The newly minted No. 3 University of Minnesota Duluth men's hockey team returns to AMSOIL Arena in Duluth, Minn. for a second-straight weekend to face the University of Nebraska Omaha Friday and Saturday. The series opener on Friday will get underway at 7:07 p.m., while game two will drop the puck at 6:07 p.m. Saturday.


HE'S BACKKKK!!! The rumors are indeed true. UMD hockey's most enduring secondary mascot will make his first-ever appearance at AMSOIL Arena this weekend against Omaha.

The Maroon Loon's last official appearance associated with the Bulldog hockey program came on Dec. 4, 2010 at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center, the final UMD hockey game played in the rink before the opening of AMSOIL.

15 years was a long enough absence -- the Maroon Loon will make his two-game return Friday and Saturday in one of his original costumes. Limited Maroon Loon merchandise will also be available at AMSOIL in the Bulldog Shop this weekend.

MAX IS FAST -- PLANTE BECOMES THIRD-EVER FASTEST BULLDOG  TO 50 CAREER POINTS: Max Plante put himself in some very rare air last Saturday night against St. Cloud State. 

The sophomore forward netted his 50th career point in overtime to firmly plant his flag as the third fastest Bulldog ever to score 50 points -- in just 35 games. Just the fifth-ever player to reach the milestone in less than 40 games, he trails only Dan Lempe, who hit 50 points in 26 games in 1976-77 and Keith "Huffer" Christiansen, who recorded 50 in 34 games in 1964-65.

Plante was also the first player to reach the mark in under 50 games since Bulldog and NHL legend Brett Hull did it in 1985-86. Plante also reached 50 faster than all six of UMD's six Hobey Baker recipients, getting there four games sooner than Bill Watson, the only Hobey Baker winner to log 50 points in 50 games or less.

UMD's 50 Under 40 Club:

Dan Lempe, 26 games, 50 points

Huffer Christiansen 34 games, 50 points

Max Plante, 35 games, 50 points

Brett Hull, 37 games, 50 points 

Bill Watson, 39 games, 50 points

50 Under 50 Club: 

Elmer Schwartz (1955-56)

Harvey Flaman (1955-56)

Mike O'Handley (1959-60)

Mike Mithrush (1961-62)

Keith "Huffer Christian (1964-65)  (Cont.)

Murray Keogan (1970-71)

Cam Fryer (1970-71)

Pat Boutette (1971-72

Thomas Milani (1973-74)

Dan Lempe (1976-77)

Scott Carlston (1979-80)

Bill Oleksuk (1979-80)

Greg Moore (1980-81)

Bill Watson (1983-84)

Brett Hull (1984-85)

Max Plante (2025-26)

Plante also reached the mark faster than his dad, Derek, who needed 52 games to reach to the 50 career mark in 1990-91.

STILL ON THE 50 UNDER 50 HUNT: Both Zam Plante and Jayson Shaugabay may have a chance to reach 50 career points before they've played in 50 career games -- Plante is currently at 45 games with 40 points (14g, 26a), while Shaugabay is at 48 games and 43 points (17g, 26a).

TO THE POINT PLANTES: Zam and Max Plante became the first-ever pair of brothers to lead the NCAA in scoring after Saturday's two point performances. Max leads the nation with 22 points on 10 goals and 12 assists, while Zam sits second with 19 points on seven goals and 12 helpers.

HIGH FIVE FOR THE THREE: While the Plante brothers occupy the 1-2 spots in NCAA point leaders, their linemate Jayson Shaugabay is right behind them, tied for fifth. Shaugabay has 17 points on five goals and 12 assists. The trio are all averaging way over a point a game -- Max Plante at 1.83 ppg, Zam Plante at 1.58 ppg and Shaugaby at 1.42 ppg.

HANSON'S ON ONE: Ty Hanson started his second season as a Bulldog earning the "A" on his sweater, and the sophomore defenseman has been on a tear ever since. 

Hanson is tied for the NCAA lead among all defenseman with 13 points (3g, 10a) and also is tied for the second highest +/- rating among all players. Hanson -- who has had four multiple point games already this season, two with three points - is now one point shy of tying his entire point output as a freshman. Last season over 36 games, Hanson recorded four goals and 10 assists for 14 points. This season, through 12 skates, Hanson is already at 13.

