The University of Minnesota Duluth will make its first regular season home appearances in five weeks this Friday and Saturday (Jan. 15-16) when the Bulldogs renew their intrastate rivalry with St. Cloud State University. Opening face off time for both ends of the National Collegiate Hockey series is set for 7:07 p.m. at AMSOIL Arena (6,756) in downtown Duluth.

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THE RECORDS: UMD, which is unbeaten in seven of its last nine outings (5-2-2), own an 8-7-4 overall record and an even 5-5-2-1 NCHC mark (third place) the Huskies are 17-5-0 in all games and 9-3-0-0 in league play, good for a share of first place (with the University of North Dakota.

HOW THEY RANK: Here is how the Bulldogs and Huskies stacked up in this week's USCHO.com and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine polls as well as the PairWise rankings:

           USCHO.com    USA Hockey    PairWise
UMD         No. 17             RV               No. 16
SCSU        No. 5              No. 5             No. 3
    
ON THE AIR: The two UMD-St. Cloud State bouts will be carried live on 92.1 FM The Fan with Bruce Ciskie handling the play-by-play responsibilities and ex-Bulldog winger Kraig Karakas providing color commentary. The broadcast can also be heard on KQ 105.5 FM in Grand Rapids/Hibbing, Minn.; KQ 106.7 FM in Ely/Virginia, Minn.; 105.7 FM The Fan Siren/Pine City, Minn., and Red Zone Sports Radio 930 in Aitkin, Minn., as part of the Bulldog Radio Network and at: 921thefan.com or free via the iHeartRadio app.

Both ends of this weekend's series will also be televised -- Friday on My9 (KBJR DT 6.2/KRII DT 11.9) and Saturday on FSN Plus and Fox College Sports Central (taped delayed). Veteran sports anchor Tom Hansen and former UMD standout forward Judd Medak will serve as the on-air talent both nights. The two telecasts are available on-line at: nchc.tv/umd.
 
THE COACH: The runnerup for the 2010-11 Spencer Penrose Award (American Hockey Coaches Association NCAA Division I Coach of the Year) and recipient of that honor in 2003-04, Scott Sandelin is in his 16th season behind the UMD bench where he has compiled a 276-268-74 overall record -- including a 154-108-37 mark since the 2008-09 opener. Besides capturing the school's first NCAA championship four years ago, his Bulldogs have won 20 or more games in five of the last seven seasons while advancing to five NCAA tournaments (2004, 2009, 2011,2012 and 2014), two Frozen Fours (2004 and 2011) and seven of 11 Western Collegiate Hockey Association Final Five playoff events between 2002-13. He has also helped produce a pair of Hobey Baker Memorial Award winners (Jack Connolly in 2011-12 and Junior Lessard in 2003-04), six NCAA All-Americans and 17 different All-WCHA selections. In addition, Sandelin has seen 16 of his UMD pupils go on to do time in the National Hockey League and one take part in the Winter Olympic Games (Justin Faulk for Team USA in 2014). During the course of the 2011-12 season, the Bulldogs set a team record by going unbeaten in 17 straight games and were ranked first in both major weekly polls (USCHO.com and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine for a program-best nine consecutive weeks. In March 2009, UMD became the first play-in game participant to ever claim the Final Five title and, later that spring, strung together a school-record six-game postseason winning streak before it fell to Miami University 2-1 in the NCAA West Regional final. Nine years ago, Sandelin, 50, turned UMD into a NCAA Frozen Four participant for the first time in nearly a generation, marshaling his troops to their most victories (they were 28-13-4 overall) and highest WCHA finish (second place on a 19-7-2 mark) since 1992-93. For his efforts, the Hibbing, Minn., native was chosen the WCHA Coach of the Year as well as the national coach of the year by both insidecollegehockey.com and uscho.com. In 2002-03, Sandelin's charges went 22-15-5 overall and captured fifth place in the WCHA with a 14-10-4 mark while experiencing the greatest one-season turnaround of any league member that winter. One year earlier, he guided UMD to a 13-24-1 record in all games -- nearly doubling the number of victories from the previous season (7-28-4). Sandelin officially signed on with the Bulldogs on March 31, 2000 following six years of assistant coaching deployment at North Dakota (which won two NCAA titles during his tenure). Prior to that, Sandelin spent the 1993-94 season head coaching the Junior Elite Hockey League's Fargo-Moorhead Junior Kings after working in that same capacity (and doubling as general manager) the previous winter with the Fargo-Moorhead Express of the American Hockey Association. He capped off his four-year playing career at North Dakota in 1985-86 by being named one of 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award. An All-American second team selection and All-WCHA first team pick as a senior, Sandelin went on to play professionally for seven years, which included National Hockey League stints with the Montreal Canadiens (1986-88), Philadelphia Flyers (1990-91) and Minnesota North Stars (1991-92). Sandelin, one of just two active NCHC coaches to do time in the NHL (Denver's Jim Montgomery is the other), was the Montreal Canadiens' second-round pick in the 1982 NHL draft (40th choice overall). He served as Team USA's head coach at the 2005 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championships, directing that club to a fourth-place finish, and was an assistant coach for the U.S. entry at that same event in 2011-12.

