COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Friday was a terrible, no good, very bad game. UMD didn’t come out with the proper intensity level, made some poor decisions, and paid a hefty price in a 5-0 blowout loss to Colorado College.
The teams’ NCHC season opener marked the first time UMD fell behind 4-0 in a first period since Feb. 14, 2014, at St. Cloud State, a game the Bulldogs dropped 5-3.
UMD has to do a lot of things better in this game, but it starts with the intensity. They have to be harder around both nets, stronger over pucks in all zones, and it never hurts to be the initiators on the forecheck. UMD’s goaltending wasn’t sharp to start Friday’s game, and Matthew Thiessen did do what he could to stabilize things in relief of Zach Stejskal, but the damage was done.
The Bulldogs are nine chapters into this 36-chapter (at minimum) journey. We only think we know things at this point. 4-5 ain’t great, but it’s not going to define this group, at least we hope it doesn’t. Here are UMD’s nine-game starts the last ten seasons. One asterisk is a team that made the NCAA Tournament, two asterisks denote Frozen Four teams, and three asterisks are national champion teams.
2022-23: 4-5
2021-22: 7-2*
2020-21: 5-2-2**
2019-20: 4-4-1*
2018-19: 7-1-1***
2017-18: 4-3-2***
2016-17: 6-1-2**
2015-16: 3-4-2*
2014-15: 5-4*
2013-14: 5-4-1
I just looked up. The sky is not falling. There’s just some work to do. Stay tuned.
Isaac Howard takes Blake Biondi’s place in the James Gang. Biondi moves to his off-wing. Jack Smith now centering the fourth line, as Cole Spicer is scratched.
Lines?
Lines.
UMD forwards
Olson – James – Howard
Biondi – Jacques – Laderoute
Steeves – Loney – Loheit
Johnson – Smith – Bettens
UMD defense
Kaiser – Dubinsky
Daschke – Gallatin
Bodnarchuk – Gotz
Pierce
UMD goalies
Thiessen – Stejskal
Colorado College forwards
Coffey – Will – McKown
Veremyev – Laba – Gleason
Beck – Cooley – Cozzi
Middleton – Prokop – Christy
Serdachny
Colorado College defense
Andrews – Yoon
Foley – Millar
Mayer – Straky
Colorado College goalies
Mbereko – Vernon – Begley
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