Bulldog Insider

This week on the News Tribune's Bulldog Insider Podcast, it wasn't just the new WCHA commissioner joining Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Michelle McAteer is an original Bulldog — or OG as she likes to tell people — whose college career began in 1999-2000 with the first ever varsity women's hockey team at UMD. The WCHA also began play that season, and a year later the NCAA started awarding a national championship in the sport. Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts.

Minnesota Duluth's senior captain Dominic James had only been to the state of Minnesota once in his entire life growing up, coming to the Twin Cities when he was around 12 years old for a youth hockey tournament. James talks with News Tribune Bulldogs beat reporter Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider of My 9 Sports about those experiences, and we get to know his roommates back here in Duluth and on the road, like this week when the Bulldogs travel to UMass-Lowell for a nonconference series. Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producer Wyatt Buckner. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts.

After two years apart, brothers Zam and Max Plante are back home in the Twin Ports, and roommates again. The Hermantown natives both moved away in 2022 to play hockey elsewhere following a win for the Hawks in the Minnesota Class A state championship game. Zam Plante went to Chicago, and later Fargo, to play in the United States Hockey League while younger brother, Max, moved to Plymouth, Michigan, to play for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program. Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts.

When Maura Crowell left the Bulldogs this year to become the head coach at Dartmouth, Schuler finally got the job she sought after nine years ago. The new UMD women's hockey coach joined the Bulldog Insider Podcast to record an episode prior to the season-opening series at Ohio State, to share what she's learned along the way. Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts.

The Bulldog Insider Podcast is back for its seventh season with Matt Wellens of the News Tribune, Zach Schneider of My9 Sports and KDAL's Bruce Ciskie previewing the 2024-25 UMD women's and men's hockey seasons. The Bulldogs women open the year with a key WCHA series Sept. 21-22 at Ohio State, while the men ease into things with a nonconference home game against Bemidji State on Oct. 5, followed by an exhibition against Manitoba on Oct. 6 at Amsoil Arena. We solicited questions from listeners and viewers prior to recording the Bulldog Insider Podcast Season 7 premiere, but couldn't get to all of the question in the episode. Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts.

The 2023-24 Minnesota Duluth men's and women's hockey seasons came to a close less than two weeks ago, but the offseason news is only heating up. And we know you have lots of questions about the programs moving forward. The Duluth News Tribune's UMD hockey beat reporter Matt Wellens, Zach Schneider of My 9 Sports and Bruce Ciskie of KDAL get together on a snowy day in the Twin Ports to try and answer those questions from you, the fans, about Blake Biondi, Cole Spicer, Will Francis, Ben Steeves, recruiting, the transfer portal, NIL and the coaching staff. They predict who will captain the Bulldogs in 2024-25 and give a sneak peak of the schedules for next season. This is the second episode of a two-part Season 6 finale. In Part I, the Bulldogs hockey "Insiders" break down what went right and what went wrong for both teams in 2023-24, what to expect in the offseason with recruiting and the transfer portal, and they take a look at what to expect in 2024-25. Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts.

The 2023-24 Minnesota Duluth men's and women's hockey seasons have come to a close following the UMD women's loss to Ohio State in the NCAA tournament and the Bulldogs men getting swept by Denver in the NCHC quarterfinals. The Duluth News Tribune's UMD hockey beat reporter Matt Wellens, Zach Schneider of My 9 Sports and Bruce Ciskie of KDAL get together on a snowy day in the Twin Ports to break down what went right and what went wrong for both teams in 2023-24, what to expect in the offseason with recruiting and the transfer portal, and they take a look at what to expect in 2024-25. This is the first episode of a two-part Season 6 finale. In Part II, the Bulldogs hockey "Insiders" answer questions from fans about Blake Biondi, Cole Spicer, Will Francis, Ben Steeves, recruiting, the transfer portal, NIL and the coaching staff. Watch for that episode to post in the near future. 0:00-0:34 Essentia Health Sponsor 0:35-1:51 Intro 1:52-26:42 UMD Women's Team Season Overview 26:43-28:12 Ad Break 28:13-47:48 UMD Men's Team Season Overview: What went wrong? 47:49-49:00 Part 2 Preview and Outro Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts.

