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By HOWIE HANSON
Editor & Publisher
DULUTH, Minn. — As the NHL’s free agency window opened Tuesday, a handful of former Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs wasted no time locking in new contracts, underscoring once again the college program’s deep reach into the professional ranks.
Scott Perunovich, the slick-skating defenseman from Hibbing who won the Hobey Baker Award at UMD, was the first ex-Bulldog to secure his next opportunity. After splitting last season between the St. Louis Blues and New York Islanders, where he posted two goals and seven assists in 35 NHL games, Perunovich signed a one-year deal with the Utah Mammoth.
The Mammoth, the league’s newest franchise after relocating from Arizona, are banking on Perunovich’s elite vision and puck-moving to help anchor their blue line. He joins another former Bulldog, forward Joey Anderson, who recently landed in Utah after a stint with Toronto.
Meanwhile, Hermantown native Cole Koepke is headed to Winnipeg, where he signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Jets after a steady season in Boston. Koepke, who at 6-foot-1 and over 200 pounds brings size and grit, registered 10 goals and seven assists last year while ranking third on the Bruins in hits. His transition to Winnipeg also puts him alongside former Bulldogs standouts Neal Pionk and Dylan Samberg, who continue to log top second-pairing minutes on the Jets’ defense.
Duluth’s own Dominic Toninato also found new footing, inking a two-year deal with the Chicago Blackhawks after four seasons in the Winnipeg organization. Though Toninato split time between the Jets and their AHL affiliate in Manitoba last year, he turned in a career-best campaign in assists and total points at the minor-league level.
Now 31, Toninato brings veteran leadership to a rebuilding Chicago team.
Two more ex-Bulldogs decided to stay put. Riley Tufte, the towering 6-foot-6 forward from Coon Rapids who led UMD in goals during his college days, re-signed with Boston on a one-year deal, keeping his spot in the Bruins’ development system. Tufte saw limited NHL ice last season, picking up two goals and an assist, but his size and net-front presence continue to be valued by the organization.
In Tampa Bay, goaltender Ryan Fanti agreed to a one-year extension to remain in the Lightning pipeline. The Thunder Bay native, who backstopped UMD in multiple NCAA tournaments, continues to hone his game in the minors, providing organizational depth behind the Bolts’ veteran tandem.
All told, the flurry of deals speaks volumes about Minnesota Duluth’s role as an NHL incubator. From small-town Minnesota roots in places like Hibbing, Hermantown and Duluth to the top tier of professional hockey, these Bulldogs are not only carving out careers but continuing to carry the legacy of UMD’s championship pedigree into locker rooms across the league.
Minnesota Wilderness release 2025-26 schedule
The Minnesota Wilderness will open September 12-13 at home against the team that ended its 2024-25 season, the Springfield Jr. Blues. The games feature a 4-game home stand the Wilderness will play before it departs for three games at the NAHL Showcase in Blaine, Minn., scheduled for September 24-27 (Showcase opponents and game times will be announced at a later date).
The Wilderness will host Anchorage in its other pre-Showcase series on Sept. 19-20.
Minnesota’s 56-game Midwest Division schedule includes 12 games against Chippewa 12 times, more than any other opponent on its calendar. The Wilderness will play its six other divisional teams anywhere from five to eight times each throughout the season.
Minnesota has two trips to Alaska planned. The first will be Oct. 3-11 when the team will play Kenai River and Anchorage. The second is set for Jan. 22-31 with its opponents being Fairbanks and Kenai River.
The Fairbanks Ice Dogs will be the only divisional opponent to not appear in Cloquet during the upcoming regular season. The Wilderness will instead “host’ the Ice Dogs in Marshall, MN, on Dec. 5-6. The Ice Dogs have a special relationship with the city of Marshall and annually plays two games in the southwest Minnesota city with its opponent being the “home” team.
Minnesota and Fairbanks also played two games in Marshall during the 2021-22 campaign.
Overall, the Wilderness has 26 games scheduled to be played at its home arena in Cloquet.
The regular season is set to wrap up April 10-11 at the Janesville Jets. The final home series will be March 27-28 vs. Springfield.
The Wilderness is scheduled for two pre-season games. Minnesota will visit the Austin Bruins on Sept. 5, with a home game vs. the Bruins on Sept. 6. Puck drop for all Wilderness home games, except its New Year’s Day event, are set for 7:15 p.m.
