The No. 7 University of Minnesota Duluth men's hockey team will host its first National Collegiate Hockey Conference opponent this weekend when it welcomes St. Cloud State University to AMSOIL Arena for a Friday-Saturday series. Friday night's game will get underway at 7:07 p.m., while Saturday's skate will drop the puck at 6:07 p.m.

UMD Men's Hockey Weekly Press Conference -- November 5, 2025 -- Head Coach Scott Sandelin, Sophomore Defensemen Ty Hanson and Adam Kleber



MILITARY APPRECIATION NIGHT FRIDAY: UMD will host its annual Military Appreciation Night Friday night at AMSOIL. It will entail discounted tickets for military members and veterans, a pregame flag ceremony with veterans and the Minnesota Warriors Veteran hockey team holding the flag. The Minnesota Warriors Veteran hockey team will also host their annual hockey game prior to the men's game at AMSOIL Arena.

The Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Honor Guard will also be presenting the colors prior to the national anthem. The Fond du Lac Band will recognize Native American veterans and performing a drum honor song in the ticket lobby prior to the game.

POLL PATROL: UMD rose again in both national polls this week, landing in seventh in the USCHO.com and USA Hockey Men's Hockey poll.

The three place jump (and four places in the USA Hockey poll) puts the Bulldogs in their highest national ranking since Oct. 4, 2022, when UMD was ranked No. 5 by USCHO.com.

50 BEFORE 50: Max Plante is marching toward 50 career points -- and its trending to happen before he skates in 50 games. 

The sophomore forward is sitting at 47 career points (18g, 29a) in just 33 games heading into the weekend -- three points shy of the 50 career point mark.

It's a feat that hasn't happened for 42 seasons, and dates back to Feb. 22, 1985 when freshman phenom Brett Hull hit 50 points in just 37 games. 

If Plante gets to 50 faster than Hull, he will be the fastest player since UMD legend Dan Lempe reached 50 points in 26 games over the 1976-77 season.

In the history of the UMD program, at least 15 players have reached 50 points in 50 or less games. While Lempe owns the program record of 50 points in just 26 games, since that record was set in 1976-77, only two other players have recorded 50 points in less than 10 games -- Hull in 37 games in 1985-86 and Bill Watson in 39 in 1984-85.

On the topic of 50 points in 50 games, Jayson Shaugabay is another Bulldog to watch on the 50 point march -- the sophomore winger has 42 points in 46 career games.

POINT TO PLANTE: Sophomore forward Max Plante leads the nation with 19 points through his first 10 games -- a 1.90 ppg -- which also leads the nation among players who have skated in three or more games. 

The sophomore forward also owns a NCAA-high plus/minus rating of +13, and ranks 4th with nine goals in his first 10 games. 

Plante has already tied his entire goal output for his rookie season (23 games), and is just nine points shy of his 2024-25 point total of 28 points, which he accumulated over 23 games played.

STILL A SWEET START: For just the second time in program history, the Bulldogs have started 8-2-0. The last time -- and only other time its happened? To start the 1989-90 season when the Bulldogs started out 8-2.

THAT'S THE GOAL: UMD as a team ranks third in the NCAA and first in the NCHC with 37 goals through their first 10 games -- a 3.70 goals per game average. 

Interestingly, the Bulldogs have scored those goals on just 283 shots. While that ranks as the 14th most shots taken by an team in the NCAA so far, its 99 shots fewer than Penn State, who with 41 goals (four ahead of UMD) ranks in second in goals in the NCAA.

BET ON THIS LINE: UMD's offensively overwhelming first line is currently tied with the Penn State line of JJ Wiebusch, Charlie Cerrato and Matt DiMarsico as the most productive line in all of the NCAA. Sophomores Jayson Shaugabay, Max and Zam Plante have combined for 51 of UMD's 96 points so far this season, and have scored 19 of the Bulldogs 37 goals.

The trio has racked up a pile of multiple point games too -- Max Plante has done it six times, Shaugabay with five times and Zam Plante has four games with two or more points. 

