2025–26 Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs men's ice hockey season
| 2025–26 Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs men's ice hockey season | |
|---|---|
| Conference | NCHC |
| Home ice | AMSOIL Arena |
| Rankings | |
| USCHO | #6 |
| USA Hockey | #6 |
| Record | |
| Overall | 23–13–1 |
| Conference | 11–12–1 |
| Home | 11–7–1 |
| Road | 12–6–0 |
| Coaches and captains | |
| Head coach | Scott Sandelin |
| Assistant coaches | Adam Krause Cody Chupp Brant Nicklin |
| Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs men's ice hockey seasons « 2024–25 2026–27 » | |
The 2025–26 Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs men's ice hockey season will be the 82nd season of play for the program and 13th in the NCHC. The Bulldogs will represent the University of Minnesota Duluth in the 2025–26 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season, play their home games at AMSOIL Arena and be coached by Scott Sandelin in his 26th season.
Season
Departures
| Player | Position | Nationality | Cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luke Bast | Defenseman | Canada | Graduation (retired) |
| Kyle Bettens | Forward | Canada | Transferred to Northern Michigan |
| Aiden Dubinsky | Defenseman | United States | Transferred to Wisconsin |
| Will Francis | Defenseman | United States | Graduation (signed with Anaheim Ducks) |
| Owen Gallatin | Defenseman | United States | Graduation (signed with Fort Wayne Komets) |
| Dominic James | Forward | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Klayton Knapp | Goaltender | United States | Transferred to Lindenwood |
| Carter Loney | Forward | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Anthony Menghini | Forward | United States | Transferred to North Dakota |
| Joey Molenaar | Forward | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Matthew Perkins | Forward | Canada | Transferred to Northeastern |
| Zach Sandy | Goaltender | United States | Transferred to North Dakota |
| Jack Smith | Forward | United States | Transferred to Minnesota State |
Recruiting
| Player | Position | Nationality | Age | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunter Anderson | Forward | United States | 20 | Manhattan Beach, CA |
| Luke Bibby | Forward | Canada | 20 | Brantford, ON |
| Brady Cleveland | Defenseman | United States | 20 | Wausau, WI; transfer from Colorado College; selected 47th overall in 2023 |
| Ethan Dahlmeir | Goaltender | United States | 22 | Lakeville, MN; transfer from Miami |
| Kyle Gaffney | Forward | United States | 24 | Plymouth, MN; transfer from Alaska |
| Kyler Kovich | Forward | Canada | 23 | Coquitlam, BC; graduate transfer from Cornell |
| Cole Sheffield | Goaltender | Canada | 21 | London, ON |
| Daniel Shlaine | Forward | United States | 19 | Moscow, RUS |
| Grayden Siepmann | Defenseman | Canada | 21 | Windsor, ON |
| Jake Toll | Defenseman | United States | 20 | Rosemount, MN |
| Scout Truman | Forward | Canada | 22 | Lethbridge, AB; graduate transfer from Massachusetts Lowell |
| Ryan Zaremba | Forward | Canada | 19 | Balgonie, SK |
Roster
As of August 12, 2025.[1]