The Minnesota Duluth men's hockey team is hitting the road this weekend for the NCHC quarterfinals, and while senior defenseman Darian Gotz would much rather be playing at Amsoil Arena this weekend, the destination this week of Denver is an OK consolation prize. Gotz joins the podcast this week, and we ask him about his favorite desintations in the NCHC over the last four seasons. We also talk about his high school hockey career at Hermantown and dive into the politics of the Minnesota Class A state boys hockey tournament. Gotz also shares stories of growing up in Hibbing and being babysat by former Bulldogs forward Adam Johnson, who died in October playing hockey in England. Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts.

The Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team is heading to the WCHA Final Faceoff this weekend at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis, and after that, the Bulldogs will very likely be playing in the NCAA women's hockey tournament for a fourth-straight season. One player who has stepped as of late to get the Bulldogs where they are is redshirt sophomore forward Mary Kate O'Brien. She holds the distinction of being the first known Massachusetts native to play for the UMD women's hockey program. She joins the podcast this week to discuss UMD's postseason run, how she became a Bulldog and what it was like for her growing up playing boys and girls hockey in the Northeast. Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts.

This week on the Bulldog Insider Podcast, we breakdown and debate the UMD Women's Hockey 25th anniversary team that has now been released in its entirety. The authority on UMD women's hockey, UMD director of athletic communications Kelly Grgas-Wheeler, joins Matt and Zach to talk about the process of putting the team together, and to highlight players who are not just legends at UMD, but in the sport of women's hockey. Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts.

Duluth News Tribune sports reporter Matt Wellens provides an update in Bulldogs Hockey for the men and women's teams. Matt also discusses what to expect for the next episode of Bulldog Insider. Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts. New episodes air every Thursday.

This week on the Bulldog Insider Podcast, Minnesota Duluth fifth-year seniors Luke Loheit and Quinn Olson join the podcast to reflect on their Bulldogs hockey careers and share what could be coming next for both. Loheit and Olson both arrived at UMD in the fall of 2019 when the program was chasing a third-straight NCAA title. They look back on that season, and what it was like to play with members of the back-to-back national championship teams like Hunter Shepard, Nick Wolff and Noah Cates. We discuss their favorite memories from on the ice and off it, how much team dinners were during the NCHC Pod in Omaha, and the people that made a significant impact on their time as students and as athletes at UMD. Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts.

This week on the Bulldog Insider Podcast, Minnesota Duluth women's captain Mannon McMahon makes her long overdue debut. It comes at the perfect time as she is approaching two significant UMD women's hockey program records. McMahon, who has been in the Bulldogs lineup since Day 1 of her college career, has played in 164 career games at UMD, all consecutively. She can break the program's consecutive game streak this weekend against St. Cloud State at Amsoil Arena. Next weekend at Minnesota, she can tie the total career games played record. Anna Klein currently holds the record for consecutive games at 165. Naomi Rogge holds the total games played record of 168. In addition to talking about the records she is chasing, we take a look back at McMahon's career, unfortunately opening up a painful wound from McMahon's sophomore season that she had buried. The fifth-year senior forward also shares some of her favorite things about Duluth and what's possibly next in her hockey career. Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts.

Minnesota Duluth sophomore center Jack Smith grew up in St. Cloud watching the St. Cloud State hockey team. He played for St. Cloud Cathedral in high school against Blake Biondi, Joey Pierce, Aaron Pionk and the Hermantown Hawks. Now Smith is in his second season at Minnesota Duluth, playing alongside the former Hawks with the Bulldogs. On this week's episode of Bulldog Insider, Smith talks about his path from St. Cloud to Duluth, and the injuries he's had to battle along the way. We also play a game of "Start, Bench, Cut: Minnesota Edition" to get hit thoughts on hockey arenas, rivals, the state's pro sports teams and its unique cuisine. Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts.

