For a second-straight year, the No. 9 University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team will open the season against Mercyhurst University. The weekend nonconference series will get underway Friday at 6:00 p.m. before wrapping up Saturday at 3:00 p.m.


WELCOME TO SEASON 28: UMD will begin its 28th season as a program and 27th as an NCAA Division I sport on Friday.

All-time, UMD is 599-289-83 with a .663 win percentage over its almost three decades of existence. The Bulldogs still own the third most NCAA titles in the nation (five), and are coming off their 17th NCAA Tournament appearance, including their sixth-straight.

SEASON STARTERS: UMD has won its opening season game for six-straight seasons, and is 18-2-2 on opening weekends over this past decade (dating back to the 2015-16 season).

Of note, senior goaltender Eve Gascon is also unbeaten in five opening series starts over her three seasons at UMD, including three opening season starts.

THE 600 CLUB: The Bulldogs are sitting at 599 wins entering Friday night's game, and will look to join an elite club in Divison I womens' hockey. UMD will become the third member of the NCAA championship heavy Western Collegiate Hockey Association to reach the mark.

Ironically, Mercyhurst hit the milestone last season -- head coach Michael Sist has led the Lakers to 615 wins over his coaching career.

THE LAURA SCHULER ERA TURNS THREE: UMD head coach Laura Schuler begins her third season at the helm of the Bulldogs in 2026-27. Schuler currently owns a 42-30-5 record at UMD, good for a .578 winning percentage and will begin the season just three wins shy of 100 for her career. The Bulldogs have made the NCAA Tournament both of Schuler's seasons at the helm, and she's had nine PWHL draftees on her watch, four Olympians, one two-time All-American (Eve Gascon), one USCHO Rookie of the Year (Caitlin Kraemer) and two WCHA Student Athletes of the Year (Mary Kate O'Brien and Clara Van Wieren).

THESE BULLDOGS ARE JUST PUPS: UMD is a young squad -- just six returners are upperclassmen and only two are seniors -- senior goaltender Eve Gascon and senior defenseman Ida Karlsson.

The Bulldogs boast a freshman class of 10 players -- the most by a UMD squad since the 2005-06 (also 10 freshmen). 

The program also has a bit of a European flare -- UMD has the most Europeans (three players from Sweden, two from Finland) since they had five over the 2016-17 NCAA Tournament season.

Ironically, the Bulldog freshmen are entering college hockey at vastly different ages.  Defenseman Renée Lapointe is one of the youngest players ever to skate for the program -- the defenseman from Barrie, Ontario is just 17 years old, born on July 28, 2009. In contrast, forward Pauliina Salonen is 21 years old -- born February 17, 2005.

UMD'S YOUTH MOVEMENT: The Bulldogs are young but they aren't inexperienced. Rookies Tuuli Tallinen and Pauliina Salonen just suited up for Finland in the Women's Euro Tour in August, while three players have made U-18 rosters -- the Gnetz twins, Laini and Brooke Gnetz (USA) and Marilou Grenier (Canada). Both Laini Gnetz and Grenier have won U-18 World Championship gold medals -- Gnetz this past January and Grenier in 2025.

Edit Danielsson skated for Sweden in past U-18 Women's World Championships (2024-25, 2023-24), and comes to Duluth after two seasons in the SDHL. She was teammates in 2024-25 with both UMD alums Paula Bergstrom and former multiple-year captain Sydney Brodt over their SDHL title winning season.

Renée Lapointe was named to the Canadian National Women's Under-18 Team in August, and became the first mother-daughter duo to skate for Canada's National Team -- her mother is Nathalie Rivard - a three-time IIHF Women's World Championship gold medalist in the 1990s with Canada -- and a teammate of UMD head coach Laura Schuler.

Along with Gascon, the Bulldogs have another superstar goaltender in the wings -- Marilou Grenier, who like Gascon hails from Quebec and backstopped Canada to a U-18 Women's World Championship gold medal in January of 2025. 

GETTING A GOOD RETURN: While the Bulldogs are young across the roster, they return the scorers of 57 of the 93 goals they scored last season. UMD lost four players to the PWHL, including leading goal scorer Thea Johnson (17), Mary Kate O'Brien and Grace Sadura up front, but retain the servies of Caitlin Kraemer -- who spent her summer pocketing invites the Edmonton Oilers Development Camp and Canadian Development Camp. Kraemer, named to the All-WCHA Preseason Team has sky-high expectations, but the new "C" on her jersey shows the sophomore is up to the task.

UMD's sophomore class also found the net last season -- Rae Mayer (12), Madi Burr (9) and Molly Cole (8) won't surprise teams anymore, but all three return havin netted 29 goals between them -- almost a third of the team's scoring a year ago.

In net, UMD has the best goaltender in all of college hockey, Eve Gascon, a two-time All-American and two-time WCHA Goaltender of the Year set to take a super senior season. Gascon will chase all sorts of history this season -- she enters the 26-27 with 21 career shutouts -- just two shutouts shy of the UMD record of 23 and stands fourth all-time in saves (2,506) while tied for the highest career saves percentage (.943). 