| No. | Nat. | Player | Class | Pos | Height | Weight | DoB | Hometown | Previous team | NHL rights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Ty Hanson | Sophomore | D | 5' 9" (1.75 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | 2005-04-21 | Hermantown, Minnesota | Sioux City Musketeers (USHL) | — | |
| 3 | Jake Toll | Freshman | D | 6' 3" (1.91 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | 2004-10-30 | Rosemount, Minnesota | Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL) | — | |
| 5 | Brady Cleveland | Junior | D | 6' 5" (1.96 m) | 211 lb (96 kg) | 2005-04-01 | Wausau, Wisconsin | Colorado College (NCHC) | DET, 47th overall 2023 | |
| 6 | Adam Kleber | Sophomore | D | 6' 6" (1.98 m) | 214 lb (97 kg) | 2006-03-24 | Chaska, Minnesota | Lincoln Stars (USHL) | BUF, 42nd overall 2024 | |
| 8 | Aaron Pionk | Junior | D | 6' 0" (1.83 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | 2003-01-16 | Hermantown, Minnesota | Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL) | MIN, 149th overall 2023 | |
| 10 | Max Plante | Sophomore | F | 5' 11" (1.8 m) | 176 lb (80 kg) | 2006-02-20 | Hermantown, Minnesota | USNTDP (USHL) | DET, 47th overall 2024 | |
| 11 | Hunter Anderson | Freshman | F | 5' 10" (1.78 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | 2005-04-28 | Manhattan Beach, California | Lincoln Stars (USHL) | — | |
| 13 | Daniel Shlaine | Freshman | F | 6' 0" (1.83 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | 2005-10-30 | Moscow, Russia | Lincoln Stars (USHL) | TBL, 115th overall 2023 | |
| 16 | Blake Bechen | Sophomore | F | 6' 0" (1.83 m) | 187 lb (85 kg) | 2005-01-25 | Dubuque, Iowa | Green Bay Gamblers (USHL) | — | |
| 17 | Jayson Shaugabay | Sophomore | F | 5' 9" (1.75 m) | 165 lb (75 kg) | 2005-04-05 | Warroad, Minnesota | Green Bay Gamblers (USHL) | TBL, 115th overall 2023 | |
| 18 | Joey Pierce | Senior | D | 6' 0" (1.83 m) | 208 lb (94 kg) | 2002-10-02 | Hermantown, Minnesota | Lincoln Stars (USHL) | — | |
| 19 | Harper Bentz | Sophomore | F | 6' 0" (1.83 m) | 176 lb (80 kg) | 2004-11-29 | Moorhead, Minnesota | Fargo Force (USHL) | — | |
| 20 | Riley Bodnarchuk | Senior | D | 6' 4" (1.93 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | 2001-06-01 | Okotoks, Alberta | Okotoks Oilers (AJHL) | — | |
| 21 | Braden Fischer | Junior | F | 6' 1" (1.85 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | 2002-10-02 | Winnipeg, Manitoba | Minot Minotauros (NAHL) | — | |
| 22 | Ryan Zaremba | Freshman | F | 5' 9" (1.75 m) | 179 lb (81 kg) | 2006-03-30 | Balgonie, Saskatchewan | Fargo Force (USHL) | — | |
| 23 | Kyle Gaffney | Senior | F | 6' 0" (1.83 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | 2001-09-05 | Plymouth, Michigan | Alaska (NCAA) | — | |
| 24 | Scout Truman | Senior | F | 5' 10" (1.78 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | 2002-10-15 | Lethbridge, Alberta | Massachusetts Lowell (HEA) | — | |
| 25 | Callum Arnott | Sophomore | F | 6' 1" (1.85 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | 2004-01-12 | King City, Ontario | Penticton Vees (BCHL) | — | |
