Bulldog Insider

Who has better outdoor rinks? Canada or Minnesota? Helping us settle this debate is UMD women's junior defensive duo Maggie Flaherty of Lakeville, Minnesota, and Kailee Skinner of Penticton, British Columbia. The Bulldogs were at Portman Square in Duluth's Lakeside neighborhood recently in what has become a tradition for the program to get out and skate on one of the outdoor association rinks. Flaherty and Skinner share their outdoor rink experience growing up and what it means to them to be able to skate with young kids in the community. Another tradition we discuss is Rookie Idol, of which Skinner has made a name for herself. Famous for her rapping skills, Skinner shares a little something she's been working on. 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 and produced by Duluth News Tribune multimedia producer Samantha Erkkila. All episodes are being recorded remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com.

He grew up a North Dakota fan, his sister is a Minnesota Gopher, but somehow freshman defenseman Wyatt Kaiser found a home in Duluth. Kaiser, who led Andover to the 2020 state tournament, shares what originally drew him to UMD, why he picked the Bulldogs and his thoughts on being compared to other players like Hobey Baker winner Scott Perunovich. We also learn the Chicago Blackhawks draft pick is pretty skilled in the kitchen and will occasionally prepare lobster and salmon for his roommates.

The year started with a four OT playoff game for the UMD women's hockey team and a canceled three-peat attempt by the men due to a pandemic. The year wrapped up with the women's team playing games at an empty Amsoil Arena and the men opening their season in December in a three-week Pod in Omaha, Nebraska. A lot of things happened in between and here to help us dissect what a strange year it was for college hockey is the radio voice of the Bulldogs, Bruce Ciskie from KDAL and Zach's colleague on the My 9 Sports team, Kelly Hinseth, also of CBS 3. The media crew discusses the wins and losses of 2020 and wagers a few predictions for 2021. 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 and produced by Duluth News Tribune multimedia producer Samantha Erkkila. All episodes are being recorded remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com.

She's photographed more than 20 games and taken over 50,000 images since entering the NCHC Pod in Omaha a few weeks ago. Photographer Tyler Schank, who is back in her hometown shooting for the News Tribune, Grand Forks Herald and The Rink Live, joins us on the podcast this week to share what her experience has been like. She hasn't been allowed to access certain areas of the arena that she normally would while photographing hockey games but she hasn't let that stop her from producing new and creative images. "Just because of the world we are living in right now and how limited this entire year has been for any photographer and you know how much we feel we are all missing, this feels like such a big deal," she said. "It's so nice to be photographing hockey again." You can find her images from the NCHC Pod here or on the News Tribune Instagram page. 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 and produced by Duluth News Tribune multimedia producer Samantha Erkkila. All episodes are being recorded remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com.

When all is said and done he will have covered eight teams in 20 games in 16 days. From the NCHC Pod in Omaha, college hockey analyst and member of the Midco broadcast team Dave Starman joins us on the podcast this week. With so many teams and so many games, Starman talks about the effects of "Pod Fog," how much tea (with honey) he has consumed, the importance of not repeating a tie/shirt combo and what goes into preparing to call games for such a condensed schedule. In the rapid-fire round, Starman also shares his opinion on whether or not the conference and the NCAA should consider a pod setup for the postseason. 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 and produced by Duluth News Tribune multimedia producer Samantha Erkkila. All episodes are being recorded remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com.

Play in Omaha is well underway and by now we all know who started in goal for the first game of the post-Hunter Shepard era. Sophomore Ryan Fanti got the start in the Bulldogs' first three games of the season at Baxter Arena in the NCHC Omaha Pod. The goaltender from Thunder Bay who had an incredible 17 save second period against Denver, and then made some huge saves on Sunday to secure the win over Miami, joins the podcast to talk about his first collegiate start in net, the internal competition between goalies and what his experience has been like in the pod so far. 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 and produced by Duluth News Tribune multimedia producer Samantha Erkkila. All episodes are being recorded remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com.

