With the 2018-19 University of Minnesota Duluth regular season opener quickly approaching (like this Saturday night at AMSOIL Arena against the University of Minnesota), the folks at umdbulldogs.com thought this was as good a time as any to whet your appetite with these tasty puck nuggets:

75 – Years of intercollegiate competition for UMD hockey in 2018-19. The Bulldogs began play in 1930-31, but the sport was suspended from 1932-46. UMD has been a member of the NCAA Division I ranks since the 1961-62 season.With the 2017-18 University of Minnesota Duluth regular season opener quickly approaching (like this Friday night at AMSOIL Arena against the University of Minnesota), the folks at umdbulldogs.com thought this was as good a time as any to whet your appetite with these tasty puck nuggets:

33 – Regular season games (out of a possible 34) the Bulldogs will play in 2018-19 against teams ranked (21) or receiving votes (12)  in the USCHO.com Preseason Poll

27 – All-Americans who have worn a Bulldog uniform, the latest being Scott Perunovich, who earned a first team honor one year ago (just the second Bulldog rookie to ever do so, joining center Murray Keogan, 1969-70). Perunovich was the recipient of the Tim Taylor Award (Hockey Commissioner's Association National Rookie of the Year) and is the reigning NCHC Rookie of the Year and NCHC Offensive Defenseman of the Year (both UMD program firsts). The Hibbing, Minn., product also became the second defenseman to ever lead UMD in scoring and the first rookie to do it in 15 years. He racked up 36 points (a record for a first-year Bulldog blueliner and the most of any freshman defenseman in the country) on 11 goals and a team-leading 25 assists in 42 games. Among NCAA rookies, Perunovich ranked first in plus-minus rating (+22) and third in both points and assists.

19 – Seasons Scott Sandelin has presided over the UMD puck program, making him the longest-serving bench boss in Bulldog history (UMD Athletic Hall of Famer Mike Sertich spent 18 years in that role). Sandelin's tenure is also the second longest of any NCHC head coach. (Enrico Blassi is entering his 20th year at Miami). The 2018-19 USCHO.com National Coach of the Year, Sandelin comes into the 2018-19 season ranking 12th among all active NCAA I coaches in career victories. He is now 340-300-85 overall and 93-55-18 since the 2014-15 opener (.623).

18 – Consecutive overtime games that have ended in a win or tie for the Bulldogs. UMD is 8-0-10 in extra session outings since falling 2-1 to host North Dakota on Feb. 19, 2016. That includes a 2-0-3 mark in 2017-18. Just one current Bulldog -- senior team captain Parker Mackay (two -- in the 2017-18 season opener against Minnesota and in the 2018 NCAA West Regional semifinals versus Minnesota State) -- has an overtime goal to their collegiate credit.

18 – Lettermen the Bulldogs retain from their NCAA title-winning unit. That list includes their top three scoring leaders from 2017-18 in sophomore Scott Perunovich, senior center Peter Krieger (11 goals and 19 assists for 30 points) and junior left winger Riley Tufte (16-13=29). Also back are basically UMD's entire blueline corps (Perunovich, juniors Nick Wolff and Jarod Hilderman, and sophomores Matt Anderson, Mikey Anderson, Louie Roehl and Dylan Samberg) and all three of its netminders -- juniors Hunter Shepard and Nick Deery and redshirt freshman Ben Patt.

10 – UMD alums who did time in the National Hockey League last season -- one shy of the program record set in 1994-95.

8 – Shutouts turned in by then-sophomore Hunter Shepard one year ago. That not only was a school record (and three more than the previous mark), but the second-highest output in the nation.  Shepard, who came into 2017-18 with just two collegiate appearances to his name, secured All-NCHC second team recognition and was a semifinalist for the Mike Richter Award (most outstanding NCAA goaltender). He also compiled a 1.91 goals against average and a .925 saves percentage (both program single-season bests) while going 25-14-1 in 41 outings. A member of the 2018 Frozen Four All-Tournament Team, Shepard also turned in the second best single-season saves percentage figure (.925) in team history and closed out the year having made 39 consecutive starts.

8 – Victories in a row the Bulldogs have posted over their long-time intrastate rival, the University of Minnesota. That's a program best. The Bulldogs and Gophers will meet for the 233rd time -- and the for thesecond straight season opener -- on Oct. 6 at AMSOIL Arena.

7 –NHL Draft picks on the 2018-19 UMD roster (the most since the 2013-14 season). That list includes Mikey Anderson (Los Angeles), Noah Cates (Philadelphia), Cole Koepke (Tampa Bay), Scott Perunovich (St. Louis), Dylan Samberg (Winnipeg), Nick Swaney (Minnesota) and Riley Tufte (Dallas), who in 2016 became the fourth Bulldog product to ever be drafted in the first round. UMD's all-time total of NHL draftees now stands at 110.

6 – Number of NCAA tournament berths the Bulldogs have earned since 2010-11 -- their most ever during any eight -year period in school history. UMD qualified for the NCAA playoffs for the fourth consecutive year last season -- another program first.

5–Schools in the country that averaged more fans per game at home (5,811) than the Bulldogs last winter. This year marks the eighth full season UMD will occupy AMSOIL Arena, which opened its doors for business on Dec. 30, 2010.

5 – Hobey Baker Memorial Award winners UMD has produced, a number unmatched by any school in the country. That quintet includes center Jack Connolly (2011-12), winger Junior Lessard (2003-04), center/winger Chris Marinucci (1993-94), winger Bill Watson (1984-85) and defenseman Tom Kurvers (1983-84).

3–Seniors on the 2018-19 UMD roster, which represents the smallest senior class the Bulldogs have ever possessed (NCAA I era).

2 – NCAA I national championships the Bulldogs have captured since 2011 -- a claim to other school can make.

2 – NCAA I clubs that had a higher strength of schedule rating than UMD during the 2017-18 regular season. The Bulldogs ranked first in that department the previous winter, second in 2015-16 and first in both 2014-15 and 2013-14.

1 – California (freshman defenseman Jake Rosenbaum), Iowa (freshman defenseman Hunter Lellig) and Ohio (sophomore center Justin Richards) natives who have enlisted their services with the Bulldogs during the program's 75-year history.

0 – Number of active head coaches with a better NCAA I Tournament winning percentage than Scott Sandelin. Sandelin's .739 mark (off a 17-6 record) trails only the late Herb Brooks (.889 at Minnesota), Vic Heyliger (.800 at Michigan) and Gino Gasparini (.789 at North Dakota) among all NCAA head coaches.

0 – Losses the Bulldogs have incurred since Feb. 28, 2015 when they've held a lead heading into the third period. UMD is 56-0-3 in that situation since then (23-0-1 last season).