All three are just one game removed their last multiple game outing -- the trio combined for eight points against the University of North Dakota last Friday (M. Plante 2g, 2a, Z. Plante 1g, 3a, Shaugabay 2a), a 4-3 overtime win

HE'S A WINNER: Goaltender Adam Gajan has already won eight games so far this season -- a mark he was unable to reach last season in 20 games started. 

The sophomore went 7-12-1 as a rookie, but this season is already 8-2 and owns the second best record in the NCAA. If and when Gajan gets win No. 9, he will be the first Bulldog goaltender to reach that mark in four seasons -- since Ryan Fanti turned in 20 triumphs in 2021-22.

Gajan has also played the second most minutes (583) and is in a tie for the most games played (10). His 1.85 GAA average is the 12th lowest in the NCAA among netminders with four or more games, and he's made 199 saves in those 10 outings.

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

Max Plante currently leads the nation with 19 points, first in plus/minus at +13 and first in points per game (1.90) among players who have skated in two or more games.

Zam Plante currently ranks 4th in the NCAA in points (16), and power play goals (4), as well as fifth in assists (10) and plus/minus (+9).

Jayson Shaugabay sits second in the NCAA with 12 assists, fourth in points (16) and fifth in points per game 1.60 ppg among skaters with two or more games.

Ty Hanson -- the reigning NCHC Defenseman of the Month and Week ranks third in the nation in points (10), second in plus/minus (+11), and third in game-winning goals.

Like Hanson, Adam Kleber also ranks second in the NCAA with a +11 plus/minus rating.

DON'T OVERLOOK THE ROOKS: 18 of 59 While UMD's top line is getting attention it's earned, the Bulldogs rookies have factored in 18 of 59 points.

Hunter Anderson, along with Ryan Zaremb leads all rookies with six points each. Anderson has six points in (2g, 4a) in eight games played, while Zaremba has one goal and five assists in nine games. Daniel Shlaine, often the center of both forwards, has had two goals and two assists for four points in 10 skates, while defenseman Grayden Siepmann has added two points (2g, 2a) in 10 outings. 

Over UMD's first 10 games, freshmen have scored six goals (of 37.

HOT-TOBER -- UMD TRIO NABS NCHC PLAYERS OF THE MONTH:

UMD swiped three of a possible four monthly NCHC awards on Wednesday – the most the Bulldogs have earned in a single month since the 2018-19 season. For the month of October, Max Plante was named the NCHC Forward of the Month, Ty Hanson the NCHC Defenseman of the Month and Adam Gajan the Goaltender of the Month – all first time monthly award honorees for the trio.

Plante offensively exploded out of the gate last month, posting 18 points in 10 games online goals and nine assists. His 2.00 points per game average led the NCAA, as well as his +14 plus/minus rating. The Hermantown, Minn. native also had a league-high two shorthanded goals, two power play goals and a game-winning goal on his scoresheet for the month. Plante was the only player in the NCHC besides his brother Zam to log two, four point games (his career high), and he six times recorded two or more points and three times recorded three or more. Plante is currently the NCAA's leading scorer with 19 points total points.

Hanson's game-winning goal in overtime last Friday night against North Dakota capped off an impressive month for the defenseman in which he had three goals and seven assists for 10 points total in 10 skates (just four shy from his entire rookie output of 14 points). The Hermantown, Minn. product posted a 1.11 points per game average, which included two game-winning goals, a +12 plus/minus rating and 12 blocks (a 1.20 a game average). Hanson led all league defenseman in points, assists, plus/minus and game-winning goals, and posted three multiple point games, including a career-best three assists against Bemidji State University on Oct. 18. He was also part of a penalty kill unit that turned in a 90% kill rate and a power play that was 32.4 in October.