The reigning NCHC Defenseman of the Month, Hanson is also already a two-time NCHC Defenseman of the Week.

HIGH RISERS: UMD rose again in both national polls this week four spots, landing in third in the USCHO.com and USA Hockey Men's Hockey polls.

The four place jump puts the Bulldogs in their highest USCHO.com ranking since Nov. 29, 2021. For the USA Hockey poll, its the highest for UMD since March 21, 2022.

TAKE THEIR POINTERS: The Bulldogs have three scorers in the top-five of the NCAA,  a feat that hasn't been done by a UMD side since its first title-winning season of 2011-12. That season, the Bulldogs landed three players in the top-12 in the final NCAA statistics -- No. 2 Jack Conolly with a a 1.46 points per game average, No. 4 (tie) Travis Oleksuk with a 1.29ppg, and No. 12 (tie)  J.T. Brown with a 1.20ppg average.

By comparison Max Plante is currently at 1.83 ppg, Zam Plante at 1.58 ppg and Jayson Shaugaby at 1.42 ppg.

THAT'S THE GOAL: UMD as a team ranks second in the NCAA and first in the NCHC with 44 goals through their first 12 games -- a 3.70 goals per game average. 

Interestingly, the Bulldogs have scored those goals on just 347 shots. While that ranks as the 11th most shots taken by an team in the NCAA so far, it's 79 shots fewer than Michigan, who with 61 goals leads the NCAA in goals. 

A SWEET START: For just the fourth time in program history, the Bulldogs have started 10-2-0 in their first 12 games. The last time? The 1989-90 season when the Bulldogs went  10-2 through 12 skates. UMD also went 10-2-0 in both 1960-61 and 1959-60.

BET ON THIS LINE: UMD's offensively overwhelming first line currently leads the NCAA as its most productive. Sophomores Jayson Shaugabay, Max and Zam Plante have combined for 58 of UMD's 115 points so far this season, and have scored half of the Bulldogs 44 goals so far this season with 22.

Of their 22 goals, just four have been scored without one of their linemates -- Max Plante has scored two unassisted tallies, while Shaugabay has two goals with just Ty Hanson as the lone assist.

The trio has also racked up a pile of multiple point games too -- Max Plante has done it seven times, while both Zam Plante and Shaugabay have done it five times.

POWERED PLAY: Currently, UMD owns the NCAA's sixth-best power play with a 29.5 conversion rate. The Bulldogs penalty kill is eighth among teams that have played eight or more games.

UMD has scored at least a power play goal over its past seven of its last eight games. 12 power play goals in all over that span for a 1.20 power play goals per game average. Overall, the Bulldogs are averaging 1.08 power play goals an outing.

HE'S A WINNER: Goaltender Adam Gajan has already won 10 games so far this season -- and is already the first Bulldog goaltender to reach that mark in four seasons -- since Ryan Fanti turned in 20 triumphs in 2021-22.

Gajan's 10 wins ties him for the nation's lead, and among goaltenders with 10 or games played, he has the second lowest goals against average (1.70).

Gajan has also played the second most minutes (706) and is in a tie for the most games played (12). 

SANDELIN'S ALMOST GRAND: Head coach Scott Sandelin is marching closer to coaching in his 1,000th game on the Bulldog bench. Sandelin, who enters the weekend at 993 games, is expected to reach the incredible milestone on Dec. 12 against Arizona State at AMSOIL Arena.

Sandelin will be the 27th head coach in D1 NCAA hockey history ever to reach the milestone, and he is set to become just the fifth current head coach to coach in 1,000 or more games. With his first season at UMD back in 2000-01, Sandelin is currently in his 26th season with UMD -- the longest serving head coach in program history.

THE SERIES: UMD leads the all-time series 29-20-4 all-time against the Mavericks, but UNO earned a series sweep in their only meeting last season in Omaha. In a series that began  on Dec. 5, 1997 (4-3 Win) at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center, the Bulldogs are 17-7-4 all-time in Duluth.

UMD will look to end its five-game losing streak to Mavericks that started on Dec. 12, 2023 -- the last time UNO was at AMSOIL Arena. Four of the Bulldogs last five games have been played in Omaha, and UMD owned a 12-game unbeaten streak between March 3, 2019 through Jan. 21, 2022. 