The last time we talked to former UMD captain Parker Mackay he was hoisting a national championship trophy over his head at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. Now the two-time national champion is living in Graz, Austria where he is playing this season with the Graz 99ers of the ICE Hockey League, the top tier in Austria. Ten games into the season, he and a few of his teammates tested positive for COVID-19 resulting in the entire team shutting down play for two weeks. We caught up with Mackay recently to see how he is recovering and what his experience was like with the virus. 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 and produced by Duluth News Tribune multimedia producer Samantha Erkkila. All episodes are being recorded remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com.

The still defending national champions are just a few days away from boarding a couple of buses and traveling to Omaha, Nebraska, where they will play 10 games in 19 days as part of the NCHC pod. UMD opens play on December 2 against Denver. This week we preview their season with senior defensemen Louie Roehl and Matt Anderson. "It's definitely going to be fun. There's nothing better than playing hockey, right?" said Anderson. "And that's all we are going to do for 20 days. We're going to play a game, relax a little bit and then play another game." 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 and produced by Duluth News Tribune multimedia producer Samantha Erkkila. All episodes are being recorded remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com.

The UMD women's hockey team has its first game of the 2020-21 season in reach. We catch up with senior captains McKenzie Revering and Anna Klein to see how the team is feeling knowing their extended preseason is coming to an end and competition against other teams is on the horizon. And with the NCAA granting all student-athletes this season an extra year of eligibility because of COVID-19, we see if either of them is considering taking advantage of that extra year. 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 and produced by Duluth News Tribune multimedia producer Samantha Erkkila. All episodes are being recorded remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com.

Former Bulldog and Duluth native Andy Welinski has some recent experience in bubbles, hubs, pods, whatever you want to call them. He was with the Philadelphia Flyers this fall in Toronto during the Flyers' run to the Eastern Conference final. Welinski, who is back with the Anaheim Ducks organization after signing a one-year deal with them this offseason, shares what his experience was like in a hub as the Bulldogs prepare to travel to Omaha for three weeks to start their season. 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 and produced by Duluth News Tribune multimedia producer Samantha Erkkila. All episodes are being recorded remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage, including the 2020-2021 game schedules, at duluthnewstribune.com.

Sidney Morin and Lara Stalder were both seniors on a memorable 2016-17 Bulldogs squad that made a NCAA tournament run. Both are now in their fourth season in the Swedish Women's Hockey League, which has really become a popular destination for UMD alumni as of late. 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 and produced by Duluth News Tribune multimedia producer Samantha Erkkila. All episodes are being recorded remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com.

In the Season 3 opener of the Bulldog Insider we talk with UMD hockey captains Noah Cates and Ashton Bell about how they've had to adapt to new restrictions and how they're leading their teammates through a 2020-21 season overshadowed by COVID-19. 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 and produced by Duluth News Tribune multimedia producer Samantha Erkkila. All episodes are being recorded remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com.

News Tribune hockey reporter and host of the Bulldog Insider Podcast caught up with UMD freshman forward Blake Biondi of Hermantown, over Zoom on Monday, Oct. 5, to discuss the NHL draft and how his first year of college has been going amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. While we still don't have a set start date for Season 3 of this podcast, we will be bringing you player interviews and other updates. You can also view Zoom video interviews with players and possibly coaches at duluthnewstribune.com.

Back in November, before a series with Denver, Bulldog Insider co-host Zach Schneider played a harmless prank on CBS 3 sports director Kelly Hinseth. He claims it was a "confidence-building exercise." You can decide for yourself after you listen to both sides of the story in today's bonus episode. You can find the Twitter proof below, as well. Tweet proof from Kelly on Nov. 8, 2019: https://twitter.com/kellyhinseth/status/1192842574261899264?s=21 Second tweet from Kelly: https://twitter.com/kellyhinseth/status/1192843076370345986?s=21

In the season finale of Season 2 of the Bulldog Insider we are joined by a nine-year NHL veteran who backstopped the Bulldogs for three seasons from 2006 to 2009. While grilling dinner in his backyard, Minnesota Wild goaltender Alex Stalock shares what life has been like since the NHL season was shut down by the COVID-19 pandemic. Spoiler: Most of his days have been filled with blocking shots from his 5-year-old son in the driveway and watching Frozen for the hundredth time. Hosted over the phone by News Tribune college hockey reporter Matt Wellens and My9 Sports commentator Zach Schneider, and produced by the News Tribune's Samantha Erkkila, new episodes of Bulldog Insider will be back in the fall, hopefully, when UMD hits the ice again. You can listen to Season 1 and 2 of Bulldog Insider at duluthnewstribune.com, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Email us feedback at [email protected] or [email protected].

