Joey Anderson, who six months ago as a sophomore helped lead the University of Minnesota Duluth to a NCAA title, his National Hockey League debut on Saturday night with the New Jersey Devils.  The Devils defeated the visiting Florida Panthers 3-2 with Anderson, a 2016 Devils' third-round draft pick, played 8:30 and accrued no offensive statistics.

Anderson placed fourth on the 2017-18 Bulldog scoring charts, generating 27 points on 11 goals and 16 assists in 36 games. He also paced UMD in shots per game (3.36), home goals (eight) and home points (22) and ranked second in plus-minus rating (+14) and points per game (0.75). Last January, Anderson captained Team USA to a bronze medal at the International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championships in Buffalo, N.Y. -- the second straight year he competed at that event. One year ago, the Roseville, Minn., native amassed 37 points to take a backseat only to All-American Alex Iaffalo in scoring among Bulldogs and that output equaled the largest by a UMD rookie in six years (J.T. Brown also with 37 points). He went on to earn a spot on the 2016-17 National Collegiate Hockey Conference All-Rookie Team as well as the NCAA West Regional All-Tournament Team.

Anderson, who holds the distinction of being the only UMD product to ever claim a IIHF World Junior gold medal (2017), was a two-time NCHC All-Academic Team qualifier. His Bulldog career stat line included 23 goals and 41 assists for 64 points in 75 outings.  He was also a +24.

In all, some 56 former Bulldogs have gone on to play in the NHL, with first-round draft pick Larry Wright being the first (Philadelphia in 1970-72). Nine UMD alums have already done so this season - two shy of the school record set in 1994-95.