| 27 | Zam Plante | Sophomore | F | 5' 11" (1.8 m) | 176 lb (80 kg) | 2004-08-24 | Hermantown, Minnesota | Fargo Force (USHL) | PIT, 150th overall 2022 | |
| 28 | Luke Bibby | Freshman | F | 6' 0" (1.83 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | 2004-10-29 | Brantford, Ontario | Brooks Bandits (BCHL) | — | |
| 30 | Adam Gajan | Sophomore | G | 6' 3" (1.91 m) | 187 lb (85 kg) | 2004-05-06 | Poprad, Slovakia | Green Bay Gamblers (USHL) | CHI, 35th overall 2023 | |
| 35 | Ethan Dahlmeir | Sophomore | G | 6' 4" (1.93 m) | 216 lb (98 kg) | 2003-09-07 | Lakeville, Minnesota | Miami (NCHC) | — | |
| 36 | Cole Sheffield | Freshman | G | 6' 0" (1.83 m) | 176 lb (80 kg) | 2004-05-08 | London, Ontario | Dauphin Kings (MJHL) | — | |
| 37 | Grayden Siepmann | Freshman | D | 5' 11" (1.8 m) | 181 lb (82 kg) | 2004-05-26 | Windsor, Ontario | Saskatoon Blades (WHL) | — | |
| 38 | Kyler Kovich | Graduate | F | 6' 2" (1.88 m) | 182 lb (83 kg) | 2002-01-31 | Coquitlam, British Columbia | Cornell (ECAC) | — | |
| 39 | Trevor Stachowiak | Sophomore | F | 6' 2" (1.88 m) | 196 lb (89 kg) | 2003-02-25 | Dallas, Texas | Minot Minotauros (NAHL) | — |
Standings
| Conference record | Overall record | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | W | L | T | OTW | OTL | SW | PTS | GF | GA | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | |||
| #2 North Dakota † | 24 | 17 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 55 | 96 | 58 | 37 | 27 | 9 | 1 | 142 | 88 | ||
| #4 Denver | 24 | 17 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 52 | 82 | 51 | 38 | 24 | 11 | 3 | 133 | 81 | ||
| #5 Western Michigan | 24 | 16 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 48 | 89 | 65 | 37 | 26 | 10 | 1 | 135 | 88 | ||
| #6 Minnesota Duluth | 24 | 11 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 36 | 64 | 66 | 37 | 23 | 13 | 1 | 121 | 90 | ||
| St. Cloud State | 24 | 9 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 30 | 63 | 86 | 36 | 16 | 19 | 1 | 112 | 112 | ||
| Colorado College | 24 | 7 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 29 | 63 | 66 | 36 | 13 | 17 | 6 | 95 | 98 | ||
| Miami | 24 | 9 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 28 | 60 | 74 | 36 | 18 | 16 | 2 | 104 | 108 | ||
| Omaha | 24 | 8 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 57 | 86 | 36 | 12 | 24 | 0 | 95 | 129 | ||
| Arizona State | 24 | 7 | 16 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 22 | 62 | 94 | 36 | 14 | 21 | 1 | 106 | 132 | ||
| Championship: March 21, 2026 † indicates conference regular season champion (Penrose Cup) * indicates conference tournament champion (National Cup) Rankings: USCHO.com Top 20 Poll; updated March 16, 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||
Schedule and results
| Date | Time | Opponent# | Rank# | Site | TV | Decision | Result | Attendance | Record | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Season | |||||||||||
| October 3 | 10:07 pm | at Alaska* | Carlson Center • Fairbanks, Alaska | FloHockey | Gajan | W 5–1 | 2,220 | 1–0–0 | |||
| October 4 | 10:07 pm | at Alaska* | Carlson Center • Fairbanks, Alaska | FloHockey | Gajan | W 4–1 | 2,700 | 2–0–0 | |||