Joining us quickly as he heads back to his cabin on the Iron Range is two-time national champion and 2020 Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner Scott Perunovich. The Hibbing native shares what it was like to win college hockey's most prestigious individual award and become the sixth Bulldog to win the award.

Locked out of the Xcel Energy Center and back in the greater Irma, Alberta area, former Bulldog and current Minnesota Wild defenseman Carson Soucy joins us this week. We hear what life has been like for him since the NHL season was shut down, how his rehab from an upper-body injury is going, and what he's doing to stay preoccupied while self-quarantining in Alberta. Hosted over the phone by News Tribune college hockey reporter Matt Wellens and My9 Sports commentator Zach Schneider, and produced by the News Tribune's Samantha Erkkila, new episodes of Bulldog Insider will be released on a more sporadic schedule now that the season has ended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You can listen to Season 1 and 2 of Bulldog Insider at duluthnewstribune.com, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Email us feedback at [email protected] or [email protected].

Joining us this week from the greater Toronto area is UMD redshirt sophomore goaltender Ben Patt. Patt, who packed up for home shortly after it was announced that the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, shares what his role as backup goalie to Hunter Shepard the last few seasons has been like and what he's doing now to earn a spot in the net now that Shepard is graduating. We also hear how online classes are going for him and what the scene looks like in Toronto. Hosted over the phone by News Tribune college hockey reporter Matt Wellens and My9 Sports commentator Zach Schneider, and produced by the News Tribune's Samantha Erkkila, new episodes of Bulldog Insider will be released on a more sporadic schedule now that the season has ended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You can listen to Season 1 and 2 of Bulldog Insider at duluthnewstribune.com, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Email us feedback at [email protected] or [email protected].

"Bulldog family forever" is the inscription on the tattoo all the mothers of the UMD men's hockey players had drawn up this season. Fake tattoos. But their bond isn't fake. It's unbreakable as this week's guests Patty Samberg, mother of junior defenseman Dylan Samberg, and Tammy Anderson, mother of junior defenseman Matt Anderson, tell us. The moms, who've been to almost every collegiate game (home and away) their sons have played in, share what it's like to be a member of the Bulldog family, their thoughts on how the season ended, and offer some great advice for parents of athletes. Hosted over the phone by News Tribune college hockey reporter Matt Wellens and My9 Sports commentator Zach Schneider, and produced by the News Tribune's Samantha Erkkila, new episodes of Bulldog Insider will be released on a more sporadic schedule now that the season has ended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You can listen to Season 1 and 2 of Bulldog Insider at duluthnewstribune.com, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Email us feedback at [email protected] or [email protected].

It's been a week since the college hockey world, and the entire sports world for that matter, was halted because of the COVID-19 pandemic. There will be no Frozen Faceoff at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul this weekend. No Frozen Four in Detroit in April. And no possibility of a three-peat for the UMD men's hockey team, at least this season. This week, host Matt Wellens joins us from his basement office in Lakeside while co-host Zach Schneider joins us from his kitchen on the other side of Duluth (and Sam edited this in rural Cloquet) to share their thoughts on the season that could have been for the Bulldogs. Hosted by News Tribune college hockey reporter Matt Wellens and My9 Sports commentator Zach Schneider, and produced by the News Tribune's Samantha Erkkila, new episodes of Bulldog Insider are released every Thursday throughout the season. You can listen to Season 1 and 2 of Bulldog Insider at duluthnewstribune.com, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Email us feedback at [email protected] or [email protected].

