The No. 7/8 University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team will put a four-game winning streak on the line this Friday and Saturday when they host the University of St. Thomas at AMSOIL Arena. The Western Collegiate Hockey Association series will get underway at AMSOIL Friday at 6:00 p.m. with the Bulldogs Annual Teddy Bear Toss, and will conclude Saturday at 3:00 p.m.

HONORING ADAM JOHNSON: The Bulldogs will honor former men's hockey standout Adam Johnson this weekend with a moment of silence prior to the game Friday. In addition, UMD will wear helmet stickers with the initials "AJ" to pay tribute to Johnson.

THE 400 WCHA WIN CLUB: On Saturday, the Bulldogs joined one of the most exclusive club in all of Division I women's hockey.

With their win at Bemidji State, UMD clinched its 400th WCHA win, just the third league team to reach the mark, and the third fastest program to reach 400 wins.

The Bulldogs have gotten 90 of those wins against Bemidji State, and 87 against Minnesota State. The third-most wins have come against St. Cloud State (81), while the Bulldog have all-time triumphs against Ohio State with 74.

MCMAHON STREAKS ON: Graduate senior Mannon McMahon has now played the fourth most consecutive games in program history. 

The forward has skated in 142 straight-games to date, putting her behind Sidney Morin in third with 147 games, Ashton Bell at No. 2 with 164, and Anna Klein, who owns a program-best 165 consecutive games played. 

UMD's all-time games played record was set last season by Naomi Rogge, and stands at 168 games. McMahon is currently 13 games away from cracking into the top-10 games played of all-time.

THE SERIES: Since the Tommies joined the WCHA during the 2021-22 season, UMD has faced UST eight times and has kept up a 7-0-1 all-time record. Last season, UMD went 3-0-1 -- settling for its first tie against ever against St. Thomas at home back on Dec. 10. 

But UMD swept its second series at St. Thomas in Mendota Heights, Minn. on Jan. 21-22, 2023 by scores  3-0 and 5-1.

In game one, UMD shutout the Tommies behind the play of Emma Soderberg. Anneke Linser book-ended a power play goal by Naomi Rogge, with a goal at 10:24 of the first period and and 18:29 of the third, while Rogge's struck at 1:50 of the third period.

But the night belonged to Gabbie Hughes, whose between the skates, from the boards pass to Linser on the game's opening goal pushed her career point haul to 200 points, just the seventh player ever to reach the mark in program history.

In game two, it was more Rogge and plenty of fifth-year offense, with two goals by Rogge in the first period scored on either side of Linser's tally at 8:23 of the first for a 3-0 lead after one. UMD added a goal from then junior Clara Van Wieren in the second period and another in the third by Taylor Anderson, the eighth time this season UMD has compiled five or more points. Soderberg had 18 saves on the afternoon. UMD held UST scoreless in 10 power play attempts in the series.

UMD also outscored UST 17-3 in four games last season, but outshot them by an even wider margin - 186-60.

In all eight of their meetings combined, the Bulldogs have outscored the Tommies 20-5.

UMD vs. St. Thomas - 8-0-1 All-Time

(Only Eight Games)

Jan. 22, 2023 5-1 Win Away

Jan. 21, 2023 3-0 Win Away

Dec. 10, 2022 1-1 OT Tie (SOL) Home

Dec.   9, 2022 8-1 Win Home

Feb. 12, 2022 8-1 Win Home

Feb. 11, 2022 7-1 Win Home

Oct. 24, 2022 7-0 Win Away

Oct. 23, 2022 3-0 Win Away

UMD-UST HIGHLIGHT: Current senior Clara Van Wieren is not only the leading career returing scorer against the Tommies, she has logged the seond most points against UST in program history. Having skated in all eight of the all-time games between the programs, Van Wieren has logged six goals and three assists for nine total points -- the second most points and the second most goals by any UMD player. Gabbie Hughes recorded a program-best 10 points in those same eight games (3g, 7a), while Naomi Rogge posted the most goals (seven) in eight skates.

Current players Mannon McMahon and Gabby Krause have also turned in a lot of points over their careers against the Tommies -- McMahon is at eight points (2g, 6a), while Krause has seven points (3g, 4a).

LAST TIME OUT:  The Bulldogs swept Bemidji State University 2-1 and 6-0 last weekend in Bemidji, Minn. to run their current winning streak to four games.

Behind two goals less than three minutes apart late in the third period, UMD completed a 2-1 comeback over the Beavers Friday afternoon. The Bulldogs, who had trailed from the 2:55 mark of the first period until 14:49 of the third, overwhelming out shot the Beavers in the game 44-15, but could not breakthrough BSU goaltender Abbie Thompson until late in the third period.

UMD finally found the net at 14:49 of the third period when graduate forward Mannon McMahon skated the puck over the BSU blueline and through the circle to find senior Clara Van Wieren in the slot for the equalizer.

Enter graduate forward Reece Hunt, whose college career at the Sanford Center included a resume of game-changing goals, delivered the eventual game-winner against the Beavers after she tracked down a rebound from a Olivia Wallin shot. The tally was just 2:53 after Van Wieren's goal and gave UMD its first lead of the game, and sealed the Bulldogs eventual comeback win. Hailey MacLeod earned her third win for UMD in net with 14 saves.

UMD took almost no time to warm up offensively Saturday. The Bulldogs offense unloaded late in the opening frame, ignited by a power play chance that ended in Van Wieren's first goal of the day. Just over a minute later, senior forward Wallin picked up her own rebound, skated it around the net and banked it off a BSU skater to push the Bulldogs up 2-0, and two and a half minutes later, UMD took a 3-0 lead on a goal from McMahon.

The Bulldogs added second period goals from Jenna Lawry (7:21), Van Wieren (10:41) and Danielle Brunette (12:02) to round off their six goal shutout of BSU.

In net, Ève Gascon made 21 saves for the second shutout of the season. UMD  outshot the Beavers 36-21.

NOTES FROM THE BSU SERIES:  UMD is now 88-22-1 against the Beavers all-time. The Bulldogs have more wins against BSU than any other program in the NCAA.

--UMD now has a 11-game unbeaten streak against the Beavers dating back to  Jan. 23, 2021. Over those 11 games, the Bulldogs have scored five or more goals a game eight times -- three of which were games with eight or more goals.

--Mannon McMahon led UMD with four points in the series (1g, 3a), while Clara Van Wieren had three goals against the Beavers. The Bulldogs outscored BSU 8-1 in the series and outshot them 80-36.

--Two players logged their first points of the season, including sophomore defenseman Tova Henderson (2a) and Danielle Brunette, whose goal Saturday doubled as her scored her first career goal.

CENTURY SKATE CLUB: Both Clara Van Wieren and Nina Jobst-Smith skated in their 102th game with UMD last Saturday. They are tied for second on the current roster -- Mannon McMahon has now played in 140 games as a Bulldog.

POINT TAKEN: Three players are averaging 1.00 or more points per game to begin the season. Mannon McMahon is averaging 1.38 points per game with a team-best 11 points, while Clara Van Wieren is sitting at 1.13 ppg and Reece Hunt is averaging 1.00 ppg.