Gajan was arguably the nation's best goal last month, winning a NCAA-high eight games and recording a 1.45 goals against average. The native of Poprad, Slovakia had a .931 saves percentage, and made 176 saves in an NCAA-high 538:46 minutes, and also added one shutout. Gajan led the NCHC in wins, minutes played, goals against average and saves percentage and helped back stop UMD 90% penalty kill. He also allowed the second fewest goals against in the NCHC (13) last month.

The Bulldogs earned three monthly awards for the first time in program history, and earned multiple honors for the first time in the same month since defenseman Mikey Anderson and goaltender Hunter Shepard were winners for March of 2019. UMD had multiple monthly award winners twice over the 2018-19 season. For perspective, the Bulldogs have had just five total NCHC monthly award winners before today's trio were named since the 2019-20 season.

YOUNG GUNS: 32 of UMD's 37 goals have been scored by underclassmen so far this season. 

The sophomores have netted 26, while the freshman have scored six.

Scout Truman leads the upperclassmen with four.

THE SERIES: UMD is 68-83-11 all-time against the Huskies and finished last season 3-1-0, with the Bulldogs lone loss in overtime in St. Cloud, Minn.

Last season UMD outscored the Huskies 12-7 for an average of 3.00 goals per game. The Bulldogs also outshot SCSU by a 29.5 to 25.7 average. Both teams logged two power play attempts -- UMD owned a 18.2 success rate in 11 attempts, while the Huskies posted a 20.0.

SPECIAL TEAM SHOWDOWN: The Bulldogs and Huskies are headed for a special teams showdown this weekend. SCSU enters the weekend with the nation's second-best power play at a 39.5 success clip, while the Bulldogs rank eighth with a 28.9. UMD owns the 10th best penalty kill among teams that have played three or more games at 88.2, while the Huskies own one of the worse in the country with just a 70.1 penalty kill success rate.

Top-3 UMD Players vs St Cloud State

Aaron Pionk GP 8 1G, 9A, 10 Points

Max Plante GP 4 2G, 2A, 4 Points

Jayson Shaugaby GP 4 1 G, 1A 2 Points

Adam Gajan 1-1 .906 SV% 2.43 GAA

Last 10 Games, UMD vs St. Cloud St.  (6-4-0)

Mar. 9, 2025 UMD 3, SCSU 2

Mar. 8, 2025 UMD 2, SCSU 3

Jan. 11, 2025 UMD 5, SCSU 2

Jan. 10, 2025 UMD 2, SCSU 0

Mar. 9, 2024 UMD 4, SCSU 2

Mar. 8, 2024 UMD 6, SCSU 5 OT

Nov. 18, 2023 UMD 5, SCSU 6

Nov. 17, 2023 UMD 1, SCSU 2

Mar. 12, 2023 UMD 1, SCSU 3*

Mar. 11, 2023 UMD 5, SCSU 1*

*NCHC Tournament Quarterfinals

The two sides split in their last regular season action last year, with UMD dropping a 3-2 overtime decision on March 7 before rebounding for a 3-2 win over the Huskies Saturday, March 8.

In game one, UMD's power play needed just two chances to get on the board, and the game's opening goal came at 16:54 from Zam Plante. The Bulldogs built on that lead midway through the second frame when Dominic James found Anthony Menghini all alone in the slot to make it 2-1 at 9:34.

A costly Bulldog turnover in front of UMD goaltender Gajan helped the Huskies cut their deficit with just 1:52 left in the second frame. Then, late in third period, St. Cloud State emptied their net with a little more than four minutes left in the period to play for the win, and the gamble paid off with a game-tying goal with just 22.8 seconds left in regulation. The Huskies outshot UMD 14-9 in the third period en route to the game-tying tally.

Once regulation ended, UMD had locked in seventh seed in the NCHC postseason, but overtime loomed for the Bulldogs. A penalty with 1:39 left in extra time led to the Huskies game-winner with a mere 28.6 left on the clock – and snapped UMD's four game-winning streak against St. Cloud State.

Gajan made 27 saves and both teams put 29 shots on goal. The Bulldogs were 1-of-2 on the power play, while SCSU was 1-of-3.