After four seasons, the seniors are all about to play their final games at Amsoil Arena this weekend when the UMD men's hockey team hosts Miami in a best-of-three NCHC quarterfinal series. This week, we have three of the four Bulldogs' seniors: Nick Wolff, Jade Miller, and Jarod Hilderman. Goalie Hunter Shepard is the fourth senior, we plan to have him on at the end of the season. We take a walk down memory lane and reminisce on their last four years, which have included two NCHC Frozen Faceoff titles, a North Star College Cup, and back-to-back NCAA championships. We hear about their favorite on and off ice moments and what plans lie ahead once the season is over. Hosted by News Tribune college hockey reporter Matt Wellens and My9 Sports commentator Zach Schneider, and produced by the News Tribune's Samantha Erkkila, new episodes of Bulldog Insider are released every Thursday throughout the season. You can listen to Season 1 and 2 of Bulldog Insider at duluthnewstribune.com, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Email us feedback at [email protected] or [email protected].

March is National Athletic Training Month so this week we are joined by the magicians who keep the Bulldogs men's and women's hockey teams in one piece throughout the season. Dr. Susan Hoppe, the Bulldogs' Director of Hockey Sports Performance, has been with the Bulldogs for 17 years, and athletic trainer Alyssa Irby is in her first year with the UMD women's hockey team. Hoppe and Irby share what they do, what the most common hockey injuries are, and why they don't set timelines on injuries. Hoppe also shares a list of extracurricular activities that she'd like to ban, like snowboarding on game day. At the end, we try to teach Matt and Zach where their LCL is with a little anatomy quiz. Let's just say they learned more about AC separations and subungual hematomas than they did before taking the test.

This week's guest comes from our favorite Canadian province and is fluent in French, Zed is Z in the French alphabet. An Edmonton native, Bulldogs sophomore Tanner Laderoute played four years in the AJHL and was verbally committed to Alaska Anchorage before coming to UMD where he's been a timely offensive threat thus far. He takes us through his game-winning goal, as called by Zach, on Saturday, Feb. 8 in the 4-1 win over Nebraska-Omaha at Amsoil Arena. In this episode, Laderoute shares his backstory, how UMD assistant coach Adam Krause became his favorite Bulldog of all time, and how to correctly pronounce his last name, of which Matt tries at the end. Hosted by News Tribune college hockey reporter Matt Wellens and My9 Sports commentator Zach Schneider, and produced by the News Tribune's Samantha Erkkila, new episodes of Bulldog Insider are released every Thursday throughout the season. You can listen to Season 1 and 2 of Bulldog Insider at duluthnewstribune.com, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Email us feedback at [email protected] or [email protected].

Hot pockets, bagels, and granola bars may have gotten them through their freshman year, but the five women who make up this year's senior class have come a long way since they first stepped on the UMD campus. Aside from knowing more about nutrition, seniors Jalyn Elmes and Brooklynn Schugel share what they've learned in their last four years with the Bulldogs. We take a walk down memory lane and reminisce about well-intentioned but poorly-executed team bonding activities, Pinterest-inspired baking fails, and accidentally damaging property at the Ralph. All five seniors on the women's team will be celebrated at Amsoil Arena on Sunday, Feb. 23. Hosted by News Tribune college hockey reporter Matt Wellens and My9 Sports commentator Zach Schneider, and produced by the News Tribune's Samantha Erkkila, new episodes of Bulldog Insider are released every Thursday throughout the season. You can listen to Season 1 and 2 of Bulldog Insider at duluthnewstribune.com, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Email us feedback at [email protected] or [email protected].

Fresh off a sweep against Ohio State last weekend at Amsoil Arena, juniors Anna Klein and McKenzie Revering walk us through what the UMD women's hockey team is feeling heading into the final weeks of the regular season. They share what's on their minds as they prepare for the postseason, and show how well they know one another with a little game at the end. They also enlighten Matt and Zach on Nicholas Sparks rom-coms. Hosted by News Tribune college hockey reporter Matt Wellens and My9 Sports commentator Zach Schneider, and produced by the News Tribune's Samantha Erkkila, new episodes of Bulldog Insider are released every Thursday throughout the season. You can listen to Season 1 and 2 of Bulldog Insider at duluthnewstribune.com, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Email us feedback at [email protected] or [email protected].

