The No. 6 University of Minnesota Duluth men's hockey team heads back into National College Hockey Conference play this weekend when it heads to St. Cloud, Minn. to face St. Cloud State University in the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center. The Friday - Saturday series will get underway at 7:00 p.m. Friday before concluding with a 6:00 p.m. puck drop on Saturday.


UMD Weekly Press Conference, January 14, 2026 -- Head Coach Scott Sandelin and Adam Kleber



TOP DOG OF ALL: Sophomore winger Max Plante has spent almost the entire season as the nation's top scorer.

Currently sitting on top with 36 points on an NCAA-best 19 goals in 22 games -- two less skates than the second and third highest point getters and a game in hand over the fourth, Plante also owns a 1.64 ppg average. 

First in power play goals, (8), and second in game-winning goals (6), Plante has posted 11-multiple point games, including three games with four points and five with three points or more.

Currently on a four-game point scoring streak, foes have kept him off the scoring sheet just four times out of 22 games so far this season.

HE'S ON POINT: Max Plante is currently averaging 1.64 points per game on 36 points (19g, 17a) through just 22 games so far this season. 

While Plante's point output is the most by an UMD player since Scott Perunovich put up 40 in 34 games over the 2019-20 season, his points per game average is a blistering 1.64 ppg. The last Bulldog to surpass 1.40 ppg? Jack Connolly over the 2011-12 season (1.46 on 60 points, 20g, 40a).

In fact, there have only been three players over the past 25 years to average 1.40 ppg or more over a season -- Connolly twice, in 2011-12 and 2010-11 (1.40), and Junior Lessard in 2003-04 (1.40).

Notably, Connolly and Lessard both won the Hobey Baker Memorial Award during the highest scorings seasons of their careers (Connolly in 2011-12 and Lessard in 2003-04), while Perunovich, the last UMD player to score 40 or more points, also did so in a postseason deprieved 2019-20 season, in which the defenseman was also awarded the Hobey Baker.

IT'S ON THE LINE: UMD's top line of Max Plante, Zam Plante and Jayson Shaugabay continues to be one of the most dangerous in the NCAA this season, and has retaken the points lead after the trio piled up 18 last weekend in their 2026 series opener against Lindenwood University.

While Max Plante has 36 points in 22 games this season (19g, 17a), Zam has 30 (the seventh most in the NCAA) on nine goals and 21 assists. Shaugabay sits 10th in the NCAA with 28 points off six goals and a team-high 22 assists.

That offensive haul has again pushed UMD's top line to the top of the NCAA's best scoring lines.

A SPECIAL TEAM ON SPECIAL TEAMS: The Bulldogs currently own the best power play in the nation with a 35.1 success rate, and they own the seventh-best penalty kill at a 88.1 rate.

Last weekend, UMD went 7-of-14 on its power play -- Saturday was the Bulldogs second game so far this season with four power play goals.

Max Plante leads the NCAA with eight power play goals, while Zam Plante ranks ninth with six.

Notably, the Huskies sit fifth in the nation on their power play, which sits at 29.5., and seventh in penalty kills with a 72.7 kill rate. SCSU also leads the NCHC with   four shorthanded goals -- which is also the fifth most in the NCAA.

 

ADAM GAJAN NAMED TO 2026 SLOVAKIA OLYMPIC TEAM: Sophomore goaltender Adam Gajan has been named to the 2026 Slovakia Olympic Team, the first Bulldog named to an Olympic roster since Noah Cates inb2022 (U.S.) and the 15th UMD player to earn an Olympic roster spot in program history.

A native of Poprad, Slovakia, Gajan is just a little over a week off from earning a silver medal in the 2025 Spengler Cup where he backstopped the U.S. Collegiate Selects in two games -- including the championship - and posted a 1-1-0 record with 55 saves in those outings.

While Gajan becomes the 15th Bulldog to skate in the Olympics, he will be just the second UMD goaltender ever make an Olympic roster, joining Bob Mason. Mason skated for the U.S. Olympic Team in 1984.

GAJAN NAMED TO HCA MIKE RICHTER WATCH LIST: Wednesday, Adam Gajan was named to the Mike Richer Watch List. 

Gajan owns a 1.98 goals against average and a record of 15-6-0 -- his 15 wins rank as the third most in the NCAA so far this season. With 1,244 minutes, the sixth most in the nation, Gajan also has two shutouts with the Bulldogs so far this season. 

Goaltenders qualified for the list by meeting minimum GAA (2.30 or lower) and save percentage (.920 or higher) standards. Other names may be added for consideration before the first formal vote.

A committee of voters — made up of a cross section of coaches, administrators, scouts and media — will pare this list down to approximately a dozen semifinalists within the next three weeks and then ultimately choose a winner from three finalists who will be announced in April during the NCAA Frozen Four.

HATS OFF TO HOAGIE: A fixture on the UMD hockey bench for over four decades, Dale "Hoagie" Haagenson will be missing on the Bulldog bench this weekend after suffering a medical episode on the evening of Dec. 25. 

Hoagie joined the Bulldog staff in 1981-82 and since that time has resolutely served as the club's assistant equipment manager and inspirational leader. He is the longest-serving volunteer in UMD athletics history.

