The No. 9 University of Minnesota Duluth men's hockey team will suit up Friday night against the No. 22/RV University of Minnesota Friday night for the 254 meeting between the two programs at AMSOIL Arena in Duluth, Minn. The Friday-Saturday nonconference series will get underway Friday night at 7:07 p.m. before wrapping up on Saturday at 6:07 p.m.

Weekly Press Conference, Oct. 14, 2026 -- Scott Sandelin and Carl Axelsson




WHAT A WEEKEND: A number of things will be happening pregame this weekend at AMSOIL. Tailgates are back for both Friday and Saturday on the lake side of the DECC.

Both nights, the beloved Maroon Loon returns to entertain fans in-game and highlight the Maroon Out game on Friday. 

HOAGIE WILL HANG HIGH: Prior to Saturday's game, the Bulldogs will retire No. 00 in honor of Dale "Hoagie" Haagenson, who passed away earlier this year. The pregame tribute to UMD Athletics longest-serving volunteer, fans will als0 receive a Hoagie Hanky Rally Towel place on all seats prior to the game Saturday.

BULLDOGS SET TO DEBUT A THROWBACK MAROON JERSEY: With a nod to its storied history, the UMD men's hockey team will debut its alternate maroon jersey in both games  this weekend, along with white helmets. The jersey, which is an Under Armour version of the maroon away sweaters worn by the program in the 1980's and 1990's, were last worn by the program on Feb. 16, 2019 at AMSOIL, where UMD also wore white helmets. This set will become a third jersey option for the team for the rest of the season.

SHAUGABAY'S SHINING: Sophomore forward Jayson Shaugabay, who has played both winger and center already this season, leads UMD with seven points on a goal and six assists. Currently the NCAA's fourth highest point getter, Shaugabay also owns the second most assists and has compiled two or more points in three of his first four games so far this season.

HANSON STAYS OFFENSIVE: Ty Hanson has begun the season where he left off the last one -- as one of the nation's most offensive defensemen. Hanson currently sits first in the NCAA six points (2g, 4a), and has logged at least a point in all four UMD games this season. 

In fact, Hanson is currently on a six-game scoring streak that dates back to last season -- the Hermantown, Minn. native had a goal and an assisst against Penn State on March 27 in the NCAA Tournament, and a goal against the University of Michigan on March 29 in the NCAA Regional Final. In all, over his last six games, Hanson has compiled four goals and five assists for nine points in six skates.

In 80 games over his UMD career -- (80 consecutive games, at that), Hanson has rung up 16 goals and 40 assists for 56 points.

PENALTY KILLERS: The Bulldogs enter the weekend having yet to surrender a goal off their penalty kill. UMD is an umblemished 18-of-18 through its first four games.

The Bulldogs wrapped up the 2025-26 with the second-ranked PK and a kill rate of 88.8 (111 of 125 opponent attempts). UMD also has one shorthanded goal this season (Ty Hanson).

OPENING OFFENSE: UMD ranks fourth in goals scored (15) through four games, and are averaging 3.8 goals a game.

Four players are averaging a point or more a game after the AU series -- Jayson Shaugabay (1.75 ppg), Ty Hanson (1.50), Hunter Anderson (1.25) and Callum Arnott (1).

HALL MONITOR: Barrett Hall has scored a goal in three of his first four games as a Bulldog. Hall, who played for Gopher head coach Brett Larson for three seasons while at St. Cloud State, scored 25 goals for the Huskies and now has 69 points in 107 games as a college hockey player. 

MISSING MAX: UMD's junior forward captain Max Plante is listed as week to week with an upper body injury.

THE SERIES: The Bulldogs have been a dominate 6-3-1 against the Gophers in their last 10 matchups since Oct. 25, 2019 and outscored them 31-26 over those 10 games -- a 3.1 goals per game average against Minnesota.

All-time, the two sides have met 254 times and UMD trails in the series 97-138-19 -- a series that began on Dec. 12, 1952 (a 14-2 UMD Loss).

The Bulldogs will be looking for their first win inside AMSOIL Arena since Oct. 23, 2021, a 2-1 win. Since then, UMD is 0-2-1 in home ice showdowns, and in the past two series, neither team has fielded home ice advantages.

Last season, UMD routed Minnesota 3-0 and 4-1 wins inside Mariucci on Oct. 24-25. Hunter Anderson led all scorers with three points on a goal and two assists, while Max Plante had two goals for the Bulldogs. Four other players had two points in the series, including Zam Plante (1g, 1a), Jayson Shaugabay (2a), and Ryan Zaremba (2a)

UMD vs. Minnesota, Last 10 Games: (6-3-2)

Oct. 25, 2025 4-1 Win Away

Oct. 24, 2025 3-0 Win Away

Oct. 19, 2024 1-5 Loss Home

Oct. 18, 2024 5-7 Loss Home

Nov. 4, 2023 3-3 Tie OT SW Home

Nov. 3, 2023 1-5 Loss Away

Oct. 23, 2021 2-1 Win Home

Oct. 22, 2021 5-3 Win Away

Oct. 26, 2019 2-0 Win Home

Oct. 25, 2019 5-2 Win Away

Oct.  7, 2018 4-7 Loss Away

Top Career Scorers Against MINN:

Aaron Pionk GP 8, 0-4=4

Jayson Shaugabay GP 4, 1-2=3

Zam Plante GP 4, 1-2=3

Minnesota is coming off a bye week after suffering a series sweep in Houghton, Mich. against Michigan Tech University back on Oct. 3-4 to open the season.

TRIP DOWN SANDELIN AND LARSON MEMORY LANE: Prior to Brett Larson's hiring at Minnesota last spring, Scott Sandelin and UMD own a 31- 27-8 record against Minnesota since he was appointed as head coach in 2000, and Sandelin owns a 15-6-2 record against the Gophers since they joined the Big Ten conference in 2013. 

Larson and Sandelin have a lot history between them -- the new Gopher head coach is a Duluth native and and Bulldog alum and captain who skated in 133 games for UMD over his college career that included 24 goals and 43 assists for 67 career points in four seasons (1991-95). Larson and current UMD defenesman Ty Hanson's dad Greg Hanson were teammates at UMD for three seasons (1992-95), and he was also a teammate of Zam, Max and Victor Plante's dad Derek Plante for two seasons (1991-1993). A Bulldog assistant coach (along with Plante) for Scott Sandelin from 2008-11 and 2015-18, Larson won NCAA titles with UMD in both 2011 and 2018.

LAST TIME OUT: UMD played Augustana University into two overtime games in Sioux Falls over the weekend, resulting in a 4-3 loss Friday night and a 1-1 tie Saturday night.

UMD fought back in the third period to tie the game and force the game into overtime Friday night, but a goal 20 seconds into extra time sealed it for the Vikings. Jayson Shaugabay had a team-high two points (2a) and three different players notched goals -- Barret Hall, Callum Arnott and Zam Plante all had the UMD tallies, while Ethan Dahlmeir had the loss in net with 26 saves.

Saturday, Scott Sandelin had to challenge continuation to get the Bulldogs' lone goal to stand in the 1-1 stalemate. Ty Hanson has UMD's lone goal, while Carl Axelsson picked up the tie in between the pipes on 21 stops.

NOTES ON THE AUGUSTANA SERIES: UMD is 1-2-1 all-time against the Vikings, all games that have come in the past two seasons.

--The Bulldogs were a perfect 8-of-8 on their penalty kill on the weekend.

--UMD is now just 1-2-1 all-time in the city of Sioux Falls.