The second part of a "double dog week" is here for the Bulldog Insider podcast with another episode, this one featuring freshman defenseman Grayden Siepmann of the UMD mens team. The native of Langley, British Columbia, Canada has five goals and seven assists in 33 games this season.

Siepmann joins Bulldog Insider co-hosts Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider to discuss his background in hockey, his path to UMD, how he ended up with number 37, his passion for cooking, who is the "MVP" of his living situation with teammates as roommates, and much more.

The Bulldogs face North Dakota on the road on Saturday at 6:07 PM in an NCHC semifinal showdown. As Wellens writes, UMD is considered a lock to make the 16-team NCAA Tournament.

Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Dan Williamson and Wyatt Buckner. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts.

The season is not done for Ashley Messier and the UMD womens hockey team! They earned a sixth-consecutive NCAA tournament berth. Messier, a Graduate Student defenseman from Wilcox, Saskatchewan, Canada, joined the Bulldogs after five years at Cornell. If you're wondering about her last name, she is indeed related to NHL legend Mark Messier, who is a cousin of her father Joby, also a former NHL player.

In this episode, Messier joins Bulldog Insider co-host Matt Wellens via Zoom, discussing her background in hockey, why she transferred to UMD, being reunited with Bishop Kearney Selects teammate Mary Kate O'Brien, making the 2026 NCAA Tournament, and much more.

The Bulldogs were able to hang on to the last at-large bid to the 11-team tournament last week, finishing No. 10 in the NCAA Percentage Index Ratings — the system used to select and seed the NCAA men's and women's hockey tournaments. The week began with five Cinderellas from outside the top 10 of the NPI still alive in conference tournaments. One by one, they fell throughout the week, improving UMD's chances each day.

UMD (20-14-3) now has a chance to bounce back from a disappointing WCHA tournament by playing Yale (25-9) in a "battle of the Bulldogs" at 5 p.m. CDT Thursday at the OSU Ice Rink in Columbus, Ohio, with the winner getting the top seeded Ohio State Buckeyes (34-4) at 5 p.m. Saturday. The winner advances to the 2026 NCAA Women's Frozen Four at Penn State.

It's a special double dog week for the Bulldog Insider podcast with another episode scheduled for Friday featuring freshman defenseman Grayden Siepmann of the UMD mens team. They'll face North Dakota on the road on Saturday at 6:07 PM in an NCHC semifinal showdown. As Wellens writes, the Bulldogs are considered a lock to make the 16-team NCAA Tournament.

Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Dan Williamson and Wyatt Buckner. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts.

 

KDAL's Bruce Ciskie, Zach Schneider of My 9 Sports and the News Tribune's Matt Wellens answer your questions about the Bulldogs in Ireland, Saturdays and Max Plante's chances of winning the Hobey.

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.

This week on the Bulldog Insider Podcast, new University of Minnesota Duluth athletic director Forrest Karr joins to discuss the future of NCAA athletics and that little controversy over a new mascot costume.

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.

This week on the Bulldog Insider Podcast, Minnesota Duluth junior wing Blake Biondi tells us what it was like to have his senior year at Hermantown High School documented by a film crew for the documentary, 'Hockeyland'; and what it was like to go back and relive that part of his life three years later.

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."

The Bulldog Insider Podcast drops the puck on its fifth season with an in-depth conversation with Olympic gold medalist Ashton Bell. The Minnesota Duluth fifth-year senior defenseman and captain is back with the Bulldogs in 2022-23 after traveling the globe last season with Team Canada, winning gold medals at the 2021 and 2022 IIHF World Championship, and at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing.

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."

In Part 2 of the Bulldog Insider Podcast Season 4 finale, the 'Bulldog Insiders' — Matt Wellens, Zach Schneider and Bruce Ciskie — take your questions looking back at the 2021-22 UMD men's and women's hockey seasons while also looking ahead to the 2022-23 seasons.

They break down what the rosters look like at the moment (Note: Connor Kelley had not entered the transfer portal yet when this was recorded) for both the men and women, discuss the incoming players and also put together their All-UMD outdoor rec-league teams as requested by former co-host Kelly Hinseth.

The Bulldog Insider Podcast is co-hosted by Duluth News Tribune sports reporter Matt Wellens and My9 television voice of Bulldog hockey Zach Schneider. This episode was edited and produced by Matt Wellens. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com.

