FACEOFF The first road stop of the season for the University of Minnesota Duluth did not go as planned as the Bulldogs stumbled twice against Wisconsin. No. 8 UMD continues its non-conference slate this weekend with a home-and-home series against longtime conference foe from the historical Western Collegiate Hockey Association and cross-state rival No. 20 Minnesota beginning Friday night in Minneapolis. Puck drop is set for just after 7 p.m. broadcasting live on Fox Sports North Plus, and available locally on KDAL 610 AM and 103.9 FM.

LAST TIME OUT After a high-scoring series opener on Friday night that saw the Badgers pepper the Bulldogs in a 6-2 victory, UMD and Wisconsin played a tight defensive battle on Saturday night. The Badgers once again claimed the edge, putting the game on ice with an empty net score to knock off the Bulldogs 3-1. Noah Cates scored his first goal of the season in the second period, assisted by Justin Richards and Hunter Lellig, but UMD could not find the equalizer in the third despite out-shooting Wisconsin 32-21 on the night.

AGAINST THE COMPETITION An annual match-up for the Bulldogs, Minnesota owns a series lead in the 232-game historical series. UMD is 81-134-17 all-time against the Gophers, but since the two teams broke off to separate conferences in 2013-14, the Bulldogs hold the edge, 8-3-2 in the last six seasons. Head coach Scott Sandelin can get his record back to even all-time against Minnesota this weekend, currently sitting at 21-23-7.
While the current UMD squad does not match up with the Gophers as often, they bring a load of experience. Jackson Cates has two goals in two games against the Gophers, Scott Perunovich three assists in three games, and Nick Wolff nine shots in four career outings. Hunter Shepard is 1-1-1 in three games against the Gophers, owning a 3.53 GAA and 56 saves (.848 save percentage).

LAST SERIES In the 2018 edition of the home-and-home series with Minnesota, the Bulldogs and Gophers skated to a draw on opening night at AMSOIL Arena, Oct. 6, 2018 before the southern branch of the University system took game two of the series 7-4 in Minneapolis on Oct. 7. Peter Krieger scored the game-tying power play goal early in the third period in game one, assisted by Kobe Roth and Riley Tufte. In game two, two goals from Jackson Cates and another from Noah Cates could not help the Bulldogs overcome the offensive onslaught from Minnesota.

BULLDOGS IN THE POLLS Both major polls - the U.S. College Hockey Online (USCHO.com) Division I Men's and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Coaches -- slotted in UMD at No. 8 ahead of this weekend's intrastate clash with No. 20 Minnesota. Wisconsin jumped from No. 17 to No. 6 after taking two from the Bulldogs. No. 1 Denver maintained hold on the top spot in both polls, while the NCHC has five teams in the top-20 with another among the teams receiving votes. No. 14 St. Cloud State, No. 16 North Dakota, No. 18 Western Michigan, and Colorado College (R.V.) also represent the conference in this week's poll. UMD opens conference play next weekend against the top-ranked Pioneers.

NCAA SUPERLATIVES Early in the season, UMD ranks no. 20 nationally killing 88.2 percent of penalties, while the Bulldog power play has converted on 16.7 percent of their man advantages, ranking no. 24.

A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN Among the NCHC scoring leaders, Scott Perunovich and Dylan Samberg currently stand tied for sixth among defensemen with three points each ... Justin Richards is just one of five players in the conference with a short-handed goal this season ... Jackson Cates ranks ninth in the conference winning 55.6 percent of face-offs ... Hunter Shepard has the fourth-most saves in the league, current averaging 21.2 per game.

ICE CHIPS While the team's been known for its late season runs in recent years, UMD has gone 21-10-7 in October during the past five seasons ... the Bulldogs returned 68.9 percent (241/350 points) of their scoring from a season ago, including 90 goals (67.7 percent) and 156 assists (71.8 percent) ... in Hunter Shepard alone, UMD returned 98.7 percent of its goalie minutes from a season ago ... the Bulldogs seek history in 2019-20 as the first team to produce three-straight NCAA Championships since Michigan did so in 1951-53 ...  the last two back-to-back champions (Denver 2004-05 and Minnesota 2002-03) were each eliminated by UMD in the postseason (the Pioneers in the 2006 WCHA Tournament first round and Minnesota in the 2004 NCAA Regional Tournament final).

