This season marks the 25th anniversary of the University of Minnesota Duluth's first-ever appearance in the NCAA hockey playoffs and on Saturday (March 1), UMD will pay tribute to that 1982-83 team in a special first intermission ceremony during the Bulldogs' afternoon clash with the University of North Dakota at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center.

Under the direction of rookie head coach Mike Sertich, the 1982-83 Bulldogs rolled up a 28-16-1 overall mark (after going 16-21-3 the year before) and, in the process, set then-school records for wins, series sweeps (7) and home victories (17). They also held down the No. spot in the WMPL-Radio poll for four weeks that winter en route to securing an NCAA tournament berth (back when it was an eight-team field).

In addition to setting the stage for one of the great eras of UMD hockey (the Bulldogs would go on to capture back-to-back Western Collegiate Hockey Association titles and advance to a pair NCAA Frozen Fours the next two years), the 1982-83 club subsequently produced two Hobey Baker Memorial Award winners, three WCHA Players of the Year, five All-Americans and six National Hockey League performers.