In his last game before he joins the Slovkian Olympic Team, University of Minnesota Duluth men's hockey goaltender Adam Gajan showed why he is indeed set to become an Olympian Saturday night inside Magness Arena in Denver, Minn.
The sophomore made 30 saves for the No. 9 Bulldogs and helped UMD get through regulation, but the No. 11 University of Denver finally snuck one through in overtime to defeat the Bulldogs 1-0 and sweep the National Collegiate Hockey Conference series.
Gajan was good all night for UMD, including making all 10 saves on the 10-3 shot advantage he faced in the third period. His 30 saves was his third game this season with 30 or more saves, and ties his second best stop count of the year. Power plays were limited for both sides – UMD went 0-of-2, while the Pioneers were scoreless in their one attempt.
Denver finally found a way past Gajan 2:17 into overtime on a somewhat controversial play. It appeared a DU player interfered with Zam Plante, which allowed Rieger Lorenz to walk in and beat Gajan far side for the extra time win.
Ty Hanson led UMD with four shots on goal, while Zam Plante added three.
The Bulldogs have played into overtime in two of their last three games – both setbacks – and are now 2-4. UMD has lost three games in a row – a season-high setback streak and the longest by a Bulldog side since last season (it happened three times in 2024-25).
UMD (17-11-0, 8-10-0) return to AMSOIL Arena next weekend to face the No. 4 University of North Dakota. The Friday-Saturday series will get underway at 7:07 p.m. Friday night.
