The University of Minnesota Duluth men's hockey team will begin the 2025-26 season on the road for the first time in five seasons when it travels to Fairbanks, Alaska to play the University of Alaska Fairbanks this Friday and Saturday at the Carlson Center. The season opener will get underway at 10:07 p.m. Friday night, followed by another 10:07 p.m. start time Saturday night. Both games will be available to watch (on a purchase basis) on FloHockey TV or fans can listen to Bruce Ciskie call the game on KDAL 610 AM .
GREAT SCOTT! SANDELIN ENTERS 26TH SEASON: UMD bench boss Scott Sandelin has begun his 26th season, the longest tenure of any Bulldog coach in program history and with a record of 469-408-104, Sandelin currently ranks fourth in wins among all active Division I men's hockey head coaches. The lone active coach with three NCAA titles, Sandelin is one of 13 coaches ever to run up 469 wins with the same school.
UMD as a program has had incredible stability from its head coach position for 50 seasons -- since the 1975-76 season, the Bulldogs have had just three head coaches -- Gus Henderickson (1975-76 to 1981-82, MIke Sertich (1982-83 to 1999-00 and Sandelin, who has been with UMD since the 2000-01 season.
As a program, the Bulldogs will begin their 82nd season. All-time, UMD is 1,236-1,206-181.
EARLY RANKERS: The Bulldogs are receiving votes in both preseason national polls.
UMD picked up 19 votes in the September 22 Preseason USCHO.com Division I Men's Ice Hockey Poll, while it grabbed 24 votes in the Sept. 29 Preseason USA Hockey Men's College Hockey Poll.
OPENING ON THE ROAD: The Bulldogs will open up the season on the road for the first time since the 2021-22 season.
AHOY ALASKA: UMD will return to the state of Alaska for the first time since the 2012-13 season.
While the Bulldog program has never played in Fairbanks, UMD was a frequent visitor to Anchorage as members of the now defunct Western Collegiate Hockey Association men's hockey conference. The Bulldogs last played in the state of Alaska on Dec. 14-15, 2012 where it logged a series sweep (5-1, 2-1 wins).
Ironically, UMD's first-ever game against a team from Alaska was in fact against Alaska Fairbanks on Oct. 26, 1984 -- almost a full year before it faced Alaska Anchorage for the first time.
THE SERIES: The Bulldogs and Nanooks have met just eight times in their program's history, and never in the state of Alaska.
All-time, UMD is 6-1-1 against Alaska Fairbanks, which includes a series played at AMSOIL Arena last Jan. 3-4.
In that most recent series, UMD tied and lost to Alaska Fairbanks in two overtime games at AMSOIL by scores of 2-2 and 2-1.
Friday night, Carter Loney gave the Bulldogs their first lead of the game at 9:14 of the opening period.
After that lead held the rest of the first period, Alaska Fairbanks drew even just 2:27 into the second period to make it a 1-1 game. But UMD again retook the lead, this time on Aaron Pionk's first goal of the season at 15:43 of the frame.
The Bulldogs 2-1 lead didn't hold in the third, however, and Alaska Fairbanks pulled back into a 2-2 stalemate at 5:00, a score that would hold for the following 15 minutes, as well as five minute overtime.
UMD had reluctantly pocketed the tie before its fourth skater in the shootout, Anthony Menghini, finally got one past Lehit. Goaltender Klayton Knapp, who was outstanding all game for UMD, kept the door shut in the shootout, and finished the game with a career-high 34 saves. The Nanooks outshot the Bulldogs 36-20.
Saturday, despite holding Alaska Fairbanks to the fewest shots on goal by a Bulldog opponent since November 21, 2021 – ironically also against the Nanooks – UMD surrendered the first goal of the game on Alaska Fairbank's fourth shot of the night at 9:50 of the second period.
That 1-0 score would hold for the rest of the second period and all but 18:58 of the third frame until the Bulldog Blake Bechen broke through with game-tying tally.
UMD's comeback was cut short by Broten Sabo in overtime, however, after Sabo finished the odd-man rush to push Alaska Fairbanks past the Bulldogs 2-1.
The Nanooks were led by goaltender Nicholas Grabko and his 39 saves on 40 UMD shots. The Bulldogs outshot Alaska Fairbanks 40-10 in the game, while neither team was successful on its power play (UMD 0-of-3, UAF 0-of-2).
Notably, UMD was without current sophomores Max Plante, Adam Kleber, and Adam Gajan, as well as then seniors Joe Molenaar and Will Francis for the series.
In fact, UMD has just 10 players on its roster that skated for against the Nanooks last season.
FROM NANOOK TO BULLDOG: Senior forward Kyle Gaffney will be the only UMD player to have skated inside the Carlson Center Friday. The native of Plymouth, Mich. skated in 99 games for the Nanooks over his three-year career, running up 43 points on 13 goals and 30 assists. Last season, the six-foot forward posted a single-season-best effort of 20 points as a junior in 2024-25, which included six goals and 14 assists -- also single-season highs -- over 32 games.