THE RIVALRY: UMD and St. Cloud State have met on 112 previous occasions in a rivalry which stretches back to the 1946-47 season. The Huskies hold a 61-43-8 lead in the all-time series and are 58-39-7 versus the Bulldogs since joining the NCAA Division I ranks in 1987-88. Prior to last season, UMD had won just one of its eight previous matchups with the Huskies (1-6-1), but the Bulldogs reversed their fortunes in 2014-15 by going 3-1-0 against their longtime intrastate rivals. On Nov. 7-8, UMD posted its first sweep of the season (3-2 in overtime and 3-1) -- and first in St. Cloud since Nov. 12-13, 1999. Three months later at AMSOIL Arena (Feb. 13-14), the intrastate rivals traded wins with UMD taking the opener 4-2 (rallying from a 1-0 second-intermission deficit in the process) and St. Cloud State prevailing 4-1 the next night.

LAST WEEKEND: The Bulldogs skated off with four of a possible six points in their two-game NCHC set at Miami University, winning 5-2 on Saturday after the two clubs battled to a 1-1 deadlock the previous night. (Miami picked up the extra league point by prevailing in the three-on-three shootout). Eight different Bulldogs collected points on the weekend, but senior center Tony Cameranesi, who scored once each night, was the lone UMD skater with more than one.

St. Cloud State was ambushed by Colorado College 5-2 on Saturday in St. Cloud (despite outshooting the visitors 49-22) after holding off the Tigers 2-1 one night early.

THEY'RE CERTAINLY NO STRANGERS: St. Cloud State has made more lifetime visits to AMSOIL Arena (10 heading into this weekend) than any other Bulldog opponent. UMD has compiled a 45-36-11 record at AMSOIL Arena since that $80 million facility opened its doors for business on Dec. 30, 2010. That includes a 5-4-1 mark against St. Cloud State.

CHECK, CHECK AND CHECK: In all eight of their victories thus far, the Bulldogs have scored first (they are 8-1-1 when doing so), led at the second intermission (8-0-0) and outshot the opposition (8-4-4).

WHERE SHOTS GO TO DIE: In his last nine appearances, sophomore goaltender Kasimir Kaskisuo is 5-2-2 with a 1.21 goals against average, a .945 saves percentage and three shutouts. Kaskisuo, who earlier this year cobbled together the fourth longest shutout run (263:58 -- a school record) in NCAA history) has made 31 consecutive starts dating back to Feb. 13, 2014 when the Bulldogs hosted St. Cloud State. The Vantaa, Finland, product and 2014-15 NCHC All-Rookie Team honoree already has four shutouts this season (including a program-high three in a row between Nov. 20-Dec. 4), which is one whitewash shy of the team record held by both Alex Stalock (2008-09) and Brant Nicklin (1997-98). Kaskisuo has tended goal for all of his team's NCHC games (36 thus far) since the start of the 2014-15 season -- the only individual who can make that claim. He currently ranks second in the NCHC in goals against average (1.85) and fourth in saves percentage (.923), has appeared in the highest percentage of his team's overall minutes (97.598) than all but four netminders in the entire country.

