He spent many a winter night as a youngster at the DECC watching the hometown Bulldogs. His uncle (John Hyduke) was a four-year starting goaltender at the Unversity of Minnesota Duluth. The coach he played for in high school is the father of one of the all-time Bulldog puck greats (Derek Plante). And, on top of this, his mother (Tracy) is a long-time UMD employee.

Was there really much of a doubt where Nick Kemp was going to play his college hockey?

The 6-1, 205-pound winger and Hermantown, Minn. native began his third Bulldog season last weekend and wound up scoring once Saturday in a 4-0 victory over Northern Michigan University and assisting on the game-tying goal the previous evening (a 2-2 stalemate with Lake Superior State University). That's the kind of scoring punch the Bulldog coaching staff will be looking from Kemp the rest of the 2007-08 season.

HIS FAVORITES:

Opponent: Minnesota

Opponent Arena: Kohl Center (Wisconsin)

Road Trip: Denver, Colo.

Professional Athlete: Matt Niskanen

Professional Team: Minnesota Wild, Twins, and Vikings

Pastime: Fishing and playing sports

College Course: Beethoven to the Beatles

Prized Possession: My computer

Movie: The Breakfast Club

Book: A Child Called It (Dave Pelzer)

Television Show: South Park

Singer/Group: Lynyrd Skynyrd

Food: Steak

Restaurant: The Pickwick

Vacation Spot: Hermantown, Minn.

Web Site: youtube.com

PERSONALLY SPEAKING

Why I Chose UMD: The location

First Played Competitive Hockey: At age 4

Hockey Strength/Weakness: My size and physical play/My quickness

Game Day Ritual: I have a half cup of coffee when I arrive at the rink

Most Memorable Hockey Moment: Beating the Minnesota Gophers during my freshman year

Pet Peeve: When my roommate, Drew Akins, hits the snooze button about 20 times before he actually gets up

My First Job: I did some landscaping work when I was 16 years old

Person I'd Most Like to Meet: Dog the Bounty Hunter

What Most People Don't Know About Me: I have a two-year old brother named Eli

Biggest Fear: Spiders and snakes

If I Could Change One Thing About Myself: I'd be able to dance like Mike Curry

My Advice To An Aspiring Athlete: Work hard and always listen to your coaches

Something I Never Leave Home Without: My cell phone

Sport I'd Like to Try Someday: Roller derby

Influences On My Athletic Career: My mom

Post-UMD Plans: Play professional hockey and/or win the Power Ball Lottery