Two of the top up-and-coming goaltenders for the Canadian women's national hockey team hail from opposite ends of the country, however, both can be found this season in Duluth, Minnesota. Sophomore Hailey MacLeod of Abbotsford, British Columbia, and freshman Eve Gascon of Mascouche, Quebec, have been a formidable 1A-1B punch in goal this season, giving the Minnesota Duluth women's hockey program a chance to win every night. Both are ranked in the top 10 in the NCAA in save percentage, meaning coach Maura Crowell can't go wrong when it comes to deciding who starts in net on any given day. Gascon and MacLeod join the Bulldog Insider Podcast to discuss their competitive, but friendly and supportive relationship. They also play a game of "How well do you know your fellow goaltender" where that friendly and supportive competitive nature is on full display. Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts.

This week on the Bulldog Insider Podcast, Minnesota Duluth freshman Aaron Pionk of Hermantown talks about his transition from forward to the defenseman, and what it was like growing up with four older brothers. Pionk was a forward throughout his high school days with the Hermantown Hawks, making the move back to the blue line when he was 18 and playing junior hockey in Cloquet with the Minnesota Wilderness of the NAHL. Shortly after switching to defense, he landed a college scholarship offer — initially from Minnesota State before coming to UMD — and then was drafted by the Minnesota Wild. His first season at UMD marks just his third as a defenseman, so Pionk admits that there is still much for him to learn about the position. One thing he doesn't need to be taught is toughness. That comes from growing up with four older brothers in Hermantown. One of those brothers who got on him — literally at times — is now one of his biggest resources. That's Neal, a former defenseman at UMD who now plays in the NHL with the Winnipeg Jets. Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts.

This week on the Bulldog Insider Podcast, Minnesota Duluth junior defenseman Hanna Baskin joins the show to talk about her breakout season on the Bulldogs blue line and how she got to this point in her college career. Baskin shares the story of her freshman year of high school when her coach asked her to switch from forward to defenseman, and go play another season with Minnetonka's 15U team to learn the position. She said she hated the season, but it changed the course of her hockey career and eventually led her to UMD. Baskin, who after playing behind the likes of Ashton Bell and Maggie Flaherty her first two seasons, is now the Bulldogs leading scorer on the blue line with five goals and eight assists through 20 games. She is coming off a five-point weekend against Bemidji State that included a goal and four assists to earn her WCHA Defender of the Week honors. Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts.

This week on the Bulldog Insider Podcast, Minnesota Duluth junior defenseman Will Francis joins us fresh off his first game back on the ice with the Bulldogs last Saturday at St. Thomas. Francis was away from the team and UMD campus for the entire first semester after announcing in August that his leukemia had relapsed. Francis takes us through his journey over the past five months, from the days leading up to learning cancer had returned to the exhibition on Saturday in Mendota Heights. He shares what it was like training on his own for a semester — though he did eventually find a partner in an NHLer looking to get back in the league — and what he's looking forward to getting back on campus with his teammates and classmates this winter. We also talk about his clothing line with Sauce Hockey, and the deer he shot this fall. Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts.

This week on the Bulldog Insider Podcast, we bring you Part II of our mini-series of Nittany Lions-turned-Bulldogs with UMD women's senior forward Olivia Wallin. Like Bulldogs senior forward Connor McMenamin, Wallin transferred this offseason from Penn State to Minnesota Duluth. A civil engineering major, Wallin credited McMenamin with encouraging her to come to Duluth once she entered her name into the transfer portal after three seasons with the Nittany Lions. Wallin brings a different perspective of life at Penn State having played for the women's program, which does not play with its fellow Big 10 schools in the WCHA. Penn State is part of College Hockey America, where the level of play and travel is very, very different. Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts.

This week on the Bulldog Insider Podcast, the so called "Bulldogs Insiders" who follow the UMD hockey teams all year long take a look back at the first half of the 2023-24 season and see how their preseason predictions are holding up. Matt Wellens of the News Tribune, Zach Schneider of My 9 Sports and Bruce Ciskie of KDAL hand out some unofficial awards as well, taking a look at the most impactful transfers and freshmen, the biggest surprise on each team and the first-half MVP for both squads. Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts.