The Bulldog blueline returns Olympian Ida Karlsson, who also will wear a "C", and junior Kate Kosobud, an alternate captain, who made an impact after transfering to the Bulldogs last least after one year at Minnesota.

THE SERIES: UMD is 7-1-1 all-time against Mercyhurst after sweeping the Lakers 4-3 in overtime in game one and 5-2 in game two to open up the season Sept. 19-20, 2025. 

Last September, the Bulldogs opened the season -- the earliest start in program history -- with a series sweep over Mercyhust University in Erie, Pa.  

Friday night UMD overcame a 3-1 second period deficit to tie the game at 3-3 at 17:50 of the third period on a 6-on-4 power play goal from forward Josie St. Martin to send the game into overtime. Then just 2:36 into extra time, Caitlin Kraemer scored to give UMD its opening season 4-3 win. 

St. Martin and Kraemer led the Bulldogs with two points each (1g, 1a), while UMD had four different goal scorers in the skate.

Saturday the Bulldogs fell behind 1-0 in the first period but outscored the Lakers 4-2 in the second period before adding an insurance -- by who else - Kraemer at 8:40 of the third period for the 5-3 win.

Five different Bulldogs recorded goals, while Ida Karlsson led all scorers with a goal and two assists for three points.

Three players compiled three points in the series -- Kraemer (2g, 1a), Karlsson (1g, 2a) and St. Martin. Seven players in all notched two or more points on the weekend and six players recorded their first points as Bulldogs: St. Martin, then freshman forward Molly Cole (1g, 1a), then freshman forward Rae Mayer (1g, 1a), senior defenseman Krista Parkkonen (2a), forward Thea Johansson (1g) and then sophomore defenseman Kate Kosobud  (1a).

Postseason History, UMD vs. Mercyhurst: The two programs met on the ice of the DECC in Duluth, Minn. on March 15, 2008, in the 2008 NCAA Quarterfinal game, and UMD overcame three, one-goal deficits (and some youthful nerves) to outlast Mercyhurst 5-4. That Bulldog win was the second-straight setback UMD had dealt the Lakers in NCAA Quarterfinal play after knocking out Mercyhurst on March 9, 2007 3-2 in overtime to secure a trip to the 2007 NCAA Frozen Four.

UMD hosted the Lakers three times during that 2007-08 national championship season, the programs first meetings, including an early year match-up on Oct. 20-21, 2007 that the Bulldogs tied 1-1 in overtime, and then won the following day 3-1.

Mercyhurst hosted RPI last weekend to open up the season and earned the sweep by scores of 3-1 and 3-0.


GASCON AND KRAEMER NAMED TO PRESEASON ALL-WCHA TEAM, BULLDOGS PICKED TO FINISH FOURTH: The accolades for Ève Gascon and Caitlin Kraemer are already started rolling in -- and the senior goaltender and junior center haven't even skated in a game yet.

The UMD duo was named to the 2026-27 Preseason All-Western Collegiate Association Team, a team selected by the league's head coaches. The pair becomes the first double Bulldogs named to the team since former All-Americans Gabbie Hughes and Ashton Bell were both put on the squad before the 2002-23 season.

Gascon is coming off duty in August with Canada's National Women's Development Team, and her effort was highlighted by a sparkling 0.84 save percentage and .979 save percentage in two games and an extra period of play. The native of Mascouche, Quebec is a two-time All-American, a two-time All-USCHO First Team selection, a two-time WCHA Goaltender of the Year and two-time All-WCHA First Team member. A six-time WCHA Goaltender of the Week last season, Gascon posted 10 shutouts, (the second most in a single season by a Bulldog goaltender) and second most in the NCAA in 2025-26. Gascon owned a 1.77 goals against average over all her 35 games started made 993 saves -- the third most in a single-season in program history and averaged 28.3 saves per game and owned a .942 saves percentage. Her .943 save percentage in WCHA games was also a league-high.

Kraemer also skated with Canada's National Women's Development Team in August, bookending a busy summer for the Waterloo, Ontario product, who was also invited to the NHL's Edmonton Oilers Development Camp in early July. A 2025-26 All-WCHA Third Team selection and All-WCHA Academic Team member, Kraemer followed up her 2025 HCA Julie Chu Rookie of the Year (first Bulldog to earn the honor) and 2024-25 WCHA Rookie of the Year freshman campaign by leading the Bulldogs with 30 points in 36 games on 15 goals and a team-high 15 assists. Kraemer tied for a team-best four game-winning goal and posted seven multiple-point games. 

Kraemer also received votes for WCHA Player of the Year, while rookie forward Edit Danielsson received votes for WCHA Preseason Rookie of the Year.

The league coaches also tabbed the Bulldogs to finish fourth in the WCHA this season, one of four teams that qualified for the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Ohio State University was picked to finish first with 48 points, while defending NCAA champion the University of Wisconsin had 44 votes in second. The University of Minnesota was just three points ahead of the Bulldogs with 35 points – UMD was in fourth with 32.

