OPENING DRAW The University of Minnesota Duluth will be opening the new year with a head to head match-up against St. Cloud State University. The Bulldogs will be traveling down to St. Cloud, Minn. for a two game series against the Huskies, who are coming out of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference Pod wtih a 6-3 record. The 6-3 record puts SCSU in a tie for third in the NCHC standings. The Huskies have outscored opponents this season 29-24 on the year and have grabbed 18 points on the season.

LAST TIME OUT UMD is coming out of the NCHC Pod in a tie for third in the standings. The Bulldogs fell to the University of North Dakota, 2-1, in their final game of the 2020 calender year. Junior forward Noah Cates was the goal scorer for UMD in that game. The Bulldogs are now 5-2-2 on the year after going on an 11-game unbeaten streak dating back to last year. UMD has out scored its opponents on the year thus far 26-20, and has grabbed 18 points as well on the season.

POD PLAYER Sophomore goalie Ryan Fanti was tabbed as the NCHC's first Goalie of the Week. Fanti started his first game of his collegiate career against the Omaha Mavericks. He was able to stop 26 of the 29 shots he faced. Over the first four games of the season and his career, Fanti has put together a .922 save percentage (second in the NCHC), along with a 2.20 (second in the NCHC) goals against average and a 3-0-1 record. Those three wins are currently tops in the NCHC. He has been able to take down two top-10 opponents thus far in (at the time) No. 5 Denver and No. 1 North Dakota in a shootout.

BULLDOGS IN THE POLLS UMD dropped in the last  national polls, claiming the No. 4 in the U.S. College Hockey Online (USCHO.com) Division I Men's poll and No. 4 in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Coaches Poll. The Bulldogs were ranked third in the previous polls. UMD has cracked every USCHO.com weekly poll since March 7, 2017.

MORE FOR THE MANTLE The Bulldogs had some noteworthy accolades last season, with Scott Perunovich taking home the Hobey Baker award, the NCHC Player of the Year, the USA Hockey Jim Johannson College Player of the Year, the NCHC Three-Star award and the Offensive Defenseman award. Hunter Shepard was named NCHC Goaltender of the Year and Justin Richards was named NCHC Defensive Forward of the Year. UMD looks to continue their excellence this season.

THE RIVALRY In the past eight seasons, the Huskies have fared well against the Bulldogs, holding a 14-16-1 record. In their entirety, SCSU has held UMD's number with a 72-54-6 record overall and a 69-48-8 record since joining the NCAA Division I ranks.
The Bulldogs have taken the past two contests and the past three of five. The last two meetings took place in Duluth, Minn. with UMD winning 6-1 and 4-1. In the past five games, the Bulldogs have outscored the Huskies 14-8. Senior forward Koby Bender potted two in the last contest with senior forward Kobe Roth and sophomore forward Luke Loheit scoring as well.

GOALS? WE LIKE GOALS The Bulldogs have one of the top returning rosters in terms of goals. UMD is coming back with the fourth most goals on their roster with 90, with Bowling Green (96) sitting atop the charts, and Nor th Dakota (96) right there with them and the University of Minnesota (93) just behind them. UMD returns seven of their top-10 from last season, with junior forward Cole Koepke being the majority holder with 16, and junior forward Noah Cates following with 14.

STARTING STRONG The Bulldogs have produced points this year left and right. Senior forward Nick Swaney is at the forefront, leading the charge for UMD and sits third in the NCHC with 12 points (3g, 9a) on the season up to this point. His nine assists on the season is No. 2 in the league so far.

STARTING STRONG II Sophomore goalie Ryan Fanti has had a stellar start to his career thus far, sitting with four wins under his belt. He's been a rock solid back stop for the Bulldogs with a .916 save percentage (third in the NCHC) and a 2.20 goals against average (fourth in the NCHC).

STARTING STRONG III Senior forward Kobe Roth is fifth in the NCHC this season in goals, scoring five on the year in nine games. He also has two assists, giving him seven points on the season.

SPECIAL TEAMS ARE INDEED SPECIAL UMD started the strong on the special teams, and have slowed down as of later but are looking to return to form. The Bulldogs are currently clipping at an 18.9% (7-37) on the season. The penalty kill has been running at an 81.1% (30-37) on the season and will look to continue to improve.

SPECIAL TEAMS ARE INDEED SPECIAL II Junior forward Jackson Cates leads the way with three power play goals on the year (second in the NCHC) and one power play assist. His brother, junior forward Noah Cates, has two power play tallies and three assists while on the man advantage.
Senior forward Kobe Roth and junior forward Cole Koepke have the other two power play tallies.

SPECIAL TEAMS ARE INDEED SPECIAL III The Bulldogs have two short handed goals on the season, tied for first in the NCHC. Senior forward Nick Swaney and junior defensman Hunter Lellig have the two shorties on the season, with Lellig's being his first collegiate career goal.

STRONG FINISH UMD has scored 53.8% (14 of 26) goals in the third period thus far in the season. Those 14 goals in the third are the second best in the NCHC.

KEEPING IT 100 There are a plethora of players on this years roster that are either past, or close to breaking the 100 game mark for their careers. Senior defense men Matt Anderson (120) and Louie Roehl (123), forwards Kobe Roth (115) and Nick Swaney  (115) all passing the mark last season. Four Juniors, forwards Jackson Cates (77), Noah Cates (83), Cole Koepke (85) and Tanner Laderoute (77) all have the milestone within reach.

NEAR THE TOP UMD came in third in the NCHC preseason media poll, sitting behind UND (223), who grabbed 27 out of a possible 28 first place votes, DU (185), who grabbed the last first place vote possible. The Bulldogs donned 173 points and were followed by SCSU (126), WMU (116), UNO (96), CC (45) and Miami (44)

BEST OF THE BEST a Pair of Bulldogs landed on the seven-man Preseason All-NCHC Team. Noah Cates and Cole Koepke were both named to the Preseason squad.

CAPTAIN CATES Noah Cates (3g, 5a) is stepping into the season with a 'C' on his chest. He looks to step into the roll with pride, taking over for the departed former captain Nick Wolff, who signed with the Boston Bruins. Cates returns as UMD's second top point getter, finishing last year with 33 (14g, 19a) points, and a career mark of 64 (26g, 38a) points.

'A' FOR EFFORT After a stellar sophomore season, Cole Koepke (3g, 4a) will be one of three captains. He comes into his junior year with a career mark of 59 (26g, 33a) points, while finishing last year with a team second best 33 (16g, 17a) points.

'A' FOR EFFORT II Senior Louie Roehl is another will also sport the 'A' this season. Roehl looks to have another productive year for UMD, as he's been with the Bulldogs for two championships and played in 123 games. Roehl has 25 (7g, 18a) points in his career as a Bulldog and has a +31 rating for his career.

'A' FOR EFFORT III Senior Nick Swaney (3g, 9a) is the final 'A' for the team this season. Swaney is another player who has been with UMD for two championships, He has been on a slow climb in points, prducing at a 0.74 points per game pace for his career. in 115 games, Swaney has put up 85 points (36g, 49a) points while sporting a solid +41 rating. He's produced seven game winners in his career with the Bulldogs.