There may be no bigger Bulldog fan, and Minnesota sports fan in general, than one of our guests this week. He has been part of UMD hockey for 39 years. He's been in former Bulldog weddings and held their newborn babies. And if you are going to have him over for apple pie you better not forget the ice cream. UMD Athletics Hall of Famer assistant equipment manager Dale 'Hoagie' Haagenson and his good friend Bulldogs senior center Jade Miller join us this week to talk about their friendship, favorite memories and what Hoagie means to the program. We round things up with some Bulldog trivia, which apparently we need to make a bit more difficult. Hosted by News Tribune college hockey reporter Matt Wellens and My9 Sports commentator Zach Schneider, and produced by the News Tribune's Samantha Erkkila, new episodes of Bulldog Insider are released every Thursday throughout the season. You can listen to Season 1 and 2 of Bulldog Insider at duluthnewstribune.com, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Email us feedback at [email protected] or [email protected].

Coming back from a major knee injury is no easy feat as this week's guests will tell you. During the 2017-18 season, UMD women's hockey senior forward Brooklynn Schugel's knee injury kept her on the bench all season and now junior forward Naomi Rogge is out on a medical redshirt after having knee surgery at the beginning of the season. We talk about what it takes to come back from a major injury, how that impacts them mentally and academically. We also try to find Brooklyn a job since she will be graduating this spring. As you will hear, she has many options. Hosted by News Tribune college hockey reporter Matt Wellens and My9 Sports commentator Zach Schneider, and produced by the News Tribune's Samantha Erkkila, new episodes of Bulldog Insider are released every Thursday throughout the season. You can listen to Season 1 and 2 of Bulldog Insider at duluthnewstribune.com, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Email us feedback at [email protected] or [email protected].

Ever since we started this podcast our listeners have been requesting we interview one UMD player in particular. Well, today is the day you get to hear from senior defenseman Jarod Hilderman. He is the most famous Bulldog on Twitter, maybe you've seen his infamous "didn't happen" bit, and probably the only one on the team to survive driving through a tornado. Which did in fact happen. We talk with the journalism major about his time in Duluth and let him ask us a few questions about how we cover college hockey. Hosted by News Tribune college hockey reporter Matt Wellens and My9 Sports commentator Zach Schneider, and produced by the News Tribune's Samantha Erkkila, new episodes of Bulldog Insider are released every Thursday throughout the season. You can listen to Season 1 and 2 of Bulldog Insider at duluthnewstribune.com, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Email us feedback at [email protected] or [email protected].

Some selections were no-brainers. Others were more heavily debated. Bruce Ciskie, the radio voice of UMD hockey on KDAL, and Bob Nygaard, UMD sports information director, join us this week to help decide the all-decade team for the men's and women's hockey teams. We go over their selection criteria, some honorable mention titles such as best sound bite of the decade, and then select our all-podcast team forwards, defensemen and goalie. Let us know if you agree or disagree with our all-decade teams. Hosted by News Tribune college hockey reporter Matt Wellens and My9 Sports commentator Zach Schneider, and produced by the News Tribune's Samantha Erkkila, new episodes of Bulldog Insider are released every Thursday throughout the season. You can listen to Season 1 and 2 of Bulldog Insider at duluthnewstribune.com, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Email us feedback at [email protected] or [email protected].

It's been a crazy past couple of days for this week's guests. In the last week, UMD women's head coach Maura Crowell and the Bulldogs director of hockey operations Nick Bryant won gold with the U.S. Under-18 Women's Hockey Team in Slovakia and then came home to Duluth to win the Minnesota Cup at Amsoil Arena. Crowell and Bryant tell us about their experience in Bratislava, Slovakia, everything from what they were feeling in that 3-on-3 overtime against Canada in the championship game to what they ate and what sites they visited when they had free time. Hosted by News Tribune college hockey reporter Matt Wellens and My9 Sports commentator Zach Schneider, and produced by the News Tribune's Samantha Erkkila, new episodes of Bulldog Insider are released every Thursday throughout the season. You can listen to Season 1 and 2 of Bulldog Insider at duluthnewstribune.com, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Email us feedback at [email protected] or [email protected].