BOMBS AWAY: UMD is averaging 36.79 shots on goal per night -- the second highest average in all of college hockey, taking a backseat to only Penn State University (45.18). Senior center Tony Cameranesi is 20th nationally in shots per game (3.76) and ranks third among NCHC skaters in that department. Junior center Dominic Toninato is not far behind (5th) with a 3.58 mark. The Bulldogs have held the upper hand in shots in 16 of their 19 games this season and are 0-3-0 when they've not done so. On the flip side, UMD has allowed the fifth fewest shots in the nation (24.95), an average bettered by just one other NCHC club -- North Dakota (24.45). UMD's shot margin average (+11.84) ranks third nationally to Penn State (15.67) and Minnesota State University-Mankato (12.00). St. Cloud State, meanwhile stands seventh among NCAA clubs in both shots on goal (34.18 spg) and shot margin (+7.55).

WHEN IT RAINS IT POURS: Nearly half of UMD's entire 2015-16 goal harvest (29 of 59) have come in five of its 19 games thus far -- 5-0 and 6-0 at Colorado College on Nov. 20-21, 7-0 and 6-2 vs. Western Michigan on Dec. 4-5, and 5-2 at Miami last Saturday night.

WHEN IT RAINS IT POURS II: The Bulldogs have outscored the opposition 37-6 (including 10-0 in the opening period of play) in their eight wins to date while going 12-for-35 on the power play (35.6 percent). They've connected at just 6.25 percent (3-for-48) with the man advantage in their other 11 games.

A SENIOR MOMENT: UMD currently sports the nation's seventh-highest scoring senior class. The eight, fourth-year Bulldogs have combined for 25 goals and 40 assists for 65 points and includes forwards Tony Cameranesi, Cal Decowski, Austin Farley, Charlie Sampair and Austyn Young, defensemen Willie Corrin and Andy Welinski and goalie Matt McNeely. The last time a Bulldog roster was comprised of more seniors than the current one was in 2004-05 (11). St. Cloud State has gotten the second most points (116) out of its senior class than any other school in the country.

STILL THE TOP 'DOG: Despite mustering just one pin the last four outings, senior left winger Austin Farley continues to tops the 2015-16 Bulldogs in scoring (a team-high 10 goals and 10 assists). He currently is tied for third nationally in power play goals with seven, which is one behind NCAA co-leaders Dan Correa (University of New Hampshire) and Tage Thompson (University of Connecticut). Farley needs just five points to become the 56th Bulldog to hit the 100-point career mark. Fellow fourth-year Bulldog Tony Cameranesi accomplished that feat earlier this year)
 
FOUR'S A CHARM: Going back to a 5-4 loss to visiting Minnesota on Oct. 15, 2011, the Bulldogs are unbeaten in 58 of the 59 games they've struck for more than three goals (53-1-5). The sole setback during that stretch was inflicted by Minnesota State University-Mankato on Oct. 17, 2014 in Duluth (5-4 in overtime).

GETTING HIS MONEY'S WORTH: Senior team captain and 2014-15 All-NCHC second team honoree Andy Welinski has taken a shift in all 133 games since joining the Bulldog program in 2012-13. Welinski, a fixture on all of UMD's special teams unitis, is one of two league defensemen (Denver's Will Butcher is the other) with a shorthanded goal to his credit this season. That came in the 2015-16 opener at Bemidji State -- the second shortie of his career. Last winter, Welinski became the first individual in 31 years to lead all Bulldog blueliners in scoring for a third straight winter. (Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner Tom Kurvers did it four times from 1980-84).

OHHHH-VERTIME: UMD has won just three of the last 23 games that have required overtime, going 3-5-15. Only three active Bulldogs -- junior left wingers Alex Iafallo and Kyle Osterberg and senior center Cal Decowski -- have an overtime goal on their collegiate resume. UMD's most recent extra-session victory came on Dec. 5, 2014 -- a 3-2 decision over Colorado College at AMSOIL Arena in which Osterberg scored the overtime winner.

