Current leader of the WCHA, Minnesota State Mankato, and near bottom of NCHC UMD meet this Saturday for the first of a home and home series that will conclude January 23, 2018 in Mankato.
Saturday, November 25, 2017
UMD and Mankato
Front End of an Extended Home and Home Series
Current leader of the WCHA, Minnesota State Mankato, and near bottom of NCHC UMD meet this Saturday for the first of a home and home series that will conclude January 23, 2018 in Mankato.
Current leader of the WCHA, Minnesota State Mankato, and near bottom of NCHC UMD meet this Saturday for the first of a home and home series that will conclude January 23, 2018 in Mankato.
Friday, November 17, 2017
UMD at Miami
For Bulldogs and Redhawks, Similarities Abound
UMD and Miami were picked to finish 4th and 5th, respectively, in the September 19, 2017 NCHC Preseason Poll. And here two weeks into the NCHC season, the teams are looking like a close finish between them is unavoidable.
Goaltending save percentages, goals against averages, overall records, and NCHC records are all so similar, it is difficult to differentiate the two teams on paper.
The intangibles are what makes a season charmed or cursed. As of this weekend, UMD has been short on forwards for three weeks due to injury.
And every team deals with injury, UMD is not alone. But with such a young team, the Bulldogs losing the services of players like Nick Swaney and Joey Anderson this weekend is a big blow. Add to that loss of games recently by Mikey Anderson and Avery Peterson and there is a definite glaring hole in the Bulldog lineup.
The positive? More players have stepped up and UMD has still been winning games and being competitive.
A weekend like this against a very comparable Miami team is one where a sweep for UMD would definitely send a message of the UMD resolve.
Goaltending save percentages, goals against averages, overall records, and NCHC records are all so similar, it is difficult to differentiate the two teams on paper.
The intangibles are what makes a season charmed or cursed. As of this weekend, UMD has been short on forwards for three weeks due to injury.
And every team deals with injury, UMD is not alone. But with such a young team, the Bulldogs losing the services of players like Nick Swaney and Joey Anderson this weekend is a big blow. Add to that loss of games recently by Mikey Anderson and Avery Peterson
UMD and Miami were picked to finish 4th and 5th, respectively, in the September 19, 2017 NCHC Preseason Poll. And here two weeks into the NCHC season, the teams are looking like a close finish between them is unavoidable.
Goaltending save percentages, goals against averages, overall records, and NCHC records are all so similar, it is difficult to differentiate the two teams on paper.
The intangibles are what makes a season charmed or cursed. As of this weekend, UMD has been short on forwards for three weeks due to injury.
And every team deals with injury, UMD is not alone. But with such a young team, the Bulldogs losing the services of players like Nick Swaney and Joey Anderson this weekend is a big blow. Add to that loss of games recently by Mikey Anderson and Avery Peterson and there is a definite glaring hole in the Bulldog lineup.
The positive? More players have stepped up and UMD has still been winning games and being competitive.
A weekend like this against a very comparable Miami team is one where a sweep for UMD would definitely send a message of the UMD resolve.
The intangibles are what makes a season charmed or cursed. As of this weekend, UMD has been short on forwards for three weeks due to injury.
And every team deals with injury, UMD is not alone. But with such a young team, the Bulldogs losing the services of players like Nick Swaney and Joey Anderson this weekend is a big blow. Add to that loss of games recently by Mikey Anderson and Avery Peterson
Friday, October 27, 2017
Friday, October 20, 2017
Merrimack Warriors come to Duluth
The Bulldogs are looking to bounce back after going winless last weekend against the Beavers from Bemidji State. The young team is showing consistent play is something learned and might take some time to find. The Bulldogs will need to improve in the net on defense and offense if they have hopes of earning NCAA birth this post-season.
Picks
Merrimack @ #9 Minnesota Duluth: The ups and downs of a young team need to be leveled off. Since it is still so early in the season I am picking a split with the Warriors.
Lake Superior State @ #1 Denver: Denver should roll with the talent they have. Pioneers sweep.
#13 Boston College @ #3 St Cloud State: Two good teams from good conference with the edge to the Huskies playing at home. My gut says split.
#RV Western Michigan vs. Michigan State (home/home): The Broncos haven't played great since the opener and with this being a home and home I will pick a split.
#8 Minnesota Twin Cities @ #4 North Dakota: This series gets renewed in Grand Forks this weekend. Spirits will be high, likely a split.
Colorado College @ #17 New Hampshire: The Tigers are improving but the Wildcats appear strong this year. New Hampshire will sweep.
Arizona State @ #RV Nebraska Omaha: The Mavericks will sweep the Sun Devils.
Miami @ Maine: Interesting series with both teams trying to find themselves, split.
Picks
Merrimack @ #9 Minnesota Duluth: The ups and downs of a young team need to be leveled off. Since it is still so early in the season I am picking a split with the Warriors.
Lake Superior State @ #1 Denver: Denver should roll with the talent they have. Pioneers sweep.
#13 Boston College @ #3 St Cloud State: Two good teams from good conference with the edge to the Huskies playing at home. My gut says split.
