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Max Plante scored on a blistering one-timer from the middle of the right faceoff circle 2:32 into overtime, giving Minnesota Duluth a 3-2 win over St. Cloud State on Saturday night and a home-series sweep at Amsoil Arena.
Callum Arnott opened the scoring for the Bulldogs on a power play at 5:27 of the first period, finishing a feed from Max and Zam Plante.
St. Cloud State took a 2-1 lead in the second on goals by Barrett Hall and Tyson Gross.
Grayden Siepmann tied it for the Bulldogs at 3:10 of the third period.
Adam Gajan made 30 saves for UMD. Yan Shostak stopped 32 for the Huskies.
Both teams scored once on the power play — UMD 1-for-4, St. Cloud 1-for-6.
The Bulldogs will host Omaha in NCHC play next weekend at Amsoil Arena.
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Victor Plante is off to a strong start with the U.S. National Under‑18 Team.
Through 17 games, he has recorded 8 goals and 6 assists for 14 points.
In a recent 5-2 victory over Switzerland National U18 Team, Plante scored on the power play at 17:20 of the second period.
While the production is strong, the minus-3 rating and 14 points in 17 games indicate there’s room to tighten his game in all situations — especially 5-on-5 defense and finishing more chances.
Scouts continue to view his upside as somewhat capped: his tools are effective but not elite.
Plante’s next chunk of games will include the U18 team’s participation in the Five-Nations Tournament and the regular USHL schedule with the NTDP junior side. His ability to stay consistent and elevate his game in the high-profile games will matter for his draft positioning and development at UMD.
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The Proctor-Hermantown Mirage opened the 2025-26 season with a mixed results weekend on the road, falling to perennial power Warroad 4-1 on Friday before bouncing back with a convincing 5-2 victory at Roseau on Saturday afternoon.
The Mirage (1-1-0) face Edina (2-0-0) in their home opener Saturday at 1 p.m. at Proctor Arena.
After Saturday’s nonconference matchup against the Hornets, the Mirage begin a five-game homestand against Moose Lake Area (Nov. 18), Orono (Nov. 21), Rock Ridge (Nov. 25), and defending state champion Andover (Nov. 29) before hosting Grand Rapids/Greenway on Dec. 4.
The Mirage will also face Blaine (Dec. 6), Hibbing/Chisholm (Dec. 9), and Benilde-St. Margaret’s (Dec. 13) before heading into the holiday break.
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There’s something quietly magnetic about Jason Watt on a Bulldogs hockey broadcast. He’s not trying to sound like anyone else. He doesn’t force energy or jargon. He just explains the game — clearly, comfortably, and with the kind of authenticity that comes only from having lived it.
The former Minnesota Duluth defenseman, now the color commentator for Bulldogs men's hockey telecasts, carried this weekend’s broadcasts with the ease of a veteran and the insight of someone who’s spent years inside the locker room. He provided the depth — sharp observations about defensive positioning, line chemistry, and player instincts that viewers could actually follow and learn from.
It wasn’t just that Watt knew the game. It’s that he could translate it. His analysis was crisp and conversational, never condescending or cluttered with clichés. When UMD’s Max Plante buried the overtime winner Saturday night, Watt immediately broke down how the Bulldogs’ puck support created the chance — not just what happened, but why it happened. That kind of clarity is gold on live television.
Watt’s rising presence marks a welcome shift for local sports coverage. In an era when many regional broadcasts are losing their personal touch, he brings back the warmth and intelligence that made the old-school analysts so trusted. He’s part teacher, part storyteller — and all Duluth.
If he keeps growing at this pace, Watt could soon be one of the most recognizable voices in Northland sports. Viewers can sense it already. There’s a steadiness in his tone and a confidence behind his words that make you lean in rather than tune out.
For a city that loves its hockey, that’s no small thing. UMD has found something rare in Watt — a voice that connects the rink to the living room, one shift at a time.