COMING UP EMPTY: UMD has gone 122:44 at home without a goal after getting shut out twice (both 3-0) by North Dakota in its two most recent AMSOIL Arena regular season outings (Dec. 11 and Dec. 12).

BULLDOG BITS: Last Saturday night at Miami, the Bulldogs generated 2015-16 season lows for both shots on goal (22) and shots given up (15) .

• UMD (one) and Miami (two, including one last Friday night against the Bulldogs) are the only two NCHC clubs to score a 3-on-3 overtime goal thus far in 2015-16. Senior center Tony Cameranesi did the honors for the Bulldogs following their 1-1 home tie with Denver on Nov. 14.

• Of the Bulldogs' 19 returning forwards and defensemen, only one -- senior right winger Austyn Young -- has thus far set a career high for scoring this season. Young's seven points (five goals and two assists) are two more than his previous best which he set one year ago.

• Since rallying for a 4-2 victory over visiting St. Cloud State on Feb. 13, 2015, the Bulldogs 0-10-3 when they've trailed at the second intermission (0-6-2 this winter).

• Alex Iafallo's empty net goal in last Saturday's 5-2 takedown of Miami was the first by a Bulldog in nearly a year (then senior Adam Krause at Denver on Jan. 31, 2015).

• Five of UMD's seven lifetime NCHC sweeps have been registered on the road -- Colorado College (Nov. 20-21, 2015), St. Cloud State (Nov. 7-8, 2014), Miami (Feb. 28-March 1, 2014), Western Michigan (Jan. 31-Feb. 1, 2014) and Omaha (Jan. 10-11, 2014). The Bulldogs' other two sweeps came on Dec. 4-5, 2015 vs. Western Michigan and on Dec. 5-6, 2014 against Colorado College -- both in Duluth.

• Sophomore goaltender Kasimir Kaskisuo has been credited with two career assists, the last of which was registered against St. Cloud State in a 4-2 triumph at AMSOIL Arena on Feb. 13, 2015.

• Of the eight NCHC head coaches, only one (Miami's Enrico Blasi with 17 seasons) has been at his current school longer than Scott Sandelin (16).

• UMD has already given up two more shorthanded goals this season (four, including a pair on Nov. 7 in Omaha) than it did all of 2014-15 (in 40 games). Among NCAA I clubs, only the University of Alaska-Anchorage (6), and Army and Bemidji State University (both with five) have been scored on more times while on the power play than the Bulldogs in 2015-16.

• Senior center Tony Cameranesi currently paces all active Bulldogs in lifetime points (104) awhile senior left winger Austin Farley ranks first in both career goals (41) and power play scores (22). Junior defenseman Carson Soucy, the lone Bulldog to ever be drafted by the Minnesota Wild (fifth round in 2013), and Cameranesi sport UMD's best career plus-minus figure (+17).

• Freshman left winger Adam Johnson, whose eight points this winter are the second most of any Bulldog rookie, is part of the 11th father-son combinations that have been part of the UMD program. His dad, Davey Johnson, was a four-year letterman and captained the Bulldogs as a senior center in 1980-81. Junior center Dominic Toninato also followed in his father's footsteps (forward Jim Toninato, 1982-86).

• During Saturday's first intermission, the six newly-minted members of the UMD Athletic Hall of Fame will be recognized in an on-ice ceremony. That distinguished group incudes All-Americans Heather Hamilton (track and field) and Trevor Lundgren (wrestling), three-time all-conference honorees Kathy (Haakonson) Collman (volleyball and softball), Mike Peluso (hockey) and Tom Stoll (football), and long-time Bulldog supporter Dave Goldberg. Peluso, who starred with the Bulldogs from 1994 to 1998 and now serves as the head boy's hockey coach at his alma mater, Bismarck High School, generated the eighth most lifetime goals (80) in program history and is one of just four individuals ever lead UMD in scoring for three seasons.

UP NEXT: The Bulldogs will take their show back on the road for another key NCHC series at Denver on Jan. 22-23. The Pioneers took four of six NCHC points from the Bulldogs earlier this season (a 3-0 win and 1-1 draw on Nov. 13-14).