The Hermantown Six: Ty Hanson is UMD’s blueline engine
Hanson is a No. 1 college defenseman entering his prime, and UMD’s championship ceiling will be tied directly to how completely he controls the back end.
Hanson is a No. 1 college defenseman entering his prime, and UMD’s championship ceiling will be tied directly to how completely he controls the back end.
BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Detroit Red Wings have doubled down on one of hockey's most recognizable Minnesota families. Detroit selected University of Minnesota Duluth recruit Victor Plante with the 47th overall pick in the second round of the 2026 NHL Draft on Saturday, giving the organization NHL rights
A group that could have fragmented chose to remain intact, and that continuity alters expectations in a meaningful way. Teams that stay together tend to become harder to play against, not just because of talent, but because of familiarity and shared understanding.
The question wasn’t how they’re handling adversity. The real question is whether they can turn good hockey into points — starting now. Because in the NCHC, effort keeps you competitive. Execution keeps you home in the first round of the playoffs.
For Hermantown, the impact is already unmistakable. A high school program in northern Minnesota placed three of its own among the nation’s best college hockey players — simultaneously, on the sport’s biggest individual stage — reinforcing a legacy that now stretches far beyond state lines.
UMD men's hockey is surrounding its future core with the kind of balance you rarely see in a single signing haul: scoring up front, size and skating on the back end, and a top-flight goaltender to anchor the whole operation.
Imagine if Max Plante chooses Amsoil Arena for one more winter instead of Grand Rapids. Victor arrives. Zam continues his ascent. And all three Plantes share the same sheet of ice, wearing the same sweater, saluted by the same 6,700 who’ve been following this family saga since pee wees.
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.
UMD sophomore forward Max Plante continues his strong start.
But it could also be the season the Kenny Linsemans of college hockey put Duluth back on the map. And if you’re a fan of old-school, pot-stirring hockey, that’s the script worth betting on.
Former Bulldogs forward Alex Iafallo of the Winnipeg Jets signed a three-year contract extension with an average annual value of $3,666,666. Other former Bulldogs on the Jets roster are defensemen Neal Pionk and Dylan Samberg, and veteran center Dominic Toninato. The Jets will face St. Louis in
Note: Quote Me, Howie is powered by Perrault Construction, the trusted roofing, siding and window company in Duluth. Bulldogs men’s hockey coach Scott Sandelin on facing North Dakota in NCHC season openers Friday and Saturday night at Amsoil (UMD is 3-4-0 overall and riding a two-game
Veteran pro, college, junior and prep hockey writer John Gilbert on the 2024-25 Bulldogs men's and women's hockey teams – "UMD hockey fans should prepare for one of the most exciting teams in the history of the men’s program. The arrival of a highly
ROSTER Forward – 5th Year Sr. Joe Molenaar, Sr. Dominic James, Sr. Carter Loney, Jr. Cole Spicer, Jr. Jack Smith, Jr. Kyle Bettens, So. Anthony Menghini, So. Matthew Perkins, So. Braden Fischer, Fr. Jayson Shaugabay, Fr. Callum Arnott, Fr. Max Plante, Fr. Zam Plante, Defense – Sr. Owen Gallatin, Sr. Will Francis,
Catching up with former Hawks hockey legends: ■ Zam Plante – Has 58 points, including 21 goals, for the Fargo Force of the United States Hockey League. The 5-foot-9, 170 pound forward from Hermantown will join the Bulldogs next season. ■ Max Plante – Has 45 points (11 goals) in 34 games