As members of the UMD mens hockey team, Matt Anderson, Koby Bender, Ben Patt, Louie Roehl and Kobe Roth have helped make memories that Bulldogs fans will never forget. In their five seasons, UMD won two NCHC Frozen Faceoff titles, played in four NCAA tournaments, reached three Frozen Fours and won two national championships.

In the first part of a two-part season finale of the Bulldog Insider podcast, Anderson, Bender, Patt and Roth join the News Tribune's Matt Wellens and My9's Zach Schneider to look back on their unforgettable five seasons in Bulldog Country. They discuss their first days on campus, favorite on-ice and off-ice moments, which teacher or staff member impacted their lives most, what the future holds for them, what it was like to watch their captain, Noah Cates, make his NHL debut with the Philadelphia Flyers and much, much 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 producer Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com.

You can find more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts. New episodes air every Thursday.

Once rivals in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, the UMD mens hockey team and Michigan Tech will meet for the 233rd time on Thursday at 2 p.m. This time, it will be in Loveland, Colorado in the NCAA regional semifinals at the Budweiser Events Center.

The Bulldogs will see a familiar face in Jake Magdzas. The former Amsoil Arena Ice Foreman is now Manager, Operations at Budweiser Events Center. In this week's episode, he joins the News Tribune's Matt Wellens and My9's Zach Schneider to discuss how he ended up in Colorado, creating quality ice conditions, future goals and plays a game of "compare and contrast."

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 producer Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com.

The UMD womens hockey team is back in the NCAA Frozen Four for the second straight season after beating Harvard 4-0 in the first round, followed by a dramatic 2-1 victory over Minnesota at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis on Saturday. Now the Bulldogs get a Frozen Four semifinal rematch with Northeastern at 2:30 p.m. on Friday at Pegula Ice Arena on the campus of Penn State University. The winner gets either Ohio State or Yale at 3 p.m. Sunday in the national championship.

The Frozen Four bound Bulldogs have had solid performances out of goaltenders Emma Soderberg and sophomore Jojo Chobak. It's a position where only one gets to play, but for the one not playing, the other is their biggest supporter.  In this week's episode, they join the News Tribune's Matt Wellens and My9's Zach Schneider to discuss returning to the Frozen Four, competing for playing time, the contributions of freshman Holly Gruber to the goalie room, who is better in a shootout, which forward or defensemen would make a good goalie and much, much 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 Samantha Erkkila and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com.

The University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team is back in the NCAA tournament for a second consecutive season. They are the No. 8 overall seed and will take on the No. 9 overall seed, Harvard, at 6 p.m. on Thursday in a first-round game at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis. The winner of Thursday's first-round game moves on to play Minnesota, the No. 2 overall seed, in an NCAA quarterfinal at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Ridder Arena.

As sophomores, all defenseman Nina Jobst-Smith and forward Clara Van Wieren know is playing in the NCAA Tournament. In this week's episode, they join the News Tribune's Matt Wellens and My9's Zach Schneider to preview the tournament, discuss having two solid goalies, the absence of Maggie Flaherty and how they have grown as hockey players. They also play a game of "quick hits," sharing their favorite Olympic jerseys, what teammate has the best GIF and if they could sail anywhere in the world, where would that be?

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 Samantha Erkkila and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com.

This week on the Bulldog Insider, the crew put a call out on Twitter for questions, and you the listeners responded.

News Tribune reporter Matt Wellens, Zach Schneider of My9 Sports and KDAL's Bruce Ciskie answer your questions about goaltending for both University of Minnesota Duluth men and women, what's troubling the men's team in the second half, future fifth-year seniors and the transfer portal.

Also joining the podcast ahead of Senior Night for the UMD men's program on Saturday is Jesse Jacques and Hunter Lellig. The two were freshmen when the Bulldogs won the second of back-to-back national championships in Buffalo, New York. Jacques and Lellig look back on their college careers and share what's next for them.

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 Samantha Erkkila and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com.

The University of Minnesota women's hockey team has 12 seniors on this year's team, but only five are maybe moving on after the season.

On this week's episode, Duluth News Tribune reporter Matt Wellens takes a walk down memory lane with senior center McKenzie Hewett, senior defenseman Kailee Skinner and fifth-year winger Anna Klein. The trio talks about why they chose to play for the storied program, what lessons they've learned by playing through a pandemic and what their plans are following the postseason. 