| October 10 | 7:07 pm | Augustana* | AMSOIL Arena • Duluth, Minnesota | My9 | Gajan | W 4–1 | 5,541 | 3–0–0 | |||
| October 11 | 6:07 pm | Augustana* | AMSOIL Arena • Duluth, Minnesota | My9 | Gajan | L 0–4 | 5,658 | 3–1–0 | |||
| October 17 | 7:07 pm | at Bemidji State* | Sanford Center • Bemidji, Minnesota | Midco Sports+, My9 | Gajan | W 7–3 | 2,694 | 4–1–0 | |||
| October 18 | 6:07 pm | Bemidji State* | AMSOIL Arena • Duluth, Minnesota | My9 | Gajan | W 5–1 | 5,232 | 5–1–0 | |||
| October 24 | 7:00 pm | at #12 Minnesota* | #18 | Mariucci Arena • Minneapolis, Minnesota (Rivalry) | My9 | Gajan | W 3–0 | 9,630 | 6–1–0 | ||
| October 25 | 7:00 pm | at #12 Minnesota* | #18 | Mariucci Arena • Minneapolis, Minnesota (Rivalry) | My9 | Gajan | W 4–1 | 9,694 | 7–1–0 | ||
| October 31 | 7:07 pm | at #8 North Dakota | #10 | Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota | Midco, My9 | Gajan | W 4–3 OT | 11,023 | 8–1–0 (1–0–0) | ||
| November 1 | 6:07 pm | at #8 North Dakota | #10 | Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota | Midco, My9 | Gajan | L 1–5 | 11,495 | 8–2–0 (1–1–0) | ||
| November 7 | 7:07 pm | St. Cloud State | #7 | AMSOIL Arena • Duluth, Minnesota | My9 | Gajan | W 4–0 | 5,385 | 9–2–0 (2–1–0) | ||
| November 8 | 6:07 pm | St. Cloud State | #7 | AMSOIL Arena • Duluth, Minnesota | My9 | Gajan | W 3–2 OT | 5,589 | 10–2–0 (3–1–0) | ||
| November 14 | 7:07 pm | Omaha | #3 | AMSOIL Arena • Duluth, Minnesota | My9 | Gajan | W 5–2 | 5,239 | 11–2–0 (4–1–0) | ||
| November 15 | 6:07 pm | Omaha | #3 | AMSOIL Arena • Duluth, Minnesota | My9 | Gajan | L 0–2 | 5,349 | 11–3–0 (4–2–0) | ||
| November 21 | 8:00 pm | at Colorado College | #4 | Ed Robson Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado | SOCO CW | Gajan | W 4–2 | 3,457 | 12–3–0 (5–2–0) | ||
| November 22 | 7:00 pm | at Colorado College | #4 | Ed Robson Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado | Gajan | L 1–2 OT | 3,417 | 12–4–0 (5–3–0) | |||
| December 5 | 7:00 pm | at #7 Western Michigan | #4 | Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan | Gajan | W 4–1 | 3,178 | 13–4–0 (6–3–0) | |||
| December 6 | 6:00 pm | at #7 Western Michigan | #4 | Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan | Gajan | L 2–3 OT | 2,978 | 13–5–0 (6–4–0) | |||
| December 12 | 7:07 pm | Arizona State | #5 | AMSOIL Arena • Duluth, Minnesota | My9 | Gajan | W 3–1 | 5,583 | 14–5–0 (7–4–0) | ||
| December 13 | 5:07 pm | Arizona State | #5 | AMSOIL Arena • Duluth, Minnesota | My9 | Gajan | L 3–6 | 5,749 | 14–6–0 (7–5–0) | ||
| January 2 | 7:07 pm | Manitoba* | #5 | AMSOIL Arena • Duluth, Minnesota (Exhibition) | My9 | Dahlmeir | W 4–0 | 5,173 | |||
| January 9 | 7:07 pm | Lindenwood* | #5 | AMSOIL Arena • Duluth, Minnesota | My9 | Gajan | W 6–3 | 4,257 | 15–6–0 | ||
| January 10 | 6:07 pm | Lindenwood* | #5 | AMSOIL Arena • Duluth, Minnesota | My9 | Dahlmeir | W 8–4 | 4,198 | 16–6–0 | ||
| January 16 | 7:00 pm | at St. Cloud State | #6 | Herb Brooks National Hockey Center • St. Cloud, Minnesota | My9, The CW | Gajan | L 0–6 | 3,598 | 16–7–0 (7–6–0) | ||
