Bulldogs Men's Hockey: Grayden Siepmann en route to Duluth — and on his way to the NHL

DULUTH – Let’s not beat around the blue line — this is a monster signing for the Bulldogs.

Grayden Siepmann, a 20-year-old right-shot defenseman out of British Columbia, is headed to Amsoil Arena this fall, and the only question left is how long he stays before the NHL comes knocking.

Siepmann’s arrival isn’t just a roster move. It’s a statement. UMD landed a puck-moving, WHL-hardened, former team captain with nearly 300 games of junior experience and real pro upside. That kind of résumé doesn’t usually make it this far into the college system — and when it does, it tends to turn heads fast.

Write it down now — he’s projected as a top-pair defenseman for the Bulldogs and will run the power play, drawing early comparisons to a young Neal Pionk.

Let’s run the numbers. Siepmann logged 272 regular-season games across four seasons in the Western Hockey League, splitting time between the Calgary Hitmen and, later, the contending Saskatoon Blades. His career totals? A sparkling 28 goals and 107 assists for 135 points — including a 10-goal, 48-point capstone campaign this past season that turned more than a few NHL heads. Toss in 25 playoff games and 14 more points, and you’ve got yourself a veteran presence who’s played in every situation, against the best junior talent in western Canada.

The kid was no passenger, either. In Calgary, he wore the “C.” Quarterbacked the power play. Played 25-plus minutes a night. Took the hard matchups. And after a trade deadline move to Saskatoon, he instantly helped stabilize one of the best defensive corps in the league. His ice time didn’t dip. His confidence didn’t waver.

And his skating? Smooth as an old jazz LP. Siepmann’s first three strides are explosive, his edgework is clean, and his transition game is NHL-caliber right now. He moves the puck under pressure like he’s pouring coffee on a Sunday morning — calm, automatic, composed. If you’re looking for a comparable, think Jared Spurgeon with a little more fire up the gut.

Now for the draft angle.

Despite his steady rise, Siepmann went undrafted through his first two years of eligibility — which might say more about the NHL’s scouting blind spots than his actual ceiling. Back in 2023, Central Scouting ranked him around No. 138 among North American skaters. He was projected as a fifth- or sixth-rounder by most draft outlets, with upside as a two-way depth defenseman. That ranking only improved after his breakout final junior season.

But instead of jumping into the AHL meat grinder or chasing an ECHL paycheck, Siepmann chose Duluth — a smart bet for a player who still has more to show. And now he’ll enter the NCHC — the toughest conference in college hockey — with top-four minutes there for the taking and a power-play unit likely to run through his stick.

Still, he’s not a perfect player. Siepmann isn’t a banger — at 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, he won’t be throwing bodies like Dylan Samberg or laying out shot-blocks like Carson Soucy. His physical game needs polish. His slap shot lacks true pop. And the tighter structure of the college game — not to mention the speed and depth of opposing forechecks — will test his decision-making early.

But here’s the bet: he figures it out fast.

Because that’s what players with 300 games of high-level experience tend to do. They adjust. They learn. They thrive. And by the midpoint of this season, don’t be surprised if Siepmann is leading all UMD defensemen in points — and leading NHL area scouts to the Amsoil press box every weekend.

This is one of the biggest blue-line additions for the Bulldogs in recent memory. Not just because of what Siepmann is today — but because of what he could become by next spring. A draft re-entry candidate? Absolutely. A prized NHL free agent? Very possible. A four-year Bulldog? Don’t count on it.

UMD has built a reputation as a blue-line factory. Siepmann might be the next great name on that list — somewhere between Mikey Anderson and Samberg, with a little more offensive spice and a quicker NHL timeline.

So, to the rest of the NCHC — good luck. Grayden Siepmann’s coming to town. And he’s bringing a whole lot of puck control, vision, and quiet confidence with him.

Welcome to Duluth, kid. Now let’s see what you’ve really got.

Bill Zwak steps into new role as activities director at Duluth East

DULUTH — After more than three decades helping shape student life at Duluth East High School, Bill Zwak is taking on a new challenge as the school’s activities director.

Throughout his long tenure with Duluth Public Schools, Zwak has guided East’s student government, coached basketball and track, and helped organize marquee events like the Scott Anderson Leadership Forum.

East Principal Kelly Flohaug said it’s precisely that steady involvement that made Zwak the natural choice.

“I am very excited for Bill to step into this leadership position,” Flohaug said. “He constantly engages with East students to build leadership and a positive student culture. He understands the enormous demands on an activities director position and I fully trust his tireless work ethic will serve him well. Above all, Bill is committed to East students and our ongoing mission of creating positive educational experiences through activities.”

For Zwak, stepping away from the science classroom will bring a different way to connect with students.

“I’m thankful for the opportunity to serve the students and staff of Duluth East in a different way than I have for the past 15-plus years,” he said. “Though I will miss the challenge of sparking curiosity in the minds of young people as I did in my role as a science teacher, I look forward to engaging our students in a different way and helping guide them to success in any of the many activities East offers.”

He will begin transitioning into the role this month and is expected to take over fully by Aug. 1.