20 of their total 53 games have been decided by one goal or less, and UMD has a 10-6-4 record in those outings. Eight of those skates were overtime outings -- UMD is 2-2-4 overtime games with the Mavericks.

Last 10 Games, UMD vs UNO

(2-8-0)

Feb. 8, 2025 UMD 1, UNO 4

Feb. 7, 2025 UMD 2, UNO 5

Feb. 3, 2024 UMD 3, UNO 4

Feb. 2, 2023 UMD 1, UNO 5

Dec. 2, 2023 UMD 0, UNO 1 OT

Dec. 1, 2023 UMD 4, UNO 2

Jan. 14, 2023 UMD 1, UNO 6

Jan. 13, 2023 UMD 2, UNO 3

Nov. 12, 2022 UMD 3, UNO 2 OT

Nov. 11, 2022 UMD 2, UNO 3

Top UMD Scorers vs Omaha

Jayson Shaugabay, 2 GP, 3 points (1g, 2a)

Max Plante, 2 GP 3 points (3a)

Adam Gajan 1 GP .828 SV% 5.15 GAA

Last season, Omaha outscored the Bulldogs 9-3 in that Feb. 7-8 series on the road, and UMD suffered 4-1 and 5-2 losses.

 Friday night, the Bulldogs never led in the contest, and fell behind 2:13 in the first period off a goal from Brady Risk. 

UMD used its power play to equalize at 11:58 of the second period when Callum Arnott scored off a rebound, but the Mavericks struck twice in the third period including just 13 seconds into the frame before adding their own power play goal less than five minutes later to stretch their lead to 3-1. UNO added an empty net goal at the 18:19 mark to seal game one for the hosts.

UMD heavily outshot UNO 40-29, including 18-9 in the final period. Klayton Knapp had 25 saves in the game, while both teams were 1-of-2 on the power play.

On Saturday night, UMD ran into UNO's power play and gave up three power play tallies to the Mavericks, including two late in the third to thwart any chance of a Bulldog comeback.

UNO's first goal of the game also came off its power play 4:42 into the first period. But 33 seconds later, Zam Plante got back into the scoring column to knot the skate up at 1-1.

Omaha retook the lead at the 8:03 mark on a goal from Jacob Guevin, a lead it would never relinquish. The Mavericks tacked on another goal to take a 3-1 advantage 5:33 into the second period, a score that held deep into the final frame.

UMD was relentless in the third, and outshot UNO 17-4 in the frame, but a five minute major for boarding from defenseman Adam Kleber threw the Mavericks a lifeline, and they made it count, burying two power play goals about a two minutes apart. The first, at 15:38, stretched UMD's deficit to 4-1, before the second a minute later expanded it to 5-1.

Shaugabay did net a power play goal of his own with 23 seconds left in the third to cut into the 5-2 final, his second point of the night (1g, 1a) and third of the series (1g, 2a).

Adam Gajan, making his first appearance in net for the Bulldogs since Nov. 23, had 24 saves in the outing. UMD outshot the Mavericks 52-29 and went 1-of-3 on the power play while UNO went 3-of-4.

Shaugabay led all UMD scorers in the series with a goal and two assists, while UMD outshot the Mavericks in both games by a total of 92-58. Game two had 52 shots on goal -- a single-game season high, and the most by a Bulldog side since UMD put up 52 against Miami on both Jan. 15, 2022 and Feb. 25, 2022.

LAST TIME OUT: UMD swept St. Cloud State last weekend at AMSOIL in NCHC play 4-0 Friday and 3-2 in overtime Saturday.

Friday, the Bulldogs tilted the ice in the first half and outshot the Huskies a whopping 13-5 to emerged from the frame up 1-0. That lead came off the d-pairing odd man rush of Adam Klebeber and Ty Hanson, and ended with Hanson delivering the puck back to Kleber in the circle for the one-timed short side goal at the 14:02 mark.

While Kleber's second goal in as many games got UMD on the board, Scout Truman's fifth of the season doubled the Bulldog lead just 2:52 into the second period. Truman finished off a wrap around the goaltender attempt by Grayden Siepmann, popping it in around an outstretched Patriks Berzins to make it a 2-0 game.

