tougher as displayed by UMD having a PWR of 12.

Déjà vu all over again for the Bulldogs. Second straight week UMD is playing a top five PWR team and has to have a good showing to keep their PWR in good shape to even get the chance to play for a three-peat.

Prognostication.
UMD has to be more concerned with PWR implications rather than NCHC Penrose concerns. The Penrose dream for the Bulldogs pretty much flew away after being swept by Saint Cloud then splitting with NCHC leader UND. The Penrose Cup is the all elusive trophy for UMD at this point, but in the end, maybe getting into the NCAA Tournament for a chance to three-peat should be in the front of their collective mind.

If last weekend is any indication, and I think it is, UMD will have to sweep Denver to greatly improve their PWR. A split with then #1 PWR UND left the Bulldogs were they started the weekend at #12.

Unfortunately, I do not think UMD is up to it as Denver is playing very well right now. Looks like another split is in the works. And even with a split, UMD could easily find themselves in fourth for the NCHC and #14 in the PWR.

Stats.

UMD at SCSU Preview

This Isn't Your 2018-19 Huskies

"Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds" is not the official US Postal Service motto. But fans of the Bulldogs and Huskies may need to adopt a like motto is the National Weather Service is correct about the snow and wind this weekend. Rest assured that UMD is already in Saint Cloud and will be at the games, but will they be ready...

About SCSU
This is the first of two regular season series between the two schools. The second will be at UMD March 6 and 7.

As stated above, this isn't the SCSU team that UMD faced in the Frozen Faceoff Final last season in an extremely well played and entertaining 3-2 double OT win for the Bulldogs. It was arguably the most entertaining game UMD played last year. The Huskies lost so much talent up front and the scoring for this year really shows the drop. But what is more surprising is the more drastic drop off in defense/goaltending. Yes, they lost defense keys, but they retained players who saw good amounts of time last year.

Maybe the bigest surprise is net. Dávid Hrenák is returning off the season where he unseated senior Jeff Smith for the top spot. This year some of his weaknesses are being exposed with fairly seasoned, but not shutdown, defensemen.

Last weekend, Saint Cloud was swept in Denver with a pair of 6-3 games.

StatPack