The Bulldog women host Minnesota State in a best-of-three WCHA quarterfinal series Friday through Sunday at Amsoil Arena in Duluth.

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 Samantha Erkkila and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com."

This special episode includes the bonus segments recorded during the breaks of episodes 2, 5, 7, 10 and 11 with UMD women's hockey players Mary Kate O'Brien, Eve Gascon, Krista Parkkonen, Thea Johansson, Sophie Villanueva, and Kaitlin Kraemer.

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.

A little less than three months ago, Minnesota Duluth sophomore goaltender Zach Stejskal announced he was battling testicular cancer.

Stejskal declined interviews at the time to focus on his health, but did do a question and answer piece with UMDBulldogs.com in which he wrote in all CAPS, "I DO PLAN TO PLAY" hockey again in 2021-22. Stejskal kept his word as the Cohasset native and former Grand Rapids High School standout returned to the Bulldogs crease Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022 at Magness Arena in Denver in an unplanned relief appearance of junior starter Ryan Fanti at the start of the second period. Stejskal made 20 saves on 22 shots as the Bulldogs won 3-2.

In this week's episode, Stejskal tells the News Tribune's Matt Wellens and My9's Zach Schneider what it was like receiving his diagnosis, his attitude, the support from family, teammates and opponents and returning to the ice.

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 Samantha Erkkila and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com.

"Jojo" is a name that Bulldogs fans are quickly becoming familiar with. With senior starting goaltender Emma Soderberg away with Sweden at the 2022 Olympic games in Beijing, Minnesota Duluth sophomore goaltender Violet "Jojo" Chobak has been in net for the Bulldogs. Recently, she helped UMD get their first win at Wisconsin since 2010.

In this week's episode, Chobak tells the News Tribune's Matt Wellens and My9's Zach Schneider what it was like learning to play hockey in Chicago, how she became a goalie, UMD's reputation as "Goaltending U," her relationship with Soderberg and what Olympic athlete she'd most like to meet.

KDAL's Bruce Ciskie also stops by the podcast as he, Matt and Zach discuss the UMD men's game at St. Cloud State this past Tuesday, the long review of a St. Cloud State shootout goal and the 2022 Olympic games.

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 Samantha Erkkila and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com.

For this week's guests, deciding to join Team USA for the 2022 Olympics in Beijing was a no-brainer.

With the NHL deciding to not participate in the Winter Games due to COVID-19 concerns, the United States men's hockey team instead consists of a combination of past and present high-level college players, creating one of its youngest teams in decades.

Joining us this week on the podcast is Bulldogs senior captain and U.S. Olympic men's hockey team winger, Noah Cates and U.S. assistant men's hockey coach Brett Larson — the Duluth Denfeld graduate, former Bulldogs player and coach, and current head coach at St. Cloud State.

Cates and Larson joined the podcast from Los Angeles on Monday prior to Team USA's departure to Beijing. They talked about their decision to join the team, what it's like to come together as a team so quickly and what they are most looking forward to at the Olympics.

The first game for the American men is next Thursday, Feb. 10 at 7:10 a.m. Duluth time vs. the hosts, China.

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 Samantha Erkkila and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com.

With temperatures trapped below 0 this week in Minnesota, the Bulldog Insider Podcast did what any good Minnesotan would do.

It went ice fishing.

Former Minnesota Duluth assistant and associate head coach Jason Herter joined the podcast from an ice house on Lake of the Woods this week. Now an associate head coach at Western Michigan, Herter and his family still call the Duluth area their home. Herter was in Minnesota ahead of this weekend's NCHC series between the Bulldogs and Broncos at Amsoil Arena to see his family, do some scouting and ice fish with a few friends.

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 Samantha Erkkila and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com.

Before joining UMD, fifth year forward Elizabeth Giguere was a standout on the national stage with Clarkson, earning three All-American nods, the 2020 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award as the nation's top player and 
helping the Golden Knights win the 2018 NCAA National Collegiate Championship. Now, she's a member of the Bulldogs as a graduate transfer. 

