No. 4 Bulldogs Journey West to Colorado College for NCHC Conflict

The No. 4 University of Minnesota Duluth males’s hockey workforce will head west to Colorado Springs, Colo. this weekend to face Colorado College in a National Collegiate Hockey Conference conflict at elevation. The Friday-Saturday collection will get underway Friday at 8:07 p.m. CDT, whereas Saturday’s skate is scheduled for 7:07 p.m. CDT.

UMD Men’s Hockey Weekly Press Conference, November 19, 2025 — Head Coach Scott Sandelin, Senior Defenseman Riley Bodnarchuk

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: UMD is unbeaten in collection openers or Friday night time video games, an ideal 7-0 headed into the the weekend. The Bulldogs have additionally outscored groups on Friday 32-10.

THESE DEFENSEMEN ARE OFFENSIVE: Over UMD’s previous six video games, the Bulldog blueliners have scored greater than half — eight of 17 objectives — for UMD. In truth, final Friday, Bulldog protection accounted for 4 of the 5 — three from Ty Hanson and one from rookie Grayden Siepmann.

In truth, UMD’s had had simply 4 video games the place Bulldog defenseman have not scored a aim — and two of these video games UMD was shutout.

THEY’RE STILL THE ONE (AND TWO AND FOUR): For a second week in a row, the brothers Max and Zam Plante lead the nation in scoring. Last week, the pair grew to become the first-ever pair of brothers to steer the NCAA in scoring. Max at present leads the nation with 23 factors on 10 objectives and 13 assists, whereas Zam is correct on his skates with 22 factors on seven objectives and 15 helpers. 

While the Plante brothers occupy the 1-2 spots in NCAA level leaders, their linemate Jayson Shaugabay is correct behind them, tied for fourth. Shaugabay has 19 factors on 5 objectives and 14 assists. The trio are all averaging means over some extent a sport — Max Plante at 1.64 ppg, Zam Plante at 1.57 ppg and Shaugaby at 1.36 ppg.

HANSON’S ON ONE: Ty Hanson began his second season as a Bulldog incomes the “A” on his sweater, and the sophomore defenseman has been on a tear ever since. 

Hanson leads the NCAA  amongst all defenseman with 16 factors (6g, 10a) and in addition is tied for the third highest +/- ranking amongst all gamers. Hanson — who has had 5 a number of level video games already this season, together with a hat trick final Friday night time towards Omaha – has surpassed his final season whole of 14 factors (4g, 10a) over 36 video games in simply 14 video games this season.

Overall, Hanson ranks because the twelfth highest scorer within the nation amongst all skaters. His hat trick Friday was the primary by a Bulldog defenseman in 25 years.

BLOWING PAST CAREER BESTS: It took Zam Plante simply 13 video games to blow previous his rookie out level of 20 whole factors. Plante at present owns the identical quantity of objectives he did as a freshman (7) via 33 video games, however his 15 assists in 13 video games pushed him previous his whole level output in lower than half the video games of a season in the past.

THAT’S THE GOAL: The Bulldogs at present personal the second most objectives within the nation (49) in simply 14 video games. UMD has already scored half the objectives they did over your entire 2024-25 season (99), and is averaging greater than three objectives a sport (3.50) for the primary time because the 2020-21 season. The Bulldogs averaged three objectives a sport that season and scored a complete of 84 in a COVID shortened season of 28 video games.

STILL ON THE 50 UNDER 50 HUNT: Both Zam Plante has an opportunity to affix his brother in reaching 50 profession factors earlier than 50 profession video games. Plante is at present at 47 video games with 42 factors.

TAKE THEIR POINTERS: The Bulldogs have three scorers within the top-five of the NCAA,  a feat that hasn’t been performed by a UMD facet since its first title-winning season of 2011-12. That season, the Bulldogs landed three gamers within the top-12 within the remaining NCAA statistics — No. 2 Jack Conolly with a a 1.46 factors per sport common, No. 4 (tie) Travis Oleksuk with a 1.29ppg, and No. 12 (tie)  J.T. Brown with a 1.20ppg common.

