OXFORD, Ohio — UMD coach Scott Sandelin has talked a lot about this team needing to learn how to win. The younger players are learning everything at this level, the older players — to be blunt — mostly haven’t won here. Yet.
It’s why I asked about Joe Molenaar’s presence on the team. Four years at St. Cloud State, four winning seasons, three NCAA trips, and a Frozen Four. He knows what it takes to win. And he’s doing what he can to impart that wisdom on the Bulldogs’ youth.
Of course, they still have to do it and experience it on their own to truly understand what it takes.
Friday was a nice step in that direction. UMD took the lead in the first period, built on that lead, weathered a couple storms, and played a mostly good third period to close out the victory.
Now, can they do it again?
UMD has not swept an NCHC regular season series since Jan. 29-30, 2021, here against Miami. Of course, those circumstances were bit different with no fans on hand. If you want to go back for the last UMD regular season NCHC road sweep in front of people, it was Feb. 28-29, 2020, at Colorado College, the Bulldogs’ last road games before the pandemic shut down the world.
(And it’s weird to think back to that. There were a lot of people already masking in the airports, but there’s no way anyone could have predicted what was about to happen.)
Anyway, off we go for Game 2. Matthew Perkins is out for UMD, with Harper Bentz — who started strong Friday before a long period on the bench as UMD killed that major penalty — replacing him to the left of Zam Plante, and Braden Fischer drawing in. UMD makes no other changes outside of rotating Luke Bast in at the seventh defenseman spot for Riley Bodnarchuk. Bodnarchuk did nothing wrong, but they’re giving Bast an opportunity.
For Miami, it’s Bruno Bruveris starting in goal in place of Ethan Dahlmeir. With Max Dukovac (injured on the hit by Anthony Menghini that drew the aforementioned major penalty) out, Miami makes a lot of changes up front.
Lines?
Lines.
UMD forwards
Menghini – James – Shaugabay
Bentz – Plante (Zam) – Bechen
Molenaar – Smith – Loney
Fischer – Arnott – Bettens
UMD defense
Dubinsky – Kleber
Pionk – Hanson
Gallatin – Pierce
Bast
UMD goalies
Gajan – Sandy – Knapp
Miami forwards
Ambrosio – Mesenburg – Choupani
Fillion – Sullivan – Nassen
Carogioiello – Emmons – Turansky
Fossander – Morrison – Bajzer
Miami defense
Moulton – Quinn
Hutchison – Rydqvist
Demsey – Donato
Simanovics
Miami goalies
Bruveris – Dahlmeir – Miller
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