In this week's episode, Giguere tells the News Tribune's Matt Wellens and My9's Zach Schneider what it was like to transfer, how she's been fitting in and how the program could help her make a run at the 2026 Olympics in Italy. She also plays "pass, shoot, score," choosing between her line mates, coaches and even her parents.

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 Samantha Erkkila and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com.

Senior center Gabbie Hughes is having the most offensively productive season of her collegiate hockey career. But, she's looking to make a bigger impact off the ice. Hughes is helping to bring mental health awareness to the forefront after a tragedy last summer rocked the hockey community. Putting their grief into action, friends and family of Sophie Wieland created Sophie's Squad in honor of the 14-year old hockey player who took her own life on July 12, 2021. 

The tragedy rocked the Hughes family. Gabbie's father, Terry, coached Sophie in youth hockey and Gabbie was able to get to know her. In this week's episode, Hughes tells the News Tribune's Matt Wellens and My9's Zach Schneider what Sophie meant to her.

The UMD women's team hosts Bemidji State Friday and Saturday, with the showdown on Saturday shining a light on mental health awareness as a Hockey Hits Back Sophie's Squad 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 by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Samantha Erkkila and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com.

It's been a rough couple of weeks for sophomore defenseman Wyatt Kaiser and freshman center Dominic James. 

Last Tuesday, the U.S. National Junior Team had to forfeit a game against Switzerland because of COVID-19, and then the next day, they called off the IIHF World Junior Championship. This week, the Bulldogs series at St. Cloud State was postponed because of COVID-19.

In this bonus episode of the Bulldog Insider, News Tribune reporter Matt Wellens caught up with Kaiser and James over Zoom about how they are handing these COVID-19 punches. 

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 Samantha Erkkila and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com.

For many, a new year means New Year's resolutions. In this week's episode, News Tribune reporter Matt Wellens, co-host Zach Schneider and KDAL's Bruce Ciskie make some resolutions or possible corrections, whichever way you want to look at it, for both the UMD men's and women's teams for the first part of 2022. And for longtime listeners, a Nick Wolff reference or two resurfaces. 

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 Samantha Erkkila and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com.

With 2021 coming to a close, this week's episode takes a look back at some of our favorite Bulldog hockey stories of the year.

Reporter Matt Wellens, co-host Zach Schneider, former co-host Kelly Hinseth and KDAL's Bruce Ciskie go around the horn and share their favorite story of 2021, including but not limited to the UMD women returning to a Frozen Four, the men defeating North Dakota in 5 overtimes, goalie rotations, and teammates supporting one another through cancer.

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 Samantha Erkkila and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com.

 

The U.S. and Canadian women's hockey teams were at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul on Sunday in preparation for their My Why Tour showdown on Monday. Unfortunately, that game was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns, however, News Tribune reporter Matt Wellens did get the chance to catch up with former Bulldogs goaltender and 2018 Olympic gold medalist goaltender Maddie Rooney after the Team USA practice on Sunday.

In this bonus episode, Rooney talks about the confidence she's built in goal over the last four years, her experience with the residency program, overcoming an injury ahead of the world championships and how she turns pressure into motivation. 

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 Samantha Erkkila and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com."

Should athletes who have played in professional leagues be allowed to play in the NCAA? While recording season 8 episode 8 of the Bulldog Insider podcast, Bruce Ciskie, Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider discussed how the NCAA should limit the eligibility of athletes who have played in professional leagues.

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 a battle with knee surgery and then a cancer diagnosis, Minnesota Duluth freshman defenseman Will Francis recently made his college hockey debut.

The towering 6 foot 5, 21-year-old who played for Centennial High School and who was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in the sixth round of the 2019 NHL Draft, suffered a season-ending knee injury in practice just 10 games into the 2019-20 season with Cedar Rapids Roughriders of the United States Hockey League. Then in March of 2020, he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia — a cancer of the blood.

Francis was declared cancer-free on July 9, 2020, but getting his strength back and getting back into game shape took some time as he explains in this week's episode.

News Tribune reporter Matt Wellens, joined by Zach Schnieder and Bruce Ciskie also discuss the recent news of NCHC commissioner Josh Fenton announcing he will be leaving the league after nine seasons in April. The three make the case for being the new commissioner, which is almost 100 percent unlikely, and offer some verbal letters of recommendation for Bulldogs who'd be good for the job.