Saturday UMD earned a 3-2 win over the Huskies. Menghini scored twice in the opening 11 minutes of the game, and the Bulldogs never trailed the Huskies to finish the regular season against SCSU 3-1.

The Huskies added to the scoring at 11:19 on a goal from Verner Miettinen to pull within a goal, and that 2-1 count would hold until the third period. Jack Smith added UMD's third goal at the 7:41 mark, and Huskies cut their deficit to one goal at 14:28, but a tripping call against the Huskies with just 1:48 left in the third snuffed out SCSU's ability to gain an extra skater with their empty net.

Gajan made 22 saves on 23 shots, and UMD outshot St. Cloud State 29-24 in the game.

COMMON DOGS: St. Cloud State head coach Brett Larson Ty Hanson's dad Greg Hanson and Zam and Max Plante's dad Derek Plante were all teammates at UMD, including over the 1992-93 WCHA Championship season.
 

Larson, a Duluth native, skated in 133 games for UMD, scored 24 goals and dished out 43 assists for 67 career points in four seasons (1991-95).  Larson was also an assistant coach to Scott Sandelin from 2008-11 and 2015-18, winning NCAA titles with UMD in both 2011 and 2018.

LAST TIME OUT: UMD spilt with North Dakota in Grand Forks last weekend with a 4-3 overtime win on Friday before suffering a 5-1 setback on Saturday night. 

Powered by the four point nights of Zam and Max Plante, the Bulldogs built up a 3-1 lead with a shorthanded goal from Max Plante and a goal late in the first period from Zam Plante to take a 2-1 lead into the first intermission. The Bulldogs power play made it 3-1 on Max Plante's goal at 12:47 of the third period.

The Fighting Hawks put up a fight late in the third, however, scoring at 16:02, and then again on the 6-on-5 empty net extra skater advantage with just 1:11 left in regulation to force both teams first overtime game of the season.

UMD needed just 43 seconds in extra time to close the book on UND for good, and Hanson, who had been close to scoring a few times throughout the night, finally got his goal to seal the win.

Gajan picked up his eighth win of the season with a 25 save effort, and while the Bulldogs went 1-of-3 with the extra skater, they held UND 0-of-2 on its power play.

In game two, the Bulldogs again got on the board first with a goal from defenseman Adam Kleber, his first of the season,  at 8:49, but UND tied it with 2:18 left in the opening frame to make it a 1-1 game. From there, it was all Fighting Hawks, who scored a power play goal 1:09 into the second period and added another goal in the frame and two in the third period to snuff out any UMD change at a sweep in the series. 

North Dakota outshot UMD 38-20 – the most shots UMD has allowed in a game so far this season – and held the Bulldogs high-flying power play scoreless for the first time in six contests. Gajan made 23 saves in 44:40 of action, while Ethan Dahlmeir had 10 in 15:20 of relief – his first appearance as a Bulldog.

NOTES ON THE NORTH DAKOTA SERIES: UMD is 101-160-11 against the Fighting Hawks all-time, but broke a eight-game losing streak with its over time win on Friday night. 

--UMD's win Friday night was also its first over UND in Grand Forks since Jan. 21, 2023 -- which also doubled as its last win prior to Friday.

--Max Plante recorded four points for just the second time in his career Friday -- his two goal, two assist night ties his previous career high set against Bemidji State on Oct. 17 earlier this month. Zam Plante also tied a career high of four points (1g, 3a) -- he also rang up four points (2g, 2a) against the Beavers on Oct. 18.

--UMD has scored at least a power play goal over its past five of its last games. 10 power play goals in all over that span for a 1.66 power play goals per game average.

--The Bulldogs first road loss of the season was Saturday in Grand Forks. UMD is 6-1 on the road so far this season.

--The Bulldogs as a program are now 3-6 when playing on Halloween night. Friday night's win on the holiday was its first since the 2009-10 season when UMD defeated Clarkson University 4-2.