UMD's 2-0 lead survived three SCSU power plays in the second period, and the Bulldogs defense was locked down on the penalty kill, allowing just one shot on goal over those six minutes down a player.

Kept off the books for 50 minutes, UMD's top line found the back of the net twice in the third. The first came on the power play midway through the period when Max Plante drove the middle lane and dumped it down to his brother Zam Plante on the doorstep for the simple redirect and 3-0 lead at 11:08.

The Bulldogs final goal came from the redline with 49 seconds left in contest, and empty-netter from Jayson Shaugabay. Adam Gajan made 18 saves for the Bulldogs, who allowed less than 20 shots for a fifth time this season. Overall, UMD outshot the Huskies 29-18 and was 1-of-3 on its power play. 

Saturday, the night ended with Max Plante's milestone, but Plante didn't score the first goal of the night -- though he  certainly factored in it. Callum Arnott's backhand swipe outside the crease gave the Bulldogs the first lead of the game, a goal that came on the power play at the 5:27 mark. The Huskies got a heavy three-power play boost in the second period, however, and SCSU's first goal of the frame came with an extra skater at the 3:24 mark, courtesy of Barrett Hall's fourth of the season, Later in the period, SCSU took their lone lead of the game 

at 16:52, and the Bulldogs went into the second period trailing for just a third game this season.

Enter freshman Siepmann, who added to his stellar weekend with the snap of a wrist from the slot after taking a sly pass from Ryan Zaremba to draw the Bulldogs even at two goals apiece just 3:10 into the third period. 

After UMD had been outshot 12-5 in the second period, the Bulldogs reloaded their offense and put 16 shots on goal to the Huskies nine in the final stanza, but the game would need 2:32 of extra time to settle a winner.

For a second time in four games, the Bulldogs attacked extra time, and after passing on a wrap-around fleeting seconds earlier, Plante tossed the puck to his brother Zam in the high slot. The elder sibling touched the puck just twice before sending it back to Max for the one-time cannon that beat SCSU goaltender Van Shostak over his right shoulder. In the most dramatic Max Plante fashion, the Bulldogs won their second overtime game of the year with his 19th career goal and more importantly, 50th career point.

The Plante brothers and Siepmann all logged two points Saturday night to tie for the lead among both teams on the night – Max had a goal and an assist and Zam two assists, while Siepmann had a goal and an assist.. Six players recorded points, including a secondary assist from Brady Cleveland on the game-tying goal – his first as a Bulldog.

Gajan earned his 10th win of the season on 30 saves, and UMD edged SCSU in shots overall 35-32. 

NOTES ON THE ST. CLOUD SERIES: UMD is now 70-83-11 all-time against the Huskies and own a eight-game home winning streak against St. Cloud State, 

--Friday, Scout Truman's fifth goal of the season puts him halfway to his collegiate single-season high of 10 goals, a mark he reached as a junior last season at UMass-Lowell in 36 games.points (1g, 3a) -- he also rang up four points (2g, 2a) against the Beavers on Oct. 18.

CHART TOPPERS: UMD has a number of players in the NCAA top-10.

Max Plante currently leads the nation with 22 points, first in plus/minus at +16 and first in points per game (1.83) among players who have skated in four or more games, and ranks second with Zam with 12 assists.

Zam Plante currently ranks second in the NCAA in points (19), 5th in the NCAA in power play goals (5), as well as tied with Max in assists (12), third in ppg (1.58)  and 8th with a plus/minus +11) rating.

Jayson Shaugabay sits tied for second in the NCAA with 12 assists, fifth in points (18) and 7th in points per game 1.42 ppg among skaters with four or more games.

Ty Hanson -- the reigning NCHC Defenseman of the Month is tied for the most points by a defenseman (13), second in plus/minus (+13), and tied for sixth in game-winning goals (2).

Like Hanson, Adam Kleber also ranks second in the NCAA with a +13 plus/minus rating.

Goaltender Adam Gajan owns an NCAA tying tops 10 wins and also is tied for the most games played (12) and second in minutes (706).

YOUNG GUNS: 38 of UMD's 44 goals have been scored by underclassmen so far this season. 

The sophomores have netted 31, while the freshman have scored seven.

Scout Truman leads the upperclassmen with five.