| January 17 | 6:00 pm | at St. Cloud State | #6 | Herb Brooks National Hockey Center • St. Cloud, Minnesota | My9, The CW | Dahlmeir | W 5–3 | 4,566 | 17–7–0 (8–6–0) | ||
| January 23 | 7:07 pm | #3 Western Michigan | #7 | AMSOIL Arena • Duluth, Minnesota | My9 | Gajan | L 3–4 | 5,798 | 17–8–0 (8–7–0) | ||
| January 24 | 6:07 pm | #3 Western Michigan | #7 | AMSOIL Arena • Duluth, Minnesota | My9 | Gajan | L 3–4 OT | 5,801 | 17–9–0 (8–8–0) | ||
| January 30 | 8:00 pm | at #11 Denver | #7 | Magness Arena • Denver, Colorado | Gajan | L 3–4 | 6,320 | 17–10–0 (8–9–0) | |||
| January 31 | 7:00 pm | at #11 Denver | #7 | Magness Arena • Denver, Colorado | Gajan | L 0–1 OT | 6,356 | 17–11–0 (8–10–0) | |||
| February 6 | 7:07 pm | #3 North Dakota | #10 | AMSOIL Arena • Duluth, Minnesota | My9 | Dahlmeir | W 3–2 OT | 6,668 | 18–11–0 (9–10–0) | ||
| February 7 | 6:07 pm | #3 North Dakota | #10 | AMSOIL Arena • Duluth, Minnesota | My9 | Dahlmeir | L 1–4 | 6,869 | 18–12–0 (9–11–0) | ||
| February 20 | 6:05 pm | at #20 Miami | #9 | Steve Cady Arena • Oxford, Ohio | RESN | Dahlmeir | W 5–2 | 2,307 | 19–12–0 (10–11–0) | ||
| February 21 | 5:05 pm | at #20 Miami | #9 | Steve Cady Arena • Oxford, Ohio | RESN | Dahlmeir | W 4–1 | 3,372 | 20–12–0 (11–11–0) | ||
| February 27 | 7:07 pm | Colorado College | #9 | Amsoil Arena • Duluth, Minnesota | My9, SOCO CW | Dahlmeir | L 1–4 | 5,437 | 20–13–0 (11–12–0) | ||
| February 28 | 6:07 pm | Colorado College | #9 | Amsoil Arena • Duluth, Minnesota | My9 | Dahlmeir | T 2–2 SOW | 5,437 | 20–13–1 (11–12–1) | ||
| NCHC Tournament | |||||||||||
| March 6 | 7:07 pm | St. Cloud State* | #10 | AMSOIL Arena • Duluth, Minnesota (NCHC Quarterfinal Game 1) | My9 | Gajan | W 4–3 OT | 4,238 | 21–13–1 | ||
| March 7 | 6:07 pm | St. Cloud State* | #10 | AMSOIL Arena • Duluth, Minnesota (NCHC Quarterfinal Game 2) | My9 | Gajan | W 2–1 OT | 4,251 | 22–13–1 | ||
| March 14 | 6:07 pm | at #2 North Dakota* | #8 | AMSOIL Arena • Duluth, Minnesota (NCHC Semifinal) | Midco Sports | Gajan | W 5–1 | 9,902 | 23–13–1 | ||
| March 21 | 7:00 pm | #4 Denver* | #6 | Magness Arena • Denver, Colorado (NCHC Championship) | |||||||
| *Non-conference game. #Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. All times are in Central Time. Source:[2] | |||||||||||
Scoring statistics
Rankings
| Poll | Week | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 (Final) | |
| USCHO.com | RV | RV | RV | 18 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | – | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 6 | |||
| USA Hockey | RV | RV | RV | 19 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | – | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 6 | |||
Note: USCHO did not release a poll in week 12.[4]
Note: USA Hockey did not release a poll in week 12.
References
- ^ "2025–26 Men's Hockey Roster". University of Minnesota–Duluth Bulldogs. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
- ^ "2025-26 Men's Hockey Schedule". Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
- ^ "Univ. of Minnesota-Duluth 2025-2026 Skater Stats". Elite Prospects. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
- ^ "USCHO Division I Men's Poll". USCHO.com. Retrieved November 26, 2019.