By comparability, Max Plante at 1.64 ppg, Zam Plante at 1.57 ppg and Jayson Shaugaby at 1.36 ppg.

BET ON THIS LINE: UMD’s offensively overwhelming first line at present leads the NCAA as its best. Sophomores Jayson Shaugabay, Max and Zam Plante have mixed for 64 of UMD’s 129 factors to this point this season, and have scored just below half of the Bulldogs 49 objectives to this point this season with 22.

Of their 22 objectives, simply 4 have been scored with out considered one of their linemates — Max Plante has scored two unassisted tallies, whereas Shaugabay has two objectives with simply Ty Hanson because the lone help.

The trio has additionally racked up a pile of a number of level video games too — Max Plante has performed it seven occasions, whereas each Zam Plante and Shaugabay have performed it six occasions.

POWERED PLAY: Currently, UMD owns the NCAA’s seventh-best energy play with a 26.9 conversion price. The Bulldogs penalty kill is sixth amongst groups which have performed eight or extra video games.

HE’S A WINNER: Goaltender Adam Gajan has already gained 11 video games to this point this season — and is already the primary Bulldog goaltender to succeed in that mark in 4 seasons — since Ryan Fanti turned in 20 triumphs in 2021-22.

Gajan’s 11 wins ties him for the nation’s lead, and has additionally performed the second most minutes (824) and is in a tie for probably the most video games performed (14). 

SANDELIN’S ALMOST GRAND: Head coach Scott Sandelin is marching nearer to teaching in his 1,000th sport on the Bulldog bench. Sandelin, who enters the weekend at 995 video games, is anticipated to succeed in the unbelievable milestone on Dec. 12 towards Arizona State at AMSOIL Arena.

Sandelin would be the twenty seventh head coach in D1 NCAA hockey historical past ever to succeed in the milestone, and he’s set to grow to be simply the fifth present head coach to educate in 1,000 or extra video games. With his first season at UMD again in 2000-01, Sandelin is at present in his twenty sixth season with UMD — the longest serving head coach in program historical past.

THE SERIES: The Bulldogs and Tigers  have beforehand met 112 occasions, courting again to to their first head-to-head contained in the Duluth Curling Club in Duluth, Minn. on Jan. 4, 1961 — a 6-4 UMD win.

Since then, the Bulldogs have pulled forward within the all-time collection with a file of 111-89-12. Over the previous 12 video games between them, they two packages are tangled up at 5-5-2, together with a highway cut up with the Tigers a season in the past. Since the final decade (2015-16 season), nevertheless, UMD is 18-4-2 in Colorado Springs.

Last season on the highway, the Bulldogs had been outscored by CC 8-6 within the collection, regardless of UMD averaging 29 photographs a sport to the Tigers’ 26. 

Last 10 Games, UMD vs CC (4-5-1)

Jan. 18, 2025 UMD 4, CC 1

Jan. 17, 2025 UMD 2, CC 7

Mar. 2, 2024 UMD 1, CC 4

Mar. 1, 2024 UMD 2, CC 2 OT

Jan. 13, 2024 UMD 2, CC 3 OT

Jan. 12, 2024 UMD 3, CC 2 OT

Dec. 3, 2022 UMD 4, CC 0

Dec. 2, 2022 UMD 0, CC 3

Nov. 5, 2022 UMD 3, CC 1

Nov. 4, 2022 UMD 0, CC 5

Top UMD Scorers vs CC

Max Plante, 2 GP 3 factors (1g, 2a)

Callum Arnott, 2 GP 2 factors (1g, 1a)

Jayson Shaugabay, 2 GP 2 factors (1g, 1a)

Zam Plante, 2 GP 2 factors (2a)

Braden Fischer, 4 GP 2 factors (2a)

Behind a four-goal second interval offensive burst on Jan. 17 final season, CC opened the collection with a 7-2 win.

CC obtained a aim from Noah Laba in each interval for a hat trick, and the Tigers bookended their 4 rating second interval with two objectives within the first interval and Laba’s third within the remaining stanza.

Ty Hanson banged in a shorthanded rebound from Zam Plante at 16:44 of the second interval to make it a 5-1 skate, however simply 14 seconds later, CC pushed the Bulldog deficit again to 5 objectives.

