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Bulldogs men’s hockey is cracking the seal on another season this weekend, and let’s not kid ourselves — anything short of two wins in Alaska is a disappointment. Plain and simple.
UMD is opening up in Fairbanks, of all places, against an independent Alaska program that plays in front of a couple of thousand diehards and maybe a few curious caribou.
These are games you’re supposed to win without breaking much of a sweat. This isn’t Denver at altitude or St. Cloud in a bandbox. It’s Alaska Fairbanks. You board the plane, you play the games, you sweep, and you fly home. That’s the job.
And the reason this feels like more than just a quirky road trip is because the Bulldogs have been driving their fans nuts for three straight years. Sub-.500 seasons, one after the other, like a snowblower that never starts when you need it.
This is a proud program with banners in the rafters and a history of beating anyone, anywhere. Instead, lately it’s been a steady drip of disappointment: blown leads, missed chances, and a program that hasn’t looked like itself.
Scott Sandelin is back for his 26th season, still the face of the program and still carrying the clout that comes with three national titles. But here’s the deal — Duluth fans aren’t living in 2011, 2018, or 2019 anymore.
They’re living in 2025, where the Bulldogs have been average at best, and excuses don’t buy ice cream at Amsoil. The clock’s ticking, and it’s time for results.
The thing is, this year’s roster actually gives fans a reason to believe again.
Let’s start with Max Plante, the sophomore out of Hermantown, who in just 23 games last season put up 28 points and still looked like the best player on the ice most nights. He’s been anointed already — named to the NCHC Preseason All-Conference Team, the first Bulldog to land that nod since Noah Cates. He’s got the bloodlines, the skill, and the swagger. If he stays healthy, he’s the kind of player who can carry this team out of the wilderness.
Behind him, you’ve got Jayson Shaugabay, who chipped in 12 goals and 14 assists as a freshman and has that knack for scoring goals in bunches.
You’ve got Aaron Pionk, another Hermantown product, who hasn’t missed a game in two years and racked up 26 points on the back end. He’s steady, smart, and he’ll play half the game most nights.
And you’ve got Ty Hanson, another young Hermantown kid, who skated in all 36 games as a rookie and looked like he belonged from the jump. The blue line is young, but it’s got bite.
Up front, the Bulldogs have depth they haven’t had in years. Sophomore Zam Plante, Max’s brother, is a shifty playmaker.
Senior forward Kyle Gaffney, who transferred from Alaska Fairbanks, brings three years of experience and the kind of grit you need in the NCHC. And graduate transfer Kyler Kovich adds a little maturity to the mix.
That’s not to mention Blake Bechen, who has quietly been one of UMD’s most dependable two-way forwards.
In net, it’s Adam Gajan’s show. The Chicago Blackhawks draft pick has all the tools, and when he’s on, he looks like an NHL goalie in training. Last year, his numbers were pedestrian — 7-12-1 with an .885 save percentage — but he was hurt, overworked, and hung out to dry more than once.
This season, with a little help in front of him, he has a chance to be the difference. If Gajan plays up to his potential, the Bulldogs have a foundation to win again. If he doesn’t, well, get ready for another year of 3-2 losses and “we outshot them, but…” excuses.
And here’s the kicker: UMD isn’t sneaking up on anybody. The Bulldogs got votes in both national preseason polls. People outside Duluth think there’s talent here. The league knows there’s talent here. The players know it, too.
You return four of your top five scorers, you add a group of transfers with experience, and you carry seven NHL draft picks on the roster — this isn’t a rebuild. This is a team that should win.
So yeah, Fairbanks matters. It’s not just about picking up two wins in a building most fans will never see. It’s about tone-setting. You start the year by sweeping a team you’re supposed to sweep, you come home 2-0, and you give your fans something to smile about.
You start with a split — or heaven forbid, a loss or two — and it’s the same old groans, the same old “here we go again” from a fan base that’s been more than patient.
The Bulldogs are at a crossroads. They’ve been wandering for three years, and people are wondering if the program has lost its edge. This roster says it hasn’t. But if they can’t prove it against Alaska Fairbanks, then what’s the point?
In Duluth, the standard doesn’t change. It’s banners, it’s Frozen Fours, it’s a program that doesn’t flinch on the road, whether it’s Denver, Grand Forks, or Fairbanks. Especially Fairbanks.
So here’s the bottom line. The Bulldogs need to sweep this weekend. No excuses. No moral victories. Just two wins and a flight home. Anything less, and you can start bracing yourself for another long winter of empty seats, eye rolls, and “remember when” conversations online.
The season is just starting, the potential is real, and the fan base is restless. It’s time for the Bulldogs to look like the Bulldogs again. And it starts tonight in Alaska.
