UMD Athletics

AS A BULLDOG:
2018-19: Followed up a sensational sophomore year with a show-stopping encore performance ... became the first netminder in a half century to backstop his club to two consecutive NCAA titles ... secured All-American first team honors along the way (the fourth Bulldog puckstopper to ever attain that status and the first to do so since Alex Stalock in 2008-09) ... ranked first in the nation in victories (he was 29-11-2 overall), second in shutouts (seven, which was one blanking shy of the school mark that he set as a sophomore), fourth in goals against average (a school-record 1.76 mark) and 15th in saves percentage (.923) ... was a Mike Richter Award (most outstanding NCAA goalie) Top 5 semifinalist and both the NCHC Goaltender of the Year Award and NCHC Three Star Player of the Game Award recipient ... also collared All-NCHC first team recognition ... concluded the year having started a school-record 81 consecutive games and with 54 lifetime victories to his name -- only six shy of the UMD record held jointly by Taras Lendzyk (1992-96) and Rick Kosti (1983-85)  ... turned aside all 18 shots the University of Massachusetts sent his way in the NCAA Frozen Four title clash en route to posting his 15th career shutout (the most in team history) ... went a perfect 8-0-0 with an 0.79 goals against average and a .967 saves percentage during UMD's eight-game postseason run ... landed a spot on the NCAA Frozen Four, the NCAA Midwest Regional and NCHC Frozen Faceoff All-Tournament Teams ... allowed just two goals in two nights on his way to being selected the NCHC Frozen Faceoff's Most Outstanding Player ...  was voted UMD's Most Valuable Player for the second time in as many years ...  set a team record for most league shutouts in one season (five) ... was a three-time NCHC Goalie of the Month (November, January and March/April) honoree and the Hockey Commissioner's Association National Goalie of the Month for January.
2017-18: Was fittingly bestowed with the Keith “Huffer” Christiansen Award (UMD’s Most Valuable Player) after leading the Bulldogs to their second national championship and putting up some record-breaking numbers in the process ... seized the No. 1 goaltender designation three weeks into the 2017-18 season (on Oct. 21) and proceeded to start the final 39 games of the year ... secured All-NCHC second team recognition  and was a semifinalist for the Mike Richter Award ... set then program single-season marks for goals against average (1.91), saves percentage (.925) and shutouts (8) while going 25-14-1 in 41 outings  ... ranked second nationally in shutouts and wins and sixth in goals against average ... was selected to the NCAA Frozen Four All-Tournament Team and collared the Most Valuable Player honor at the Ledyard Classic over the Christmas holidays ... attained NCHC Goalie of the Week recognition a league-best six times during the 2017-18 season ... also was chosen the NCHC Player of the Month for February after equaling a UMD record by posting three consecutive shutouts during that stretch and holding the opposition scoreless for 222:00 ... collected two assists (both at the expense of Western Michigan) in 2017-18 ... spent part of the 2018 summer at both the Buffalo Sabres and Minnesota Wild Development Camps.
2016-17: Earned his freshman year keep by serving in a relief capacity with the Bulldog puckstopping unit ... appeared in two games, including the Oct. 15 home clash with Notre Dame ... made his first collegiate start that evening and turned aside 35 of 38 shots in a 3-1 setback to the Irish ... those 35 saves were the most racked up by a goalie in a UMD debut since Oct. 26, 1991 (Jerome Butler also made 35 stops against visiting Northern Michigan) ... relieved starter and fellow rookie Hunter Miska early in the second period on March 3 at Western Michigan and gave up one goal on the 13 shots the Broncos sent his way ... dressed for the final 12 games of the year, including the four NCAA playoff bouts.
BEFORE UMD: Reigned as the 2015-16 North American Hockey League Goaltender of the Year ... closed out his second winter in Bismarck, N.D, by pacing the NAHL in wins (going 34-11-3 overall), shut outs (eight), minutes (2,932:11) and appearances (50) while ranking second in goals against average (1.90) and fourth in saves percentage (.926) ... his victory and shutout totals were both franchise records … backstopped the Bobcats to the 2015-16 Central Division regular season and playoff titles as well as a berth in the NAHL Robertson Cup semifinals … landed a spot on the 2015-16 All-NAHL Team …  was selected to Team Central at the 2016 Top Prospects Tournament and also secured the NAHL Goaltender of the Month award for January 2016 … saw crease time in 31 games as a Bobcat rookie in 2014-15 and had a 14-14-1 record, a 3.28 goals against average and an .878 saves percentage to show for it … put the wraps on a prosperous three-year prep career the previous season at Grand Rapids High School by laying claim to the Frank Brimsek Award as the top senior netminder in Minnesota … compiled a 2.64 goals against mark and a .918 saves percentage for the Thunderhawks that year while serving a team captaincy role ... also started four years on the baseball diamond as a prep (infielder and pitcher).
BULLDOG MILESTONES: First Game - vs. Notre Dame (Oct. 15, 2016). First Start - vs. Notre Dame (Oct. 15, 2016). Most Saves, Game - 41 at Dartmouth (Dec. 30, 2017). Fewest Saves, Game - 11 at Michigan Tech (Oct. 13, 2018) and vs. Air Force (March 24, 2018).  Most Goals Allowed, Games - 6 at Minnesota (Oct. 7, 2018). Most Assists Game - 1 vs. Miami (March 1, 2019), vs. Omaha (March 3, 2018) and at Western Michigan (Feb. 23, 2018).
PERSONAL: Born Hunter Markus Shepard in Grand Rapids, Minn. ... is the son of Mark and Terri Shepard ... has three younger siblings -- Tanner and twins Madison and Taylor ... is majoring in marketing at UMD.