Currently, Hoagie has been well taken care of at Essentia Health, where he is currently recovering. A CaringBridge has been set up for those wanting more information on Hoagie's recovery -- https://www.caringbridge.org/site/5623ae7f-e44d-11f0-a4eb-c9454d699c2f.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: UMD is unbeaten in series openers or Friday night games, a perfect 11-0 headed into the weekend. The Bulldogs have also outscored teams on Friday 49-17.

On the other side of the series, UMD is  5-6 in its second games of the series, and now even with teams 31-31. Until the Bulldogs defeated the Lions last Saturday, they had not won a game on a Saturday since it had defeated St. Cloud State back on Nov. 8 by the score of 3-2.

WINNING IS IN: The Bulldogs UMD's 16 wins are the most since they had 16 in the 2022-23 season. That season, UMD finished 16-20-1. 

So far this season, the Bulldogs are 16-6-0.

 

HE'S A WINNER: Goaltender Adam Gajan has already won 15 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.

THE SERIES: Despite St. Cloud St. leading the all-time series 70-84-11, the Bulldogs currently own a three-game winning streak against the Huskies after sweeping them at AMSOIL back on Nov. 7-8 by scores of 4-0 and in overtime 3-2 -- outscoring the Huskies 7-2 in the series. 

While the Bulldogs own an eight-game home winning streak against SCSU, of the last 10 games played by the two sides, all three of UMD's losses have come on the road. In fact, the Bulldogs last six losses have only been in St. Cloud. (UMD's last loss at home was March 5, 2022, a 2-0 setback.)

In November, UMD rolled out a 4-0 shutout behind four different goal scorers (Adam Kleber, 1st, Scout Truman, 2nd, Zam Plante, PP 3rd, Jayson Shaugabay EN 3rd). Ty Hanson led all scorers with three assists, while Adam Gajan had 18 saves in the shutout.

On Saturday night, UMD had to come from behind to win in overtime 3-2. Callum Arnott had a power play goal in the first period, while SCSU had two goals, including a power play goal in the second. Grayden Siepmann equalized in the third, and Max Plante netted the 50th point of his career 2:32 into overtime to seal the win. Gajan had 30 saves in the skate.

Top UMD Players vs St Cloud State

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

Max Plante GP 6 3G, 4A, 7 Points

Zam Plante GP 6 1G, 3A, 4 Points

Ty Hanson GP 6 4A
 

Adam Gajan 3-1, 1 SO 

Last 10 Games, UMD vs St. Cloud St.

(7-3-0)

Nov. 8, 2025 UMD 3, SCSU 2 OT

Nov. 7, 2025 UMD 4, SCSU 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

COMMON DOGS: St. Cloud State head

coach Brett Larson and Ty Hanson's

dad Greg Hanson were teammates at

UMD for three seasons (1992-95).

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 a teammate of Zam and Max Plante's dad Derek Plante for two seasons (1991-1993), and an assistant coach (along with Plante) for Scott Sandelin from 2008-11 and 2015-18,

winning NCAA titles with UMD in both

2011 and 2018.

LAST TIME OUT:  UMD swept Lindenwood University last weeken at AMSOIL Arena by scores of 6-3 and 8-4, the Bulldogs first series of 2026.

Jayson Shaugabay led all scorers with seven points (1g, 6a), while Max Plante had two goals (PP) and four assists for six points.

Friday, Shaugabay led all scorers with a game-high three points on three assists, and he was one of five players to post two or more points on the night. In addition to Grayden Siepmann, Max Plante and Zam Plante had two points on a goal and an assist, while Ty Hanson had two assists.

As a team, UMD had a season-high 44 shots on the Lions, who were outshot 44-22 in the contest and held scoreless in two power play attempts. Gajan made 19 saves for the Bulldogs, while two players blocked three shots for UMD on the night – Adam Kleber and senior captain Joey Pierce.

Saturday, UMD went 4-of-8 on its power play. Max Plante and Shaugabay led all scorers with four points – two goals and two assists from Plante and a goal and three assists from Shaugabay, who led all scorers on the weekend with seven points. In all, five players posted multiple points, including Aaron Pionk, who had three assists and Callum Arnott with a goal and two assists.

Ethan Dahlmeir got the start between the pipes for the Bulldogs – his first official start at UMD – and the sophomore goaltender made 29 saves. UMD outshot LU 40-33 in the game.

NOTES FROM THE LINDENWOOD SERIES: UMD is now 2-0-0 against the Lions after playing the program for the first time last weekend. The Bulldogs wrap up the nonconference portion of their schedule 9-1-0.

--UMD's seven power play goals on the weekend (7-of-14) tops its six power play goal weekend against Bemidji State back on Oct. 17-18.

--UMD scored a season-high eight goals Saturday night and the most by a UMD side since it eight in a game against Northern Michigan University back on Oct. 14, 2023.

--The series was the first goaltender start split for the Bulldogs so far this season.

YOUNG GUNS: 64 of UMD's 80 goals have been scored by underclassmen so far this season. 

The sophomores have netted 53, while the freshman have scored nine.

Scout Truman leads the upperclassmen with nine.