It's more than riding around on Zambonis all day. They flood the rink. They paint the logos by hand. They shovel snow outside the arena after blizzards. Brothers Jake and Zach Magdzas have been making ice and maintaining the grounds around Amsoil Arena together for the better part of a decade. On this week's episode, we learn about what it takes to get the ice in shape for the season and keep it nice game after game and practice after practice. And then at the end we quiz co-host Zach Schneider on how well he knows his way around an ice sheet. Hosted by News Tribune college hockey reporter Matt Wellens and My9 Sports commentator Zach Schneider, and produced by the News Tribune's Samantha Erkkila, new episodes of Bulldog Insider are released every Thursday throughout the season. You can listen to Season 1 and 2 of Bulldog Insider at duluthnewstribune.com, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Email us feedback at [email protected] or [email protected].

With the Bulldogs on winter break, three-time national champion coach of the men's hockey team Scott Sandelin had to find something to keep himself busy over the holidays. Why not coach the 2020 U.S. Junior National Team for the upcoming World Junior Championship in the Czech Republic? This will be his fourth World Juniors experience, second as a head coach after leading Team USA in Grand Forks in 2005 and then an assistant last year in Vancouver. Sandelin talks about what that experience is like and how it differs from coaching the Bulldogs. We also get his thoughts on how UMD has performed in the first half of the season and of course we wrap things up with a game to see how well he knows his players. Hosted by News Tribune college hockey reporter Matt Wellens and My9 Sports commentator Zach Schneider, and produced by the News Tribune's Samantha Erkkila, new episodes of Bulldog Insider are released every Thursday throughout the season. You can listen to Season 1 and 2 of Bulldog Insider at duluthnewstribune.com, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Email us feedback at [email protected] or [email protected].

UMD sophomore forwards Anneke Linser and Gabbie Hughes dug out from Duluth's recent blizzard to join us this week. The pair from Lino Lakes, Minn. have been on the same team, and often the same line, since the U8 days. And you can give credit to Gabbie's dad for first putting this successful duo together. But college hockey almost split them up. We learn about their hockey journey over the last 10 years or so and how it's brought them closer together. And of course, we test how well they know one another with a little game at the end. Hosted by News Tribune college hockey reporter Matt Wellens and My9 Sports commentator Zach Schneider, and produced by the News Tribune's Samantha Erkkila, new episodes of Bulldog Insider are released every Thursday throughout the season. You can listen to Season 1 and 2 of Bulldog Insider at duluthnewstribune.com, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Email us feedback at [email protected] or [email protected].

Although he admits to mostly chirping at his own teammates, including Coach Sandelin at the end of this episode, UMD junior defenseman Scott Perunovich doesn't mind being given the title of best chirper on the team. The two-time All-American and Hibbing native shares when the most opportune times are during a game to talk a little smack and who are the best chirpers in the NCHC. A 2018 second-round pick of the St. Louis Blues, Perunovich also talks about his communication with the NHL, his back injury from last year and how that played a role in his decision to come back for another season as a Bulldog. Hosted by News Tribune college hockey reporter Matt Wellens and My9 Sports commentator Zach Schneider, and produced by the News Tribune's Samantha Erkkila, new episodes of Bulldog Insider are released every Thursday throughout the season. You can listen to Season 1 and 2 of Bulldog Insider at duluthnewstribune.com, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or where ever you get your podcasts. Email us feedback at [email protected] or [email protected].

She won the NWHL Isobel Cup last season with the Minnesota Whitecaps and now she is back at her alma mater coaching the next generation of female hockey players. Fresh off her first victory as Proctor Hermantown head coach, former Bulldogs defenseman Emma Stauber joins us this week to share how the gig is going so far, her hopes for her first season and what led to her decision of joining the family business and becoming a hockey coach. Stauber, who was a senior captain for former UMD coach Shannon Miller during the 2014-15 season, talks about the coaches she's had throughout her career and how they've helped develop her into the type of coach she wants to become. Hosted by News Tribune college hockey reporter Matt Wellens and My9 Sports commentator Zach Schneider, and produced by the News Tribune's Samantha Erkkila, new episodes of Bulldog Insider are released every Thursday throughout the season. Email us feedback at [email protected] or [email protected].