Twice Gaffney notched two points in a game last season -- and one of those times came against the Bulldogs at AMSOIL on Jan. 4 where he dished out two asissts in Alaska Fairbanks' 2-1 overtime win over UMD.
Top-Returning Scoring UMD Players vs Alaska Fairbanks:
Aaron Pionk 2 GP, 1-1=2
Blake Bechen, 2 GP, 1g
All-Time Games, UMD vs Fairbanks
(6-1-1)
Jan. 4, 2025 1-2 OT Loss (Home)
Jan. 3, 2025 2-2 OT Tie (Home)
Nov. 27, 2021 1-0 Win (Home
Nov. 26, 2021 5-1 Win (Home)
Dec. 17, 1988 6-1 Win (Home)
Dec. 16, 1988 5-1 Win (Home
Oct. 27, 1984 9-5 Win (Home)
Oct. 26, 1984 6-3 Win (Home)
OF NOTE: Alaska Fairbanks, has been an independent since the 2021-22 season. Here are the Bulldogs record against current independents:
UMD vs Current Independents
--Alaska Fairbanks...All-Time 6-1-1...2-1-1 since becoming independent in 2021-22
--Alaska-Anchorage...All-Time 45-20-12...N/A since becoming independent in 2022-23
--Lindenwood...N/A All-Time...Independent since 2022-23
--LIU...N/A All-Time...Independent since 2020-21
--Stonehill...2-0 All-Time...Independent since 2022-23.
YOUNG GUNS: The Bulldogs will overwhelming have one of the youngest rosters across the board, with 18 underclassmen set to skate in 2025-26. UMD's roster features seven freshmen, but it also retained the services of 10 (out of 11 in total) sophomores who were rookies in 2024-25.
TRUSTED TRANSFERS: UMD has a program-high five transfers who will suit up in the maroon and gold, including four that faced the Bulldogs in 2024-25.
In fact, all five skated against UMD over the past two seasons -- Kyler Kovich faced UMD in Ithaca, NY on Oct. 27-28, 2023 with Cornell, while both Scout Truman (UMass Lowell) and Kyle Gaffney (Alaska Fairbanks) both played UMD in a nonconference series last season. Junior defenseman Brady Cleveland faced the Bulldogs twice in NCHC play with Colorado College in 2024-25, while sophomore goaltender Ethan Dahlmeir, with Miami (OH), faced UMD four times in league play a year ago.
FOUR FOR THE SCORE: The Bulldogs return more than half of their scoring from a season ago -- in total, 53 of UMD's 99 goals came from current players.
In fact, the Bulldogs return four of their top five scorers, missing only leading scorer Dominic James and his 14 goals, 30 point senior campaign. Sophomore forward Max Plante ranked second for the Bulldogs with 28 points (9g, 19a) in just 23 games last season, and right behind him were 26 point scorers sophomore Jayson Shaugabay (12g, 14a), and junior defenseman Aaron Pionk (3g, 23a).
The last time the Bulldogs returned four of their five top scorers in back-to-back years? The 2001-02 squad, who brought back senior forwards Judd Medak, Tom Nelson, junior center Jon Francisco and senior defenseman Andy Reierson. Between the four, they returned in 2001-02 with 39 of UMD's 103 tallies netted in 2000-01.
GONE GOALIES: For a second-straight season, UMD returns just one goaltender from its previous season. This year, sophomore Adam Gajan is the lone netminder of the three (Ethan Dahlmeir, sophomore transfer, freshman Cole Sheffield). Gajan played in 21 games last season due to injury, and posted a 3.33 GAA, along with a .885 saves percentage and an overall record of 7-12-1.
THEY'RE GAMERS: Captain Joey Pierce will skate in his 100th game as a Bulldog Friday night, while former Nanook, Kyle Gaffney will also skate in his 100th collegiate career game Friday against his former team.
FANTASTIC FIVE: Five players were voted captains for the 2025-26 season -- the most Bulldog players to simultaneously wear a letter in the same season in program history.
Those five players include senior defenseman Joey Pierce, who will wear the lone "C" after serving as an alternate last season. Four players will join Pierce as alternates – graduate forward and Cornell transfer Kyler Kovich, junior defenseman Aaron Pionk, sophomore forward Max Plante and sophomore defenseman Ty Hanson.
"I don't think we can go wrong with any of these guys, these are guys who represent how we want to play," said Scott Sandelin. "They compete, work hard, they want to win and they are so driven – all the things we want – I like this group a lot. They really complement each other. You have older players like Kyler and deeply respected players like Joey. You have vocal leaders in the younger guys and it really is just a good mix of guys that are the epitome of Bulldog hockey."
Pierce is the lone returning captain off the 2024-25 squad, and his first game of the new season will mark his 100th in a UMD jersey. The Hermantown, Minn. native has recorded a goal and 12 assists over his career. Pierce has also excelled in the classroom – he's a three-time National College Hockey Conference Distinguished Scholar-Athlete (the league's highest academic honor), and was named to the 2024-25 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® Men's At-Large Team this past spring.
