The University of Minnesota Duluth men's hockey team is taking its rivalry with the No. 4/5 University of North Dakota to Grand Forks for a series rematch.
LAST TIME OUT UMD and UND last faced off in November, in the Bulldogs' first National Collegiate Hockey Conference games of the 2023-24 season. The Fighting Hawks took the series, with two wins. UMD scored twice last time, a power play goal by Captain Luke Loheit and an even strength goal by freshman Anthony Menghini.
NCHC OUTLOOK Now that all eight NCHC teams have taken their bye week, everyone has had 18 conference competitions. With six more regular season NCHC games to go and home ice on the line, the next three series are vital. Each team has the potential to gain 18 more points. No one's position is secure. UMD is currently in seventh place, but within two points of Omaha.
STANDOUT SPECIAL TEAMS The Bulldogs are currently first in the NCHC in penalty kill percentage (.849), as well as power play percentage (.289). On the man advantage, UMD ranks fourth in the NCAA (fifth last week). Steeves has been the key to the Bulldog power play's success. He's second in power play goals (12).
BAST RETURNS For the first time since transferring to UMD, Luke Bast is returning to The Ralph. The junior has played some of his best collegiate hockey as a Bulldog. With eight points (2-6-8), he's already surpassed both of his previous season's totals. He's continued to score exclusively on the power play, with all five of his career goals coming on the man advantage. The defenseman has also matched his previous season high (14) in blocks.
STEEVES FOR HOBEY Steeves has impressed beyond just his power play prowess. The sophomore forward is UMD's Hobey Baker Memorial Award for the second season in a row. He's third in the country in goals per game (.76), ahead of NCHC rival Western Michigan's Dylan Wendt by one goal. Steeves is also tied for fourth in game winning goals (5) with four other players. Next month, the top 10 Hobey Baker nominees will be announced.
OFFENSE FROM THE DEFENSE Last weekend was big offensively for junior Owen Gallatin and sophomore Aiden Dubinsky, season-long defensive partners. Dubinsky opened UMD's scoring Friday night with his first collegiate goal. His partner, Gallatin, had a stand out night as well, assisting on all four of the Bulldog goals Friday. Dubinsky added an assist the next game and the pair totaled six points in the series.
TANDEM GOALTENDING Fifth year Matthew Thiessen and senior Zach Stejskal have largely traded weekends in net this season. Last weekend, both goalies saw time in the crease. Stejskal has started in more games this season for UMD (19) and has a .904 save percentage. He's narrowly beaten out by Thiessen (.906), who has 12 starts. In the Bulldogs' November series against UND, Matthew Thiessen played in both games and made a total of 70 saves.
WHOLE LOT OF HISTORY (AND PENALTIES) Since first playing each other in 1954, the rivalry has only grown. In fact, a game between the two programs on Oct. 31, 1998 holds the UMD program record for most penalties (35) and penalty minutes (133) in a game.
GRAND FORKS GROWN In program history, there have only been four Bulldogs from Grand Forks, ND. Currently, sophomore Cole Spicer is the only UMD player from Grand Forks and North Dakota generally. Goaltender Nate Ziegelmann spent three seasons (2005-2008) as a Bulldog, after one year at UND. The first Grand Forks-native on the team was another goalie, Tony Gasparini (1995-99). He was joined for a season by another Grand Forks player, Eric Ness (1998-99). Ten Bulldogs have hailed from the state of North Dakota, including current sophomore goaltender Zach Sandy (Fargo, ND).