OWN THE NORTH Four of UMD's first five games will be broadcast on Fox Sports North or Fox Sports North Plus this season. While the Bulldogs have yet to crack the win column on FSN in 2019 (0-3-0), they are 11-5-0 on FSN over the last three seasons. Friday's game one against Minnesota will air on FSN+.

LEADING THE PACK UMD stood atop the NCHC Preseason Poll released Wednesday, Sept. 19, receiving 23 of 28 first-place votes and 218 points overall, 40 more than second-place Denver (178) and 62 more than third-place Western Michigan (156), teams which received two and three first-place votes respectively. North Dakota (143) and St. Cloud State (138) round out the top five.

BEST OF THE BEST Four Bulldogs landed on the seven-man Preseason All-NCHC Team. Hunter Shepard was the lone unanimous selection as the goaltender on all 27 ballots, joined by junior forwards Justin Richards and Nick Swaney, and junior defenseman Scott Perunovich. Each member of the quartet had previously earned NCHC All-Conference designation in the postseason.

SHEP, NO, CAPTAIN SHEP! The reigning team MVP and one of his strongest defenders will lead the Bulldogs this season as senior goaltender Hunter Shepard and senior defender Nick Wolff were selected team captains. Wolff served as an Alternate Captain in 2018-19, setting a new career high in points on the blue line as he scored five goals to go with 13 assists in UMD's historic season. Shepard becomes the first Bulldog goalie since Rick Heinz in 1976-77 to serve as a team captain.

'A' FOR EFFORT Junior forward Justin Richards donned the 'A' to serve as an alternate captain for the UMD for the team's exhibition opener with Alberta, answering questions to who else would receive captaincy duties for the Bulldogs this season. The Columbus, Ohio native has skated in 86 games in his UMD career, scoring 32 points last season.

AWARD SZN Shepard received the prestigious Keith "Huffer" Christiansen Award as the Bulldogs' Most Valuable Player last season. He set a program record with his 1.76 goals against average and nearly matched his own program high with seven shutouts on the season. Additionally, Noah Cates received the Jerry Chumola Rookie of the Year Award, Parker Mackay received the Goldie Wolfe Award (Most Inspirational Player), and rising junior forward Justin Richards earned the Mike Sertich Award as the Most Improver Player. Rising senior forward Jade Miller added the Pat Francisco Community Service Award to his career accolades.

SERVING HIS COUNTRY UMD head coach Scott Sandelin will serve as the head coach of the U.S. Junior National Team at the 202 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship Dec. 26, 2019 - Jan. 5, 2020. Sandelin has been a part of three previous U.S. National Junior Team coaching staffs, including as head coach in 2005 and as an assistant coach in both 2012 and for last year's silver medal-winning club.

BULLDOGS IN THE LIMELIGHT The defending NCHC Frozen Faceoff Champions have been selected for a pair of showcase games on CBS Sports Network beginning later this season. UMD will host North Dakota on Friday, Jan. 24 at AMSOIL Arena before a national TV audience, while the Bulldogs will travel to Western Michigan on Friday, Feb. 20 for another national broadcast. Additionally, the NCHC Frozen Faceoff semifinals and championship game will air live on CBS Sports Network. UMD is 27-7-1 on national TV broadcasts in the last three seasons.

THE PUCK STOPS HERE Hunter Shepard raked in the accolades for his statistical achievements last season, receiving All-American honors from the AHCA in addition to being a top-5 semifinalist for the Mike Richter Award. During the NCHC, he earned the Goaltender of the Year award in addition to landing on the All-NCHC First Team. 

In the postseason, he represented UMD as the Most Outstanding Player in the NCHC Frozen Faceoff and landed on both the NCAA Midwest Regional and Frozen Four All-Tournament teams.