QUARTET WILL CAPTAIN THE BULLDOGS IN 2026-27: Senior defenseman Ida Karlsson and junior forward Caitlin Kraemer will wear the "C" as the captains, while senior goaltender Eve Gascon and junior defenseman Kate Kosobud will each sport the "A" as alternate captains.

Karlsson, a Swedish Olympian, was a 2025-26 AHCA Krampade All-American Scholar, CSC Academic All-District® Women's At-Large Team member and WCHA Scholar Athlete last season, and ade her Olympic debut in February, skating in all seven games for Sweden and adding an assist. The  Avesta, Sweden native played in 30 games for the Bulldogs as a junior, logging three goals and five assists for eight points, and had both a game-winning goal and power play goal. Karlsson also went +5 and had had 38 blocks last season. -- a more than one a game average.

Kraemer finished up duty with Canada's National Women's Development Team in August, bookending a busy summer for the Waterloo, Ontario product, who was also invited to the NHL's Edmonton Oilers Development Camp in early July. A 2025-26 All-WCHA Third Team selection and All-WCHA Academic Team member, Kraemer followed up her 2025 HCA Julie Chu Rookie of the Year (first Bulldog to earn the honor) and 2024-25 WCHA Rookie of the Year freshman campaign by leading the Bulldogs with 30 points in 36 games on 15 goals and a team-high 15 assists. Kraemer tied for a team-best four game-winning goal and posted seven multiple-point games.

Gascon also wrapped up work on Canada's National Women's Development Team in August, and her effort was highlighted by a sparkling 0.84 save percentage and .979 save percentage in two games and an extra period of play. The native of Mascouche, Quebec is a two-time All-American, a two-time All-USCHO First Team selection, a two-time WCHA Goaltender of the Year and two-time All-WCHA First Team member. Gascon is also a two-time American Hockey Coaches Association All-American Scholar and two-time WCHA Scholar Athlete and a two-time 2024-25 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® Women's At-Large Team. A six-time WCHA Goaltender of the Week last season, Gascon posted 10 shutouts, (the second most in a single season by a Bulldog goaltender) and second most in the NCAA in 2025-26. Gascon owned a 1.77 goals against average over all her 35 games started made 993 saves -- the third most in a single-season in program history and averaged 28.3 saves per game and owned a .942 saves percentage. Her .943 save percentage in WCHA games was also a league-high.

Kosobud was a 2025-26 WCHA Scholar Athlete and All-WCHA Academic Team selection, and was named the WCHA Defender of the Week on Feb. 9. The Moorhead, Minn. native blossomed as a Bulldog, skating in all 38 games and logging two goals and eight assists for 10 points. Kosobud had 40 blocks and was +4.

BRINGING IT HOME: Notably, all roads could lead UMD home this season with the 2027 NCAA Women's Hockey Frozen Four returning to AMSOIL Arena in March. The Bulldogs haven't played in a Duluth hosted Frozen Four since 2008, and UMD won the NCAA title in Duluth in both 2008 and 2003 at the DECC. But the previous two hosted at AMSOIL Arena (2023 and 2012), the Bulldogs fell just short in their quest to come home. 

The Bulldogs will look to improve their actual numbers on the road this season as well -- last season, UMD was dominate on the road but struggled inside of AMSOIL. The Bulldogs were 13-5-1 away from AMSOIL, and more than half of UMD's goals have come on the road -- 56 of 93.

On the contrary, UMD ended up 7-8-2 in its home rink -- just the third time in UMD program history that had a team finished the season with a losing record at home -- over the 2012-13 season (7-8-3) and again in 2015-16 (5-10-1).

KRAEMERS ON POINT: Junior center Caitlin Kraemer begins the season with 61 career points (33g, 21a) and last season became just the second UMD sophomore in the past decade and fifth player in the past 15 years to reach 50 career points as a sophomore.

Kraemer was the first Bulldog since Gabbie Hughes -- who needed just 42 games to hit 50 points -- to reach it so quickly. The Waterloo, Ontario native hit 50 points in 55 career games. 

She joined Hughes as the only players this decade. Former All-American Lara Stalder and current UMD associate head coach Ashleigh Brykaliuk reached the mark as sophomores in 2014-15, while Jenna McParland got to the mark in 2012-13.

All-time, UMD as a program has had 22 players surpass 50 points -- or more -- in their second seasons of college eligibility with the Bulldogs. (Of note, that does exclude players that transferred -- Jenny Potter, Elizabeth Giguere, and current forward Thea Johansson all reached the mark with either a freshman season somewhere else (Potter at Minnesota), or their first two seasons in another program (Giguere at Clarkson, Johansson at Mercyhurst).

Kraemer will look to become UMD's 26th player in program history to reach the 100 point plateau, a mark that is within reach for the current junior. The last player to hit the mark was Thea Johansson (Oct. 18, 2025), and the last Bulldog whose entire career was played in maroon and gold to reach it was Clara Van Wieren (Nov. 30, 2024).