This week on the Bulldog Insider Podcast, freshmen forwards Anthony Menghini and Matthew Perkins of the UMD men's hockey team dish on life as college freshmen, sharing what has stood out to them about life as Bulldogs on the ice and off it. Both took different paths to Duluth with Menghini growing up in Baxter, Minnesota, and Perkins coming from Balgonie, Saskathchewan. The two were adversaries in May when Perkins and the Youngstown Phantoms defeated Menghini of the Fargo Force in the 2023 USHL Clark Cup Final. What was life for both of them bussing across the USHL? Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts.

This week on the Bulldog Insider Podcast, Minnesota Duluth fifth-year senior wing and assistant captain Connor McMenamin shares what it's like going from a Big Ten program at Penn State to an NCAA Division II school like Minnesota Duluth, that plays Division I hockey. The short answer from McMenamin is that the Nittany Lions and Bulldogs programs are quite similar when it comes to resources and amenities. The big difference between the two programs is their location, the communities they call home and the leagues they play in — which impacts the style of play. Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts.

This week on the Bulldog Insider Podcast, UMD men's fifth-year senior captain Luke Loheit reveals the keys to growing a good mustache during November for the Movember Foundation, which raises awareness and funds for men's physical and mental health issues. It's a campaign that the men's hockey community has really rallied around, and that includes the Bulldogs. Many members of the UMD men's hockey are growing — or trying to grow — mustaches this month for Movember. You can check out their progress and make a donation to their Movember team page here. It's a campaign that's personal inside the UMD locker room after goaltender Zach Stejskal went through his battle with testicular cancer during his sophomore season. On the podcast this week, Loheit talks about Movember's emphasis on mental health awareness and why that is important to him as captain of the Bulldogs. Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts.

Duluth News Tribune sports reporter Matt Wellens provides an update in Bulldogs Hockey for the men and women's teams. Matt will also discusses what to expect for season 6, episode 8 of Bulldog Insider, which drops Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023. Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts. New episodes air every Thursday.

This week on the Bulldog Insider Podcast, it's Luke Bast's turn to faceoff against his former team when the Minnesota Duluth men's program hosts North Dakota at Amsoil Arena. Bast transferred to UMD in the offseason after two years at North Dakota, where injuries derailed much of his sophomore season. He spoke about what was important to him when he began his search for a new school, what it's like playing for both Scott Sandelin and Brad Berry and why the infamous Red Pepper is not at the top of his list for restaurants in Grand Forks. Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts.

This week on the Bulldog Insider Podcast, UMD fifth-year senior wing Reece Hunt joins the podcast fresh off her homecoming to Bemidji State. Hunt transferred to the Bulldogs this year after playing four seasons for the Beavers. She played her first game at Sanford Center last Friday as an opponent, and scored the game-winning goal for UMD in the 2-1 victory. Hunt provides a unique and honest assessment on this week's episode about what it is like to return to your school after transferring to an in-league rival that she already knew pretty well. She compares what the Bulldogs say about Bemidji to what Bemidji says about the Bulldogs when they play each other. How accurate is all of it? Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts.

This week on the Bulldog Insider Podcast, former Bulldogs captains Gabbie Hughes and Ashton Bell share what life has been like since both were drafted by Ottawa in the inaugural Professional Women's Hockey League draft last month. The PWHL is set to open training camps for all six teams in mid-November while the first season will get underway in January. How are they preparing in the meantime for the new league, and what does it mean for both to be part of what everyone hopes is women's hockey history? Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts.

This week on the Bulldog Insider Podcast, we take a stop in Cohasset, Minnesota, instead of just passing through on U.S. Highway 2 like we usually do. UMD senior goaltender and Cohasset native Zach Stejskal joins the podcast to tell us about the little town outside Grand Rapids that has produced a couple of quality goaltenders for the Bulldogs. Also the hometown of Hunter Shepard, Stejskal describes life growing up in Cohasset, and highlights some of the people in the Grand Rapids hockey program who helped him become the goalie that he is today. Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts.

