This will be a quick blog, but wanted to get a few thoughts out there on the season opener Friday night, a 4-2 UMD win in Bemidji.
First off, don’t discount the potential value of this win and the Sunday exhibition victory against Wisconsin. Different opponents, yes, and one of the games didn’t count, I understand that. But look at how last season ended for the Bulldogs.
March 13: NCHC Frozen Faceoff quarterfinal vs Western Michigan
The Bulldogs took a 4-3 lead at the 7:32 mark of the third on a goal by Cole Koepke. Western tied the game in the final minute after a crazy sequence of offensive zone possession that sandwiched a UMD timeout. The Bulldogs would win the game in overtime to advance.
March 27: NCAA Fargo Regional final vs North Dakota
UMD broke a scoreless stalemate with two goals in 1:20 early in the third. Up 2-0 with two minutes left in regulation, the Bulldogs couldn’t hold it, as North Dakota scored two extra-attacker goals to force overtime. You all know what happened after that.
April 8: NCAA semifinal vs Massachusetts
Up 2-1 after two periods, UMD surrendered the tying goal in the first half of the third period, and then slowly started to lose control of the game. You all know what happened after that. 
I asked captain Noah Cates about re-seizing what had been as big a part of UMD’s identity as anything: Locking down games. He said it “felt great” to finish the UW game the way the Bulldogs did, and maybe it would build some confidence, even though it didn’t count.
Based on Friday night, you could argue it sure did. UMD looked like it was in its element in the third period, playing with the lead. The interference penalty on Louie Roehl was flat-out silly, and UMD killed it off like it was a mosquito. A couple minutes later, Blake Biondi took a penalty — it appeared to be ill-advised, if I’m being honest — and it led to the closest thing we saw to a tying goal. The Bulldogs failed on a clearing attempt, and the Beavers cranked up the pressure. Finally, after a bit of a scramble in front of goalie Zach Stejskal, Cates got a huge clear with :25 left in the man advantage. UMD got the kill, and was never seriously threatened after that.
It’s only one game, yes, but it’s a big step in the right direction, because it shows what this team’s identity has been for years, and it shows that the hiccups last season may very well have been simply that.
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Three of the four centers who played Friday night were making their UMD debuts. Casey Gilling, the Miami grad transfer, centered the top line with Cates (power play goal, four shots