Kovich comes to the Bulldogs after spending four seasons with the Big Red. A product of Coquitlam, British Columbia, Kovich played in 78 games at Cornell, including all 36 over the 2024-25 season. Kovich had 22 points with the Big Red, including nine goals and 13 assists. He posted the most offensive season of his career last year with five goals and nine assists, and is also a AHCA/Krampde All-American Scholar and was a 2025 ECAC Hockey All-Academic Team selection.
Pionk has never missed a game for the Bulldogs in two seasons, having now skated in 73-straight games. Hailing from Hermantown, Minn., Pionk has posted a point in more than half of his collegiate games – he's recorded six goals and forty assists for 46 points, along with two power play goals and one game-winner. Pionk ranked 10th in the NCHC in assists per game (0.64) in league play last season, and is a two-time NCHC Academic All-Conference Team member.
Hanson played in all 36 of UMD's games as a rookie, recording four goals and 10 assists for 14 points. A native of Hermantown, Minn., Hanson had two multiple point games last season and was both a 2024-25 Newcomer NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete and Newcomer NCHC Academic All-Conference Team selection.
Plante, despite playing in just 23 games last season due to injury and national junior team duty, scored nine goals and dished 19 assists for 28 points as a rookie. That 1.21 points per game average for the Hermantown, Minn. product helped make him a 2024-25 Finalist for NCHC Rookie of the Year, and cleared him a spot on the 2024-25 NCHC All-Rookie Team. Plante – who had nine games with two or more points last season – was also named a 2024-25 Newcomer NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete. Plante follows in his father Derek's footsteps – the elder Plante was a team captain as a senior in 1992-93 after serving as an alternate in 1991-92.
PLANTED NAMED TO 2025-26 NCHC PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE: Max Plante was been named to the 2025-26 National Collegiate Hockey Conference Preseason All-Conference Team -- the first Bulldog to land on the league's preseason team since current Philadelphia Flyers forward Noah Cates earned the honor ahead of the 2021-22 season.
The sophomore forward, despite playing in just 23 games last season due to injury and national junior team duty, scored nine goals and dished 19 assists for 28 points as a rookie. That 1.21 points per game average for the Hermantown, Minn. product helped make him a 2024-25 Finalist for NCHC Rookie of the Year, and cleared him a spot on the 2024-25 NCHC All-Rookie Team. Plante – who had nine games with two or more points last season – posted a 1.05 ppg average in NCHC games that led all rookies in league play. Plante also helped the U.S. win gold at the 2025 World Junior Championship in January.
LIKE FATHER LIKE SON: Max Plante bested his father Derek Plante's rookie output from the 1989-90 season last season in just 23 games. The senior Plante had 21 points (10 g, 11a) over 28 games, while the younger Plante recorded 28 points (9g, 19a) over 23 games skated in 2024-25.
Plante has some work to do if he wants to catch his dad in the points per game column though -- Derek Plante averaged a mind-bending 1.58 points per game over his career, putting up 219 points over 138 points from 1989-93 -- the second highest points per game total in UMD history.
Currently, the middle Plante son owns a 1.21 ppg average through 23 games.
FAMILY MATTERS: For a second-straight season, UMD has brothers on the roster for the first time since Jackson and Noah Cates overlapped for three seasons, most recently, the 2020-21 season. Zam and Max Plante will again wear the Bulldog sweater this season as sophomores after Zam Plante spent an extra season with the Fargo Force of the USHL and Max Plante jumped right into the maroon and gold as a true freshman after spending the past two years in the USNTDP.
The Plante brothers, out of Hermantown, Minn. will become the 13th father-son Bulldog combination, along with current freshman Ty Hanson, to follow their fathers to UMD for their collegiate hockey careers. Derek Plante played for the Bulldogs from 1989-93, and was 1993 Hobey Baker Finalist. Derek Plante is still tied for the second most points in program history, having racked up 219 points (96g,143a) in just 138 games for a 1.58 points per game average.
The family will have a unique distinction, however, within the UMD program. Max and Zam will become the first brothers to have a father who skated for the Bulldogs.
Hanson follows his father Greg Hanson, who was a defenseman for the Bulldogs from 1992-1996 and was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in 1990 in the eighth round with the 193rd pick.
The Plante brothers and Hanson aren't the only current family connections this season for UMD -- sophomore defenseman Aaron Pionk's brother Neal Pionk played for the Bulldogs from 2015-17 and currently plays for the Winnipeg Jets of the NHL.
FEELING A DRAFT? The Bulldogs have seven players on their roster who have been drafted by NHL teams this season. Five of those picks are sophomores, while two are juniors.
UMD has four players who were selected in the second round -- the Bulldog program in its entirety has had 12 total.
Adam Kleber, a 6-5 defenseman from Chaska, Minn., was taken 45th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 2024, while Max Plante,a 5-11 forward and native of Hermantown, Minn. was selected just two spots later at 47th by the Detroit Red Wings. The duo are also just the 10th and 11th ever second round UMD draft picks, and joined sophomore goalie Adam Gajan, who was also taken in the second round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks with the 35th overall pick.
Junior defenseman Brady Cleveland joins the trio as the fourth current Bulldog to be take in the second round -- the Colorado College defenseman transfer was selected by the Detroit Red Wings in the second round (pick 47) of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.