We tapped into the Alberta market last year with Parker Mackay's hometown of Irma. Now it's time to see what southern Manitoba has to offer. This week we are joined by the trio that was dubbed "The Prairie Dogs" over the summer on Twitter. Manitobans Ryleigh Houston, Jalyn Elmes and Ashton Bell tell us how that nickname came to be, what their hometowns are like and what American words we say that they think are strange. Brats aren't brats in Manitoba and mac and cheese goes by a different name. Hosted by News Tribune college hockey reporter Matt Wellens and My9 Sports commentator Zach Schneider, and produced by the News Tribune's Samantha Erkkila, new episodes of Bulldog Insider are released every Thursday throughout the season. Email us feedback at [email protected] or [email protected].

The UMD men's hockey team has won back-to-back titles, but Bulldogs junior defenseman Dylan Samberg's winning streak extends beyond that. The Hermantown native and Winnipeg Jets prospect joins us on the podcast this week to talk about what it's like to win four straight championships, back-to-back Minnesota state hockey championships with Hermantown and back-to-back national championships with the Bulldogs. We check in with the man who always wins and find out which victory is sweeter, winning the first title or coming back to win it again? Hosted by News Tribune college hockey reporter Matt Wellens and My9 Sports commentator Zach Schneider, and produced by the News Tribune's Samantha Erkkila, new episodes of Bulldog Insider are released every Thursday throughout the season.

We all have our college roommate stories. Some good. Some bad. Joining us on the podcast this week to share their roommate tales are a couple UMD hockey defensemen, and roommates, Nick Wolff and Louie Roehl. We talk a little hockey, but mostly we learn what pet peeves they have about one another, who is the messiest and who is the better chef. We also test how well they know one another and find out whose favorite food is soft pretzels. Hosted by News Tribune college hockey reporter Matt Wellens and My9 Sports commentator Zach Schneider, and produced by the News Tribune's Samantha Erkkila, new episodes of Bulldog Insider are released every Thursday throughout the season. You can listen to Season 1 and 2 of Bulldog Insider at duluthnewstribune.com.

As the UMD men's hockey team heads to Madison for its first road game of the season, we are joined by three of the most well-traveled Bulldog fans to talk about what it takes to follow their favorite team around the country. UMD alumni David Cummings, Rachel Jacob and Dan Jacobsen have been to each of the last three Frozen Four tournaments and together they may have seen more road series last season than the assistant coaches. The trio shares how they plan their trips, where their favorite place is to watch the Bulldogs, and of course which NCHC town has the best food (and drinks).

UMD senior goaltender, co-captain and Cohasset native Hunter Shepard helps us preview the 2019-20 season with a little game of Over/Under as the Bulldogs go for a third consecutive national title. Shepard shares what it's like to be a captain, a spot not usually held by goalies, what his summer looked like (mostly fishing until July rolled around), and what fuels him to be better in the net. Produced by the News Tribune's Matt Wellens and Samantha Erkkila, new episodes of Bulldog Insider are released every Thursday throughout the season. You can listen to Season 1 and 2 of Bulldog Insider at duluthnewstribune.com, on Apple Podcasts, Google Play or where ever you get your podcasts. Email us feedback at [email protected] or [email protected].

The UMD women's regular season gets underway this weekend with a non-conference series against Clarkson at Amsoil Arena. Joining us to preview the season are a couple of seniors and a pair of gold medalists. UMD co-captain Sydney Brodt and goaltender Maddie Rooney first share their experience from back in April at the Women's Worlds where the two helped Team USA win another goal medal. Then we have them predict how many wins they will get over the season, who will score the most goals, what Maddie wants her save percentage to be and much more.