Matt also creates a fan contest. Tune in around 30 minutes in to see how you could win a Rink Live hat. It won't be easy.

You can find more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts. New episodes air every Thursday.

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 Samantha Erkkila and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com.

After five seasons of sitting behind others — watching, cheering and providing feedback from the bench to his fellow goaltenders — Minnesota Duluth redshirt senior Ben Patt will make his first regular-season start this weekend when the No. 1-ranked Bulldogs play a nonconference series at Northern Michigan.

Patt's first collegiate start comes after leading the team's annual Movember campaign that raises fund and awareness for men's health issues — both physical and mental — by growing mustaches.

My9's Zach Schneider and KDAL's Bruce Ciskie also join this week's episode to discuss the weekend of action as the UMD men visit Northern Michigan and the No. 8/9-ranked UMD women host WCHA rival and No. 2-ranked Ohio State. They also talk about overtimes in college hockey and how many points they should be worth.

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 Samantha Erkkila and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com.

In this bonus episode, News Tribune reporter Matt Wellens caught up with former UMD forward Katerina Mrazova over Zoom to talk about what it was like to be a part of the team that got the Czech Republic to its first ever Olympics. 

Last week was her fourth time skating in an Olympic qualifying tournament. And while she hasn't officially been named to Team Czech Republic yet, she said just having the women's team make the Winter Games means the world to her and she hopes it inspires more girls from her country to get into the sport. 

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 Samantha Erkkila and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com.

Back from Olympic qualifying and back in the U.S., News Tribune hockey reporter Matt Wellens caught up with senior goaltender Emma Soderberg about being a part of the team that helped Sweden clinch a spot in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

While not officially making the Team Sweden's Olympic roster yet, Soderberg talks about how it's been a dream of hers to make an Olympic team. She also talks about how the UMD coaching staff played a role in getting her to be an Olympic-caliber athlete.

My9's Zach Schneider and KDAL's Bruce Ciskie also join this week's episode to discuss the great week Bulldog hockey alumni are having both qualifying for the Olympics and making NHL debuts. The trio also hands out some more first month awards to the women's team now that they are returning to action this weekend, traveling to Bemidji State following a three-week layoff.

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 Samantha Erkkila and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com.

In Minnesota Duluth's first NCHC series, junior goaltender Ryan Fanti recorded a career-high 35 saves and came away with his first college shutout in Saturday's 3-0 win at Western Michigan.

In this week's episode of the Bulldog Insider podcast, News Tribune hockey reporter Matt Wellens, caught up with Fanti to talk about what it's like to finally have a shutout in the books and what it means to have his Thunder Bay family and friends in the stands this weekend at Amsoil Arena now that the Canadian border is open.

My9's Zach Schneider and KDAL's Bruce Ciskie also join this week's episode for a deeper dive into Bulldog goalies and because women's Olympic qualifying is underway, some more questionable predictions are made.

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 digital producers Samantha Erkkila and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com.

 

With a bye weekend, UMD senior forward Tanner Laderoute and his teammates embraced the Halloween holiday. It is back to business for the Bulldogs this weekend as they'll travel to Western Michigan to begin NCHC play with games Friday and Saturday. For the UMD women's team, their next games aren't until November 19 and 20 at Bemidji State.

In this week's episode of the Bulldog Insider podcast, News Tribune hockey reporter Matt Wellens, My9 television voice of Bulldog hockey Zach Schneider and KDAL radio voice of Bulldog hockey Bruce Ciskie name their "first month award" winners.

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 digital producers Samantha Erkkila and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com.

UMD hockey teams went 4-0 last weekend as the men's team swept Minnesota in a home-and-home series and the women's team swept St. Thomas in St. Paul. A rare quiet weekend awaits as no Bulldogs hockey teams will be in action.

Maura Crowell has plenty to keep her busy beyond preparing for the next opponent. The Bulldog Insider Podcast catches up with UMD women's head coach, who became a parent during the summer to a daughter named Blake.  Coach Crowell talks about becoming a mother, but also discusses the season so far as well as the Olympic qualifying that will take place Nov. 11-14 in Europe.  

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 digital producers Samantha Erkkila and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com.

After a busy weekend at Amsoil Arena with six college hockey games including the Ice Breaker Tournament, there will just be one UMD game in Duluth this weekend. But it's a game with a lot of interest and anticipation!