PATENTLY OFFENSIVE In addition to attaining Second Team All-American status from the AHCA (his second consecutive year to receive top national honors), Scott Perunovich earned All-NCHC First Team honors last season while the league tabbed him as its best Offensive Defenseman for the second-straight season. Perunovich earned a spot on the NCAA Midwest Regional All-Tournament Team during the postseason. Despite playing on the blue line, Perunovich ranked third on the UMD scoring charts in 2018-19.

GETTING DEFENSIVE Rising junior forward Justin Richards book-ended Perunovich's award last season  as the NCHC's Best Defensive Forward in additional to notching an All-NCHC Second Team selection. He finished with 32 points, the second-highest output of any Bulldog, scoring 21 more points than his rookie output.

A ROOK' TO REMEMBER Rising sophomore Noah Cates   earned the distinction of top overall vote-getter on the NCHC All-Rookie Team, leading Bulldog newcomers in goals (9), assists (14), and points (23).

MORE HARDWARE Rounding out the returners to receive All-Conference honors, Nick Swaney represented UMD as an All-NCHC Honorable Mention. In addition to his four game-winners, Swaney totaled 15 scores on the year and 25 points. He came through in the clutch for the Bulldogs, tallying a nationwide-best three overtime goals.

HIT THE BOOKS Not just impressive on the ice, UMD saw nine student athletes land on the NCHC Academic All-Conference Team a year ago, including returners Matt Anderson, Koby Bender, Jade Miller, Ben Patt, Justin Richards, and Nick Swaney. Matt and Mikey Anderson each attained NCHC Distinguished Scholar Athlete honors.

ROSTER BREAKDOWN Along with a four-member senior class, the Bulldogs return eight juniors who know nothing but winning championships in their careers. The 12 upper classmen break down as six defensemen, five forwards, and one goaltender. Eight return for a sophomore go-around with UMD,  two blue-liners, five forwards, and one goalie. The five first-year Bulldogs are goalie Ryan Fanti and forwards Luke Loheit, Brady Meyer, Quinn Olson, and Brandon Puricelli.

WHERE THEY'RE FROM Exactly 60 percent of the UMD roster hails from the Land of 10,000 Lakes with 15-of-25 student athletes growing up in Minnesota. Five cross the border from Canada, including two from Ontario and two from Alberta. The remaining five  Bulldogs include one each from the states of California, Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota, and Ohio.

FEELING A DRAFT Incoming freshman Quinn Olson became the 112th all-time Bulldog to be selected in the NHL Entry Draft in 2019, selected by the Boston Bruins in the third round with the no. 92 overall pick. He joins Noah Cates (Philadelphia), Cole Koepke (Tampa Bay) Luke Loheit (Ottawa), Scott Perunovich (St. Louis), Dylan Samberg (Winnipeg), and Nick Swaney (Minnesota) among current Bulldogs.

A HEALTHY LOOK Last summer, 12 current Bulldogs had the chance to flash their skills at NHL Development camps. UMD sent three student athletes to both the Bruins (Quinn Olson, Justin Richards, Nick Wolff) and Flyers (Matt Anderson, Jackson Cates, Noah Cates) camps, while the Minnesota Wild took a look at both Louie Roehl and Nick Swaney. Rounding out the group were Cole Koepke in Tampa Bay, Luke Loheit in Ottawa, Scott Perunovich in St. Louis, and Dylan Samberg in Winnipeg.

PARTING IS SUCH SWEET SORROW In addition to graduating three seniors - Billy Exell, Peter Krieger, and Parker Mackay, UMD saw two underclassmen move on to the professional ranks as Mikey Anderson signed with the Los Angeles Kings and Riley Tufte with the Dallas Stars.

Friday's series-opener with Minnesota is set for just after 7 p.m. inside 3M Arena at Mariucci in Minneapolis. The game can be seen on Fox Sports North Plus, with Saturday's game two in Duluth airing on My9 Sports locally and Fox9+ in the Twin Cities. The entire series can be heard on KDAL 610 AM/103.9 FM locally and streamed on kdal610.com.

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