If you could design a third jersey for the Minnesota Duluth men's and women's hockey teams, what would it look like? We asked UMD women's hockey seniors Clara Van Wieren and Nina Jobst-Smith what they would like to see in a third jersey, and both came up with very different, but very unique designs. Their team has plenty of experience with third and special edition jerseys over the years. Also in this week's episode, we find out what Van Wieren and Jobst-Smith learned about the 2023-24 Bulldogs from their first series of the season — a sweep of Long Island University. We also dive into what goes into the mind of a player and teammates when a hat trick is on the line. Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts.

UMD senior forward Blake Biondi of Hermantown joins the Bulldog Insider Podcast this week to discuss his return from double shoulder surgery and what needs to happen for the UMD offense to succeed. After missing the second half of his junior season in 2022-23 due to shoulder injuries, Hermantown native Blake Biondi is back with the Bulldogs for his senior season in 2023-24, ready to score goals and help get UMD back to the NCAA tournament after the program fell short a year ago. Biondi, a winger who was selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the fourth round of the 2020 NHL Draft, had surgery on both shoulders during the second half of last season. He joined the Bulldog Insider Podcast this week to talk about the recovery process and share what he expects of himself and the team this season. Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts.

The Bulldog Insider Podcast returns for its sixth season to preview the upcoming 2023-24 Minnesota Duluth men's and women's hockey seasons. The voice of the Bulldogs on KDAL, Bruce Ciskie, joins Matt Wellens of the News Tribune and Zach Schneider of My 9 Sports to dive into what lies ahead for the Bulldogs as the programs get ready for their season openers the first weekend of October at Amsoil Arena. The Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Duluth News Tribune sports reporter Matt Wellens and My9 television voice of Bulldog hockey Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com.

Welcome to Part II of the two-part, two-episode season 5 finale of the Bulldog Insider Podcast. The voice of the Bulldogs on KDAL, Bruce Ciskie, joins Matt Wellens of the News Tribune and Zach Schneider of My 9 Sports to help up wrap up the 2022-23 men's and women's hockey seasons, as well as to look ahead to 2023-24. In Part II, the "Bulldog Insiders" answer questions sent in from listeners that cover recruiting, the transfer portal and next season's schedules. Part I of the two-part, two-episode season 5 finale of the Bulldog Insider Podcast with Matt, Zach and Bruce can be listened to here. Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts.

Welcome to Part I of the two-part, two-episode season 5 finale of the Bulldog Insider Podcast. The voice of the Bulldogs on KDAL, Bruce Ciskie, joins Matt Wellens of the News Tribune and Zach Schneider of My 9 Sports to help up wrap up the 2022-23 men's and women's hockey seasons, as well as to look ahead to 2023-24. Matt, Zach and Bruce started recording this episode just minutes after news broke that freshman wing Isaas Howard had entered the transfer portal. Part II of the two-part, two-episode season 5 finale of the Bulldog Insider Podcast with Matt, Zach and Bruce will post on Thursday. In that episode, the "Insiders" answer your questions that were submitted last week. Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts.

This week on the Bulldog Insider Podcast, we go behind the scenes of college hockey's Frozen Fours with Mark Bedics, the NCAA associate director of championships and alliances. Bedics previously worked as a media coordinator for the NCAA's Men's Frozen Four from 2002 to 2021. Now he's on the operations side of planning, organizing and putting on events like this week's NCAA Women's Frozen Four at Amsoil Arena in Duluth. He shares stories and experiences from both events, including what it's like to run a Frozen Four at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul when Bulldogs and Gophers fans take over the event. We also dive into the impact the NCAA's gender equity investigation and report has had on both events. Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts. New episodes air every Thursday.

Minnesota Duluth fifth-year senior defenseman Derek Daschke has been through the recruiting process more than most. He initially committed to Western Michigan when he was 15 years old, but a shakeup of the coaching staff caused him to reopen his recruitment. He briefly committed to Omaha before de-committing, again because of a coaching shakeup. Daschke finally landed at Miami, where he played for two different head coaches in four seasons. Last summer, however, he transferred to the Bulldogs to pursue a Master of Business Administration and play his fifth season of eligibility from the COVID-19 pandemic. Daschke joined the Bulldog Insider Podcast this week to talk about his recruiting and transfer experiences. He provides some valuable advice to those who are going through both at this time of the year. We also get insight into the various NCHC rinks, towns and programs from someone who has been in the NCHC for five seasons. Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts. New episodes air every Thursday.