The UMD men's team has a home-and-home series with the Minnesota Gophers. The Bulldogs play at Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis on Friday and turn around and host the Gophers at Amsoil Arena on Saturday. The UMD women's team will travel to St. Paul to play St. Thomas on Saturday and Sunday.

To preview the series with Minnesota, the Bulldog Insider Podcast catches up with senior captain forward and captain Noah Cates. 

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 digital producers Samantha Erkkila and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com.

It's a busy week at Amsoil Arena with the Minnesota Wild visiting on Tuesday, followed by six college hockey games in three days, including a triple header to start things off on Friday.

The home of the Bulldogs is hosting a WCHA series with Wisconsin, as well as the 2021 Ice Breaker Tournament, which will include Michigan, Minnesota State and Providence.

To preview the Ice Breaker, the Bulldog Insider Podcast catches up with Bulldogs forwards Jesse Jacques and Blake Biondi down at Amsoil Arena. The Hermantown natives are no strangers to big games and big weekends at Amsoil.

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 digital producers Samantha Erkkila and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com.

 

It is opening week for the UMD men's hockey team as the Bulldogs visit Bemidji State Friday and host the Beavers on Saturday. The women's team will have their first home series of the season with the Minnesota Gophers visiting AMSOIL Arena Friday and Saturday.

In this week's episode of the Bulldog Insider podcast, News Tribune hockey reporter Matt Wellens and My9's Kelly Hinseth discuss the men's exhibition victory over Wisconsin from Sunday in Chippewa Falls as well as the women's season-opening split at Minnesota State-Mankato. They also interview men's head coach Scott Sandelin and make their own season predictions.

The Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Duluth News Tribune sports reporter Matt Wellens, My9 television voice of Bulldog hockey Zach Schneider and CBS3 Sports' Kelly Hinseth. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Samantha Erkkila and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com."

After winning gold in 2025 in Ottawa, Hermantown native and UMD wing Max Plante is after another gold medal at the 2026 World Junior Championship in Minnesota with his longtime USA Hockey teammates.

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.

Depending on when you listen to this, the UMD women's hockey team is about 36 hours away from the official start of their season.

The Bulldogs open with a WCHA road trip to Minnesota State on Friday at 6:01 p.m. and Saturday at 3:01 p.m. in Mankato.

In this week's episode of the Bulldog Insider podcast, News Tribune hockey reporter Matt Wellens and My9's Kelly Hinseth get a season preview from senior forwards Gabbie Hughes and Naomi Rogge, as well as make their own season predictions.

The Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Duluth News Tribune sports reporter Matt Wellens, My9 television voice of Bulldog hockey Zach Schneider and CBS3 Sports' Kelly Hinseth. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Samantha Erkkila and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com.

In a perfect world, neither of this week's guests would be here with us, but the NCAA has granted them a fifth season of college hockey because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fifth-year seniors Louie Roehl and Anna Klein share what made them decide to come back this season and what it's like being much older than the freshmen class. We also take a walk down memory lane with a trivia game.

The Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Duluth News Tribune sports reporter Matt Wellens and My9 television voice of Bulldog hockey Zach Schneider and CBS3 Sports' Kelly Hinseth. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Samantha Erkkila and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com.

Duluth News Tribune sports reporter Matt Wellens moderates a discussion with Mick Hatten, Jess Myers and Brad Schlossman (Grand Forks Herald) of The Rink Live, Jordan McAlpine of The Gateway and Joe Paisley of Ice Time Hockey Southwest after the 2021 National Collegiate Hockey Conference Media Day at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. They discuss impact players, sleepers and all things NCHC.

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 digital producers Samantha Erkkila and Dan Williamson. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com.

A bonus edition of the Bulldog Insider Podcast with Mick Hatten of The Rink Live and the Husky Hockey Insider Podcast where in response to an Ask Wellens Anything question, we broke down our all-time All-NCHC teams, plus the best Bulldogs and Huskies to play in the NCHC since the league began in 2013.

Hosted by News Tribune college hockey reporter Matt Wellens, new episodes of Bulldog Insider will sporadically appear in your feed during the offseason. You can listen to Season 1, 2 and 3 of Bulldog Insider at duluthnewstribune.com, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

Email your feedback to mwellens@duluthnews.com.

