Whoever scheduled this rematch at the same time as a Packers game — analyst Kraig Karakas, TV play by play expert Zach Schneider, and myself are all Packers fans — is either a genius or evil. We’ll tell you later which one. 🤣
Fun opener. Weird game, as you could probably expect when it started with two minutes of four-on-four hockey. But a good win for the Bulldogs over a team that plays a beast of a schedule this season, but one that should be in the conversation when it’s all said and done.
(On the whole “starting with a four on four” thing: I was texting with someone else around the NCHC, and we agreed that the calls that were made Saturday — the ones here and the one in Omaha that allowed Omaha to start its exhibition game on the power play — should sufficiently nip this stuff in the bud, so to speak. Can’t imagine we hear any more about this, but maybe the players are more stubborn than I give them credit for.)
Anyway, for those who weren’t tuned in for the pregame Saturday, head coach Scott Sandelin revealed that sophomore forward Kyler Kleven is out with an injury for “an extended period of time.” Really unfortunate for the Bulldogs and for Kleven. Freshman forward Jack Smith was held out this weekend to deal with an injury, which means UMD went into this series with just one extra forward, freshman Luke Johnson.
The initial plan, according to the head coach in our pregame interview, was to play everyone who was able to go this weekend. For UMD, Luke Johnson and Joey Pierce debut, while Kyle Bettens and Riley Bodnarchuk are scratched.
Lines?
Lines.
UMD forwards
Biondi – James – Olson
Steeves – Loney – Loheit
Howard – Spicer – Laderoute
Mylymok – Jacques – Johnson
UMD defense
Kaiser – Gotz
Daschke – Dubinsky
Gallatin – Francis
Pierce
UMD goalies
Stejskal – Thiessen – Sandy
(NOTE: Thiessen led UMD on the ice for warmups, so who knows?)
Arizona State forwards
Sillinger – Mastrosimone – Doan
Kopperud – Jackson (Ty) – Jackson (Dylan)
Grando – Eckerle – Koumontzis
O’Reilly – Jensen – Schoen
Arizona State defense
Murchison – Lovell
Semik – Judson
Dangos – Szmagaj
Hickey
Arizona State goalies
Semptimphelter – Kraws – Homer
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