This week on the podcast, we're joined by another local NHLer, one who had a pretty interesting offseason. Former New York Ranger, current Winnipeg Jet, reigning Da Beauty League champion Neal Pionk of Hermantown, talks about being traded and signing a two-year, $6-million deal with the Jets. Pionk shares what he will miss most about New York and what he looks forward to with the move to Canada. Tune in every Thursday throughout the hockey season to hear Duluth News Tribune college hockey reporter Matt Wellens and My9 Sports commentator Zach Schneider talk all things Minnesota Duluth hockey. This podcast is produced by Samantha Erkkila. You can email us at [email protected] or [email protected].

Matt Wellens and fellow Forum Communications reporters were at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul for the annual NCHC Media Day Thursday, Sept. 20. The group discusses their five takeaways this season after talking with the league's eight head coaches and captains, NCHC commissioner Josh Fenton and the league's director of officiating, Don Adam. Tune in every Thursday throughout the hockey season to hear Duluth News Tribune college hockey reporter Matt Wellens and My9 Sports commentator Zach Schneider talk all things Minnesota Duluth hockey. This podcast is produced by Samantha Erkkila. You can email us at [email protected] or [email protected].

Dropping the puck for us on season two of the Bulldog Insider is a former national championship captain who grew up in Esko and played for the Stanley Cup as a rookie in the NHL. Karson Kuhlman caught up with us in mid-August before he had to report back to the Boston Bruins. He tells us about the ups and downs of his rookie season, what it was like to play in the Stanley Cup, what his offseason workout regime is like and what his go-to order is at Gordy's Hi-Hat. Tune in every Thursday throughout the hockey season to hear Duluth News Tribune college hockey reporter Matt Wellens and My9 Sports commentator Zach Schneider talk all things Minnesota Duluth hockey. This podcast is produced by Samantha Erkkila. You can email us at [email protected] or [email protected].

Happy summer from the Bulldog Insider Podcast. We hope everyone is enjoying the warmth and sunshine in Duluth as much as we have. We felt it was about time to come indoors and check in with everyone. On this offseason episode, Matt Wellens, Bulldogs beat writer at the News Tribune, is joined by the Forum Communications hockey team: Brad Schlossman of the Grand Fork Herald, Austin Monteith of the Bemidji Pioneer and Jess Myers and Mick Hatten of The Rink Live. The reporters go around the horn with their biggest stories of the summer so far, including the seven teams looking to leave the WCHA, getting fans in the stands, Brett Larson's first season at SCSU, North Dakota's larger than life scoreboard, and NHL departures.

This week we're wrapping up UMD's second-consecutive national championship season with a pair of former Bulldogs who now provide color commentary on radio and television. Kraig Karakas, who was at UMD from 1990-94, and Judd Medak, who played for the Bulldogs from 1998-02, give us one word to describe the season and submit their season MVP and Unsung Hero award nominations. We also talk about the key to coach Scott Sandelin's success and the expectations for next year. Can we expect a three-peat? Has a new standard been set?

Championship Saturday has arrived. Today we sit down with fellow hockey reporters Mick Hatten and Jess Myers to give a little pre-game analysis of tonight's championship game between UMD and UMass at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y. The game starts at 7 p.m. Central time on ESPN.

For the last three years, the Bulldogs have had their last practice of the season the day before the national championship game. We caught up with Parker Mackay, Billy Exell, Jade Miller, Nick Deery and Jarod Hilderman after practice today in the Buffalo Sabres locker room to ask them what that experience is like.

It's game day in Buffalo. This morning we are joined by NCHC commissioner Josh Fenton to talk about the league's postseason success. In the league's six-year history, they've had a team in the Frozen Four every year, this is the fourth time they've had two teams present, and they've produced a national champion the last three years in a row. We also learn more about Fenton, a golfer who grew up playing hockey but didn't play at the college level, and his journey to commissioner.

This week we are on the road in Buffalo, N.Y. for the Frozen Four. The UMD Bulldogs just got off the ice for their first practice at KeyBank Center. On this episode we sit down with UMD alumni Bill Watson and Brant Nicklin to talk about the program's Frozen Four history, of which Bill has been a part of all six appearances.