He's a Stanley Cup champion, an NCAA national champion and a Hobey Baker Memorial Award finalist, Cloquet native Derek Plante closes out Season 3 of the podcast for us this week.

Plante coached five seasons at UMD from 2010 to 2015, before going to work with the Blackhawks as a player development coach. The 2020-21 season was his first back at UMD. 

He shares what it was like to be back behind the bench for his alma mater and working with college athletes again. He also shares the challenges of recruiting during a pandemic, even with a team that's had a lot of recent Frozen Four success.

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. 

Fourth-line freshman wingers Luke Mylymok and Blake Biondi share what it was like to send Minnesota Duluth to the 2021 Frozen Four in Pittsburgh.

Like a good fish story, Mylymok walks us through his game-winning goal against North Dakota in the NCAA regional finals in Fargo on March 27.

He and Biondi share how they prepare mentally and physically for those high-pressure situations and what it's like being the young guys on a team that's full of Frozen Four experience.

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 Bulldogs men's hockey program is making its fourth-straight Frozen Four appearance, but for goalies Zach Stejskal and Ryan Fanti this will be their first.

The two goaltenders teamed up to defeat North Dakota in the five-overtime regional final last Saturday into Sunday. They take us through that record-setting game, the good, the bad, the mental, the physical, and all the in between.

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 Minnesota Duluth men's hockey team is back in the NCAA tournament for a sixth consecutive time in 2020-21. The Bulldogs take on Michigan in the NCAA regional semifinals at 3 p.m. Friday in Fargo, North Dakota. The winner advances to play either North Dakota or American International in the regional championship on Saturday night.   There isn't a group of players in all of college hockey with more NCAA tournament experience and success than the Bulldogs' senior class, which in its first two seasons at UMD helped the program win back-to-back national championships. After COVID-19 canceled last year's NCAA tournament, the Bulldogs are finally getting their shot at completing a historic three-peat.   Joining the podcast this week to preview this year's tournament are defensemen Matt Anderson and Louie Roehl, along with winger Kobe Roth.  

 

One made 30 saves while the other scored the game-winner, unassisted, in overtime.

Junior goaltender Emma Soderberg and senior defenseman Ashton Bell walk us through Monday's 1-0 OT quarterfinal win over Colgate in the NCAA women's hockey tournament in Erie, Pennsylvania.

The teammates also talk about what it's like to be in the Bulldogs' first Frozen Four in over a decade. 

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 his first two seasons, senior wing Koby Bender battled for ice time and a spot in the lineup. Now he's a critical member of the team and scoring goals on a line with Kobe Roth and Jackson Cates.

Bender takes us through his college hockey journey and lessons he's learned through buying his time and earning his spot on the rink. 

And because he's from Cloquet we hear what he thinks the best item is on the Gordy's Hi-Hat menu. 

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.

Team USA's big man on the blue line, UMD defenseman Adam Kleber, previews the upcoming 2026 World Junior Championship that is coming to Duluth, Minneapolis and St. Paul in December and January.

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.

This week we take a walk down memory lane with five of the six members of the UMD women's hockey 2020-21 senior class, which is coming off its final weekend of play this season at Amsoil Arena — a four-point weekend against Wisconsin that left the team two points shy of the WCHA title.

We're talking favorite memories, best on and off ice moments, plans for next year, favorite Duluth spots and much more.

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 program wore its most recent special edition jersey last Saturday against Minnesota State and will do so again Friday against Wisconsin at Amsoil Arena in Round 1 of the WCHA Regular Season Championship. 

It's a throwback inspired by what the men's team wore in the early 1950s. 

Joining us to talk about jerseys of Bulldogs past, is UMD women's hockey associate head coach Laura Bellamy and director of hockey operations Nick Bryant. Laura's grandfather played for the Bulldogs in the 50s and sported the No. 4 jersey. 

The game-worn jerseys and socks are being auctioned off at umdbulldogs.com/auctions.

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. 

Senior wing, assistant captain and leading scorer of the Bulldogs' men's hockey team Nick Swaney joins the podcast this week.  

Swaney takes us back to his middle school and high school days when he had big dreams and goals to play the sport he loves at the college and pro levels. Now he is living out those dreams, being a two-time national champion and being drafted by the Minnesota Wild, and says he is grateful for every opportunity.

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.