This week on the Bulldog Insider Podcast, we get to know Minnesota Duluth's two-time Hockey Humanitarian Award top-five finalist Gabbie Hughes from the perspective of her parents, Miki and Terry Hughes. Like their daughter, Miki and Terry are co-founders and active members of Sophie's Squad, an organization that has brought mental health awareness to the forefront of hockey in Minnesota. Miki and Terry share stories about the founding of Sophie's Squad and provide insight into why the cause is so meaningful to Gabbie. Why has advocating for the mental health of young athletes become just as important as winning a national championship to one of college hockey's top players, and one of the top Bulldogs to every play in Duluth? Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts. New episodes air every Thursday.

This week on the Bulldog Insider Podcast, Minnesota Duluth fifth-year senior forwards Tanner Laderoute and Jesse Jacques reflect on college careers that began with a national championship back in 2018-19 before being interrupted by a global pandemic in the spring of 2020. The last Bulldogs on the roster with NCAA championship rings, Laderoute and Jacques are now charged with passing down their knowledge and experience to the "kids" on this year's squad. Jacques and Laderoute discuss the dynamic of being 6-7 years older than their freshmen teammates. We also look back on what could have been in 2019-20, if COVID-19 had not ended their sophomore season early. Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts. New episodes air every Thursday.

When Ashton Bell arrived on the Minnesota Duluth campus in the fall of 2017, she was a forward. A year later, Emma Soderberg arrived as the Bulldogs backup goaltender. Bell eventually transitioned to defenseman while Soderberg took over the starting role at UMD as a junior. Both were Olympians a year ago in Beijing, with Soderberg starting in net for Sweden and Bell winning a gold medal with Canada. Now the college careers of Bell and Soderberg are wrapping up as the Bulldogs enter their final series of the regular season this weekend at Bemidji State. On this week's episode of Bulldog Insider, we take a look back at their college careers and discuss the evolution of the UMD women's hockey program during their time. Soderberg and Bell also add their contributions to the News Tribune's upcoming Frozen Four fan guide. Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts. New episodes air every Thursday.

Bulldogs junior defenseman Wyatt Kaiser joins the podcast this week to talk about his 2022-23 season, and share some of his cooking skills. Wyatt Kaiser's junior season at Minnesota Duluth has been different from his freshmand and sophomore seasons in many, many ways. It's his first full college season without any pandemic restrictions. It's the first season in which he's the veteran Bulldog on the blue line after playing with a pair of two-time national champion seniors. The 2022-23 season is also the first in which Kaiser and the Bulldogs aren't ranked nationally in the polls. Kaiser, a defenseman from Andover, joins the Bulldog Insider Podcast this week to discuss all of that, as well as his relationship with the Chicago Blackhawks organization and cooking. Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts. New episodes air every Thursday.

A lot of people go to college for seven years. They're called doctors. However, few get to be part of a college hockey program for six years. Around Duluth, that person is known as Naomi Rogge. Rogge earned the status of sixth-year senior after missing her entire junior season with a knee injury and by playing through the 2021-22 COVID-19 season. She committed to the Bulldogs in the summer of 2015, just a few months into Maura Crowell's tenure as UMD head coach, and stepped on the ice for the first time in the fall of 2017, when the program was rebuilding following its 2016-17 NCAA tournament run. The medical redshirt and pandemic exemption from the NCAA has allowed Rogge to see through Crowell's rebuild of UMD to its current state as a national championship contender. Rogge shares what she's learned from that experience and what she's learned from living in Duluth the last six years on this week's episode of the Bulldog Insider Podcast. We also get her picks for the 2023 NCAA Frozen Four fan guide, and test her memory of what life was life back in 2017 when she first came to UMD. Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts. New episodes air every Thursday.

After appearing in just 21 games over three seasons at Maine, one would expect "playing time" would be at the top of the list for a NHL-drafted goaltender like Matthew Thiessen when it came time to pick a new team for 2022-23. It wasn't. Informed he was no longer part of the rebuilding Black Bears' plans moving forward, the 2018 seventh-round pick of the Vancouver Canucks told the Bulldog Insider Podcast this week he entered his name in the transfer portal in seek of a program with a championship tradition and academics that aligned with what he'd been studying at Maine. Playing time was far, far down the list for Thiessen. Thiessen, a senior with another year of eligibility left, has found every he sought and more so far this season at Minnesota Duluth, where he's split time in goal with junior Zach Stejskal. Thiessen joined the Bulldog Insider Podcast this week to share his journey from Maine to Duluth, discuss the dynamic among the Bulldogs goalies this year and break down everything he's learned from working with UMD volunteer goaltending coach Brant Nicklin. Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts. New episodes air every Thursday.

Duluth and Amsoil Arena will be hosting the 2023 NCAA Women's Frozen Four in March, bringing hockey fans from across the country to the Twin Ports. The last time Minnesota Duluth hosted the Frozen Four was in 2012, so this week on the Bulldog Insider Podcast, we began work on a fan guide with two veteran Bulldogs. UMD fifth-year senior forwards Kylie Hanley and Anneke Linser — who hope to be participants, not fans March 17-19 at Amsoil Arena — gave us their recommendations for food, drinks and entertainment around Duluth. They shared the places they've enjoyed the most during their five seasons as Bulldogs. We also talked hockey ahead of UMD's series with St. Thomas. Linser has a team-high of 13 goals, while Hanley has become the most versatile player in UMD's lineup the last two seasons. Linser and Hanley have both received tremendous praise from the coaching staff this season. Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts. New episodes air every Thursday.

The Minnesota Duluth men's hockey team will be spending a significant time on the road the next two weeks, literally, busing to Omaha this week and North Dakota the following week. The Bulldogs already made one jaunt down U.S. Highway 2 to Bemidji State and back last weekend. One Bulldog who is used to long bus rides is freshman wing Ben Steeves, who played the previous two seasons in the United States Hockey League. Before that, he spent time playing AAA hockey in Michigan and his home state of New Hampshire. Steeves, who played his senior year of high school at Eden Prairie after his family moved to Minnesota, was this week's guest on the Bulldog Insider Podcast. He's leading the Bulldogs in goals and points as NCHC play resumes this week. Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts. New episodes air every Thursday.

Bob Nygaard was the sports information director at Minnesota Duluth for over three decades, helping the Bulldogs men's hockey program win a historic six Hobey Baker Memorial Awards during his time. Prior to the men's series finale against Bemidji State at 6:07 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 7, the press box at Amsoil Arena will be named in Nygaard's honor. Nygaard joined the Bulldog Insider Podcast this week to talk about the honor. He also takes listeners behind the scenes of what it took then and what it takes now to promote a team's top players for honors such as the Hobey Baker. Nygaard shares the story of the founding of UMD's Shjon Podein Community Service Award, and we get the backstory on the most infamous jersey ever worn by a Bulldogs hockey team for one night only against the Wisconsin Badgers at the DECC. Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts. New episodes air every Thursday.

The Bulldog Insider Podcast returns this week from its holiday hiatus to preview the second half of the 2022-23 season, while also looking back at the first half of the year. Duluth News Tribune sports reporter Matt Wellens and My9 television voice of Bulldog hockey Zach Schneider are joined by the radio voice of UMD hockey on KDAL, Bruce Ciskie, to answer questions, such as: Have the Bulldogs met your expectations, exceeded them or underperformed to date? Who is your first half MVP? Will the Bulldogs make the NCAA tournament? Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts. New episodes air every Thursday.

