Game 25: Miami at UMD
It's getting ridiculous. UMD sophomore Ben Steeves is not only building on a very good freshman campaign, he's doing everything he can to thrust himself into the Hobey Baker conversation. A hat trick Friday night in UMD's 6-2 win gives Steeves 20 goals for a second straight season, the first UMD player since Justin Fon...
Jan 27, 2024
Game 24: Miami at UMD
Two games in the building today. One team (Miami's men) is able to field the maximum of 19 skaters. Wisconsin had 17 skaters and UMD 18 for the afternoon women's game. And the UMD men will also have 18 skaters for this series opener, as freshman Matthew Perkins becomes the fourth center placed on the shelf this season....
Jan 26, 2024
8 Thoughts: War of Attrition
Dictionary.com defines "attrition" as "a reduction or decrease in numbers, size, or strength." The men's hockey teams colliding at Amsoil Arena know about it. All too well. 8 THOUGHTS 1. By now, you're likely aware of UMD's struggles with health. Its top three centers -- Dominic James, Carter Loney,...
Jan 25, 2024
Game 23: UMD at Western Michigan
KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- Can UMD finish the job? Friday night was as good a road win as UMD's posted this season. It was also the third time in the last four NCHC series that UMD won the Friday game (two of those in regulation). But UMD has not swept a conference series since beating St. Cloud State twice on Jan. 27-28 of 2...
Jan 20, 2024
8 Thoughts: Well, That Was Something
KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- During UMD's trip to Kalamazoo in the 2022-23 season, the Friday game saw the teams combine for six (6) goals in the first 10 minutes of the first period, including a UMD own goal. UMD would go on to win 5-4 when Darian Gotz was released from a late minor penalty and scored on a partial breakaway ju...
Jan 20, 2024
Game 22: UMD at Western Michigan
KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- Scott Sandelin is fully aware that his team has been playing with better discipline over the last dozen or so games. He's fully aware that the UMD penalty kill is 43-for-50 (86 percent) since Oct. 28. There's no need to take chances, not against Western Michigan's power play (29 percent on the seaso...
Jan 19, 2024
8 Thoughts: Into The Hornets' Nest
KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- In case you're wondering, the weather will be better than it was on the trip here last season. Wouldn't take much. Snowed the whole time we were here in November 2022. Once I got to the hotel in the rental car early-ish Thursday afternoon, I didn't leave until it was time to go to the rink Friday. T...
Jan 19, 2024
Game 21: Colorado College at UMD
Thanks to -- who else? -- Ben Steeves, UMD has a chance at a series sweep here. Wins are nice, and we'll take them any way we can get them, but UMD coach Scott Sandelin was not pleased with the three blown chances at a defensive zone clear that helped lead to Colorado College's extra-attacker goal on Friday, a goal tha...
Jan 13, 2024
Game 20: Colorado College at UMD
Back at home for the first time in over a month, and back in league play as well for UMD against Colorado College. Quick blog, there's enough material in the preview. UMD has switched up some lines, and is going with 13 forwards for the series opener. Riley Bodnarchuk is the lone scratch (the other listed scratches are...
Jan 12, 2024
8 Thoughts: Will Francis is Cancer Free
Let's lead with the important news. Junior defenseman Will Francis announced Wednesday that he is cancer free. In a video posted on the UMD men's hockey social media channels, Francis said he is going to redshirt this season and expects to be full strength for the start of the 2024-25 season. As practice was wrapping u...
Jan 11, 2024
Exhibition: UMD at St. Thomas
MENDOTA HEIGHTS, Minn. -- Somehow, my son played four years of high school hockey, I think his team visited St. Thomas Academy twice, and I have never set foot in this building until now. We're at the quaint, rather old St. Thomas Ice Arena for this exhibition game. UMD's lineup is missing a couple more regulars. Of co...
Jan 06, 2024
Game 19: Air Force vs UMD (Kwik Trip Holiday Faceoff)
MILWAUKEE - Losing sucks, but when it gets you an early game there's at least a silver lining. UMD gets the early game by virtue of Air Force falling 3-0 to Wisconsin in the nightcap Thursday. Now we'll see if the Bulldogs can bounce back from a tough loss Thursday, a game where I felt UMD played pretty well and probab...
Dec 29, 2023
Game 18: UMD vs Northeastern (Kwik Trip Holiday Faceoff)
MILWAUKEE - Greetings from Fiserv Forum, a simply stunning facility that has been converted from its normal basketball mode into a hockey arena for a couple days. The Kwik Trip Holiday Faceoff takes over here this week, a third run for the event instituted in place of the old Badger Showdown, which was an annual tradit...
Dec 28, 2023
8 Thoughts: The Hits Continue as Second Half Begins
WEST ALLIS, Wisc. -- We have made it to the outskirts of Milwaukee, words I never thought I would utter in advance of hockey games. UMD is here for this week's Kwik Trip Holiday Faceoff, where it will match up against Northeastern on Thursday afternoon. After spending Christmas with family in Nebraska, we have logged n...
Dec 28, 2023
Game 17: UMD at Miami
OXFORD, Ohio -- After a nice rally following a very slow start Friday, look for UMD to do everything in its power to start the game on time here, as the Bulldogs finish up their first-half schedule against the RedHawks. After Saturday's games around the NCHC are complete, UMD will be the next league team to play a game...
Dec 09, 2023
8 Thoughts: UMD Grinds Out Tie After Awful Start
OXFORD, Ohio -- Yes, a postgame blog. So much easier to do this after a road game. Just me, my Bluetooth speaker, some music, sports streaming on my tablet, and my thoughts. Eight of them. 8 THOUGHTS 1. There's no way to sugarcoat that start. It was unacceptable in every way. Miami won the opening faceoff and, after UM...
Dec 09, 2023
Game 16: UMD at Miami
OXFORD, Ohio -- Once this weekend wraps up, one-third of the NCHC season will be complete. The sample size is small, but with UMD seventh at just four of 18 possible points attained so far, the Bulldogs know they need to start stacking up good results. Now. Yes, last weekend was officially a split, but it was a series ...
Dec 08, 2023
8 Thoughts: First Half (Already) Wraps Up
OXFORD, Ohio -- Greetings from Oxford, Ohio, the home of something called "You're Fired." The internet says it is "Oxford's only paint your own pottery studio," and it's been here long enough that I first walked by the place the first time we came here, which would have been during the 2013-14 seaso...
Dec 08, 2023
Game 15: Omaha at UMD
More significant than winning Friday was how UMD won, ending an eight-game winless streak. The Bulldogs played a strong game. No silly penalties, no passengers, and when the chips were down, it was UMD's older guys leading the charge. Luke Loheit scored early in the third to give UMD its first lead since Nov. 4 against...
Dec 02, 2023
Game 14: Omaha at UMD
Back at Amsoil Arena, where UMD looks to end a month-long funk and get some good vibes going. The Bulldogs haven't won since Oct. 21 in Bemidji, and haven't won here since the night before against that same Beavers team. As I said in 8 Thoughts, it's not like UMD can trade its way out of this or make other personnel ch...
Dec 01, 2023