#RV Western Michigan vs. Michigan State (home/home): The Broncos haven't played great since the opener and with this being a home and home I will pick a split.
#8 Minnesota Twin Cities @ #4 North Dakota: This series gets renewed in Grand Forks this weekend. Spirits will be high, likely a split.
Colorado College @ #17 New Hampshire: The Tigers are improving but the Wildcats appear strong this year. New Hampshire will sweep.
Arizona State @ #RV Nebraska Omaha: The Mavericks will sweep the Sun Devils.
Miami @ Maine: Interesting series with both teams trying to find themselves, split.
Friday, October 6, 2017
Start of a New Season
Tonight marks the official start of the 2017 - 2018 college hockey season for the UMD Bulldogs. The Bulldogs come in with a lot of holes and unknowns after losing nearly half of the team to graduation or early departures from last year. As the NCAA runner-up the expectations are high, but it could be an up and down season.
Picks
#3 Minnesota Twin Cities @ #6 Minnesota Duluth (Ice-breaker tournament Friday game): How will the Bulldogs' goalie and defensive group play this season is the questions that needs to be answered. Too many unknowns for me to pick them to win. The Gophers look to be strong and will get the win at AMSOIL.
Colorado College @ #RV Vermont: The Tigers are hoping this is the season that they find something, which I think they might. The Catamonts are also coming off a poor season as well. I will pick a split.
#RV Ferris State vs. #20 Western Michigan (home/home): I think the Broncos may be overrated in the preseason polls and with this being a home and home series for these two in-state rivals I am picking a split.
#11 Providence @ #RV Miami: The Friars should be a good team again this year. Miami is still looking to improve with a young team. The home cooking will help the Redhawks earn a split.
#9 St. Cloud State @ #18 Minnesota State Mankato (1 game): Both teams are projected to strong teams. Not much to go on here other than a hunch so, I am pick the Huskies with the win.
#7 North Dakota @ Alaska Anchorage: The Fighting Hawks have much more talents than the Seawolves so unless their body clocks get thrown off they should not have a problem coming out on top. Fighting Hawks sweep.
Picks
#3 Minnesota Twin Cities @ #6 Minnesota Duluth (Ice-breaker tournament Friday game): How will the Bulldogs' goalie and defensive group play this season is the questions that needs to be answered. Too many unknowns for me to pick them to win. The Gophers look to be strong and will get the win at AMSOIL.
Colorado College @ #RV Vermont: The Tigers are hoping this is the season that they find something, which I think they might. The Catamonts are also coming off a poor season as well. I will pick a split.
#RV Ferris State vs. #20 Western Michigan (home/home): I think the Broncos may be overrated in the preseason polls and with this being a home and home series for these two in-state rivals I am picking a split.
#11 Providence @ #RV Miami: The Friars should be a good team again this year. Miami is still looking to improve with a young team. The home cooking will help the Redhawks earn a split.
#9 St. Cloud State @ #18 Minnesota State Mankato (1 game): Both teams are projected to strong teams. Not much to go on here other than a hunch so, I am pick the Huskies with the win.
#7 North Dakota @ Alaska Anchorage: The Fighting Hawks have much more talents than the Seawolves so unless their body clocks get thrown off they should not have a problem coming out on top. Fighting Hawks sweep.
Sunday, April 9, 2017
Heartbreak Ends a Great Season
3-2 UMD Falls to Denver in Championship
16 seconds. What can happen in 16 seconds?
For the Bulldogs of UMD, they can look back at 16 seconds of the 2017 National Championship game against Denver and say 16 seconds likely cost them the game.
Call it what you will: a team let down, a brain fart, or just unfocused, it was 16 short seconds of play in the second period Saturday night that gave Denver a 2-0 lead that they never relinquished.
Disappointing for UMD players and fans alike. But the chances were there for a Bulldog come back and the game never did seem out of reach.
“Yeah, I think that the third period really showed what we had. We had our chances, in these kinds of games, you need some bounces and we didn’t get them,” said UMD senior defenseman Carson Soucy.
The whole season it was a see-saw battle of #1 and #2 in the PWR for UMD and DU and in the end, Denver won out in a good hockey game for the fans. Albeit, not the way the Bulldogs wanted it to end.
16 seconds. What can happen in 16 seconds?
For the Bulldogs of UMD, they can look back at 16 seconds of the 2017 National Championship game against Denver and say 16 seconds likely cost them the game.
Call it what you will: a team let down, a brain fart, or just unfocused, it was 16 short seconds of play in the second period Saturday night that gave Denver a 2-0 lead that they never relinquished.
Disappointing for UMD players and fans alike. But the chances were there for a Bulldog come back and the game never did seem out of reach.
“Yeah, I think that the third period really showed what we had. We had our chances, in these kinds of games, you need some bounces and we didn’t get them,” said UMD senior defenseman Carson Soucy.
The whole season it was a see-saw battle of #1 and #2 in the PWR for UMD and DU and in the end, Denver won out in a good hockey game for the fans. Albeit, not the way the Bulldogs wanted it to end.
Saturday, March 18, 2017
NCHC Semifinals: UMD vs WMU
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