When Scott Sandelin had an opening on his staff back in 2020, former Ferris State Bulldogs captain Cody Chupp jumped at the chance to interview to become an assistant coach for the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs. The job went to Derek Plante, but four years later, Chupp got another crack at the job after Plante left to rejoin the Chicago Blackhawks organization. Chupp joined Sandelin's staff in August and is now entering his fourth full month as a UMD assistant coach. Chupp spent the previous eight seasons coaching junior hockey in the United States Hockey League, and it was there that Chupp said he developed an admiration for how the Sandelin and his staff went about their business recruiting players. Chupp joined the Bulldog Insider Podcast this week to share his experiences coaching in the USHL, from what it was like to work with associate head coach Adam Krause and others at UMD, to what he saw going on with other NCAA Division I men's programs during the recruiting process. He also dives into what the past few months have been like at UMD, and offers some solid advice for players who are going through the recruiting process today. Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Duluth News Tribune sports reporter Matt Wellens and My9 television voice of Bulldog hockey Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts. New episodes air every Thursday.

After missing much of the second half of the 2021-22 season — including the NCAA tournament, Frozen Four and national championship game — with a season-ending knee injury, Minnesota Duluth fifth-year senior defenseman Maggie Flaherty has done the exact opposite of easing back into the Bulldogs' lineup. Flaherty is having herself a career-season at UMD with seven goals in 16 games. That's tied with fellow fifth-year players Anneke Linser and Ashton Bell for the team-high. The seven goals also matches the total goals scored by Flaherty in the 114 games she played at UMD over the previous four seasons. Flaherty joins the Bulldog Insider Podcast this week to talk about her transition from dishing out "apples" to sniping goaltenders. We also cover a wide-range of topics from this weekend's series against Ohio State, last year's national championship game, the holidays and who is the "old soul" of this veteran Bulldogs squad. Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Duluth News Tribune sports reporter Matt Wellens and My9 television voice of Bulldog hockey Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts. New episodes air every Thursday.

After retiring from professional hockey early in his career due to injuries, former Minnesota Duluth captain Parker Mackay was looking to get into coaching. He even landed a job in the Alberta Junior Hockey League before getting a call asking if he'd be interesting in scouting for an NHL team. Now Mackay — who led the Bulldogs to back-to-back national championships in 2018 and 2019 — is in his second season as an amateur and college scout for the Boston Bruins, covering Western Canada and the United States. He's part of a growing group of recent UMD graduates from both the men's and women's programs who have joined the NHL scouting ranks along with Brigette Lacquette and Sidney Morin. Both are pro scouts with Lacquette working for the Chicago Blackhawks and Morin with the Carolina Hurricanes. Mackay joins this week's episode of Bulldog Insider to share how he got into scouting for an NHL team and what life is like on the road for a young scout like him. Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Duluth News Tribune sports reporter Matt Wellens and My9 television voice of Bulldog hockey Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts. New episodes air every Thursday.

A year ago this month, Minnesota Duluth goaltender Zach Stejskal went public with his diagnosis of testicular cancer. It triggered not only a wave of support for the Cohasset native, but a surge in donations for the Bulldogs' Movember campaign, which raises funds and awareness for men's physical and mental health issues. Stejskal is now cancer free, and leading a new group of Bulldogs goaltenders that includes senior transfer Matthew Thiessen and freshman Zach Sandy. He and his teammates are also once again raising funds and awareness for Movember by growing mustaches. Stejskal joins the Bulldog Insider Podcast this week to talk about all of that, and more. Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Duluth News Tribune sports reporter Matt Wellens and My9 television voice of Bulldog hockey Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts. New episodes air every Thursday.

This week on the Bulldog Insider Podcast, we're talking about the state of women's professional hockey. And unlike previous years, we didn't have to Zoom with players from seven time zones away to do so. A flood of players — from the U.S., Canada and Europe — have returned from European leagues to play in the Premier Hockey Federation this season, including a number of Minnesota Duluth alumni. There are five former Bulldogs playing on the Minnesota Whitecaps this season, and two — Sidney Morin and Sydney Brodt — joined the podcast this week to discuss the investments the PHF (formerly the National Women's Hockey League) has made to bring in the world's best players. Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Duluth News Tribune sports reporter Matt Wellens and My9 television voice of Bulldog hockey Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts. New episodes air every Thursday.