On the facility play 8:42 into the third interval, rookie ahead Callum Arnott tipped in a Aaron Pionk shot from the purpose to get UMD’s second aim on the board, however the Tigers held on to their five-goal lead for the 7-2 remaining.

Both groups had seven energy performs on the night time CC went 2-of-7 whereas UMD went 1-of-7. Four goalies in all performed between the 2 sides –Klayton Knapp allowed 4 objectives within the loss and made 9 saves in 23:16 of motion. Zach Sandy turned in 36:45, 14 saves and three objectives towards.

In sport two, UMD earned the collection cut up with a 4-1 win. The Bulldogs by no means trailed within the contest, scoring in every interval to pile on to their lead. Max Plante opened up the scoring with an influence play aim late within the first. however CC answered 42 seconds later.

UMD took the lead for good at 10:17 of the second interval when Blake Bechen tipped a shot, and the Bulldogs adopted that up with their second energy play aim of the night time on one other M. Plante and Jayson Shaugabay connection, this time it was Plante that discovered Shaugabay for a one time rocket and 3-1 lead on the 17:22 mark. The Bulldogs tacked on one other with 2:21 left for the 4-1 win.

LAST TIME OUT: UMD cut up with Omaha final weekend at AMSOIL Arena by scores of 5-2 Friday night time and 2-0 Saturday.

Friday night time, regardless of falling behind 1-0 within the first interval, the Bulldogs rode the primary collegiate hat trick of sophomore defenseman’s Ty Hanson’s profession. Hanson scored as soon as within the first and twice within the third, and together with a objectives from Joey Pierce and Callum Arnott within the second interval, UMD piled on the objectives.

Adam Gajan was once more stable in web for the Bulldogs – the sophomore netminder had 23 saves and UMD outshot the Mavericks a whopping 43-25. UMD went 1-of-3 on its energy play, whereas Omaha (4-5-0, 2-3-0) was held scoreless in 4 makes an attempt.

The Mavericks held UMD off the scoreboard Saturday night time, whereas Omaha scored within the second interval and an influence play aim within the third for the 2-0 win.

The Bulldogs owned a 32-21 photographs on aim benefit within the sport, however had been held scoreless on 5 energy play makes an attempt. Gajan made 19 saves, whereas his rookie counterpart within the Mavericks aim, Dawson Cowan had 32. Omaha completed 1-of-5 on its energy play.

NOTES ON THE OMAHA SERIES: UMD is now 30-21-4 all-time towards the Mavericks, and are nonetheless simply 1-6 of their final seven video games.

—Ty Hanson’s hat trick final Friday was the primary by a defenseman since Andy Reierson rang up three tallies within the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center in a 5-1 win over Michigan Tech University on Nov. 11, 2000.

Jayson Shaugabay leads all UMD gamers in scoring towards the Mavericks with 5 factors (2g, 3a) over 4 video games.

–UMD is now 5-2-0 at AMSOIL this season. 

CHART TOPPERS: UMD has various gamers within the NCAA top-10.

Max Plante at present leads the nation with 23 factors, first in plus/minus at +18 and first in factors per sport (1.64) and fourth with 13 assists.

Zam Plante at present ranks second within the NCAA in factors (22), sixth within the NCAA in energy play objectives (5), second in assists and ppg (1.57)  and third with a plus/minus +14) ranking.

Jayson Shaugabay sits tied for fourth within the NCAA with 19 factors and third in assists (14).

Ty Hanson — the reigning NCHC Defenseman of the Month owns probably the most factors by a defenseman (16), third in plus/minus (+14), and tied for eighth in game-winning objectives (3).

Like Hanson, Adam Kleber additionally ranks third within the NCAA with a +14 plus/minus ranking.

Goaltender Adam Gajan owns an NCAA tying tops 11 wins and in addition is tied for probably the most video games performed (14) and second in minutes (824).

YOUNG GUNS: 42 of UMD’s 49 objectives have been scored by underclassmen to this point this season. 

The sophomores have netted 35, whereas the freshman have scored seven.

Scout Truman leads the upperclassmen with 5.