The No. 5 University of Minnesota Duluth men's hockey team will head to Sioux Falls, SD for a series against Augustana University this Friday and Saturday. The series will get underway Friday night inside MIDCO Arena at 7:07 p.m. before wrapping up at 6:07 p.m. Saturday.
Oct. 7, 2026 UMD Weekly Press Conference, head coach Scott Sandelin and Adam Kleber --
OPENING OFFENSE: UMD's 11 goals last weekend marks the most goal in a season-opening series since the Bulldogs scored scored 20 against U.S. International on Oct. 12-13, 1984.
The Bulldogs 11 goal weekend also tied them for second most in the NCAA.
Four players are averaging two or more points a game after the LIU series -- Jayson Shaugabay (2.50 ppg), Ty Hanson (2.00), Hunter Anderson (2.00) and Callum Arnott (2.00).
MISSING MAX: UMD's junior forward captain Max Plante has been ruled out for the weekend against the Vikings with an upper body injury.
BULLDOG NCHC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Junior forward Jayson Shaugabay was named NCHC Forward of the Week, while junior defenseman Ty Hanson was named the NCHC Defenseman of the Week.
Shaugabay led the league with five points last weekend on a goal and four assists, and figured in five of the Bulldogs' 11 goals against Long Islan University. The Warroad, Minn. native had back-to-back multiple point games, and addition to his offensive output, went +3 and won 12 of 22 faceoffs in his first game under center at UMD. Shaugabay picked up one NCHC Forward of the Week honor last season. With his five points, Shaugabay sits third in the NCAA in scoring this week and is tied for the most assists.
Hanson picked up four points on the weekend, including a shorthanded goal and three assists. The Hermantown, Minn. product was a team-best +6 over the weekend. Hanson was a two-time NCHC Defenseman of the Week last season and was named to the NCHC Preseason All-Conference Team last month. Hanson leads the nation with his +6 plus/minus rating and is tied for second among all blueliners in scoring.
SOME HISTORY AGAINST THE SHARKS: UMD's first goal last Saturday night against LIU was the fastest goal to start a game in program history and trumped a 34 year old record. Barrett Hall's goal nine seconds into play surpassed the program's record of 11 seconds set by Doug Torrel against Minnesota on Jan. 11, 1992.
Grayden Siepmann's made penalty shot also made it's own history. While its not known if a defenseman has ever converted a penalty shot in a game (Siepmann did), it was the first penalty shot even awarded to a UMD blueliner since Dale Jago was given one (and missed) against Minnesota during the 1988 seasons -- 40 years ago.
Lastly,freshman goaltender Carl Axelsson got both the 17-save win and shutout in his debut Saturday – the first Bulldog netminder to run back those stats since Hunter Miska had a shutout win in a first start back on Oct. 1, 2016 against Michigan Tech (a 21 save effort from Miska.)
ANDERSON'S ON ONE: Sophomore forward Hunter Anderson entered the new year on a three-game scoring streak, and two games into the 2026-27 season, his point streak is still going strong.
Anderson had four points last weekend (1g, 3a), including a three-point season-opening start on Friday (1g, 2a). The fifth multiple point game of his career, it also marked a career-best effort.
The Manhattan Beach, Calif. native has now recorded points over his last five games dating back to last season, a streak that has three goals and five assists for eight points over that span.
THE SERIES: UMD and Augustana have met for just one series, which took place last season at AMSOIL Arena and was an even split between the two sides. The Bulldogs suffered a 4-0 loss on Oct. 11, 2025 before rebounding for a 4-1 win on Oct. 12. The Vikings are in just their fourth season as a Diviion I hockey program.
Four players scored goals against the Vikings last season, including Callum Arnott and Ty Hanson, who will both be dressed this weekend. Hanson (1g, 1a) and Max Plante (1g, 1a) led UMD with two points in the series a year ago.
This will mark the second trip the Bulldog program has made in Sioux Falls, S.D. -- the other was the NCAA Tournament in 2018 where UMD defeated Minnesota State 3-2 in overtime in the NCAA Tournament West Regional on March 23, 2018 and then again in the NCAA West Regional Final when they defeated Air Force 2-1 the following day on March 2, 2018. Both games were played at the Denny Sanford Premier Center, Sioux Falls, S.D.
LAST TIME OUT: UMD swept Long Island University in its first program meeting of the Sharks by scores of 7-4 Friday night and 4-0 on Saturday.
The Bulldogs had seven different goal scorers on Friday night, and outshot LIU 36-23 in the game. Six players had multiple point nights, including four that had three – Jayson Shaugabay, Hunter Anderson, Ty Hanson and Callum Arnott led UMD with three points on a goal and two assists. In addition, Adam Kleber had two (1g, 1a), while Max Plante had two assists. Hanson was a game-high +4 plus/minus, and junior goaltender Ethan Dalhmeir had 19 saves in the win.
Saturday, freshman goaltender Carl Axelsson earned a shutout win in his first career start with 17 saves, and UMD outshot the Sharks 40-17 in the penalty-filled outing. Grayden Siepmann (1g, 1a) and Shaugabay (2a) led all UMD scorers on the night.
NOTES ON THE LIU SERIES: UMD is 2-0 all-time against the Sharks after playing them for the first time last weekend.
--Jayson Shaugaby led all scorers with a goal and four assists in the series.
--The Bulldogs were a perfect 10-of-10 on their penalty kill on the weekend.
--UMD's line of Barrett Hall, Jayson Shaugabay and Hunter Anderson combined for four goals last weekend and together put up 11 points. It also marked the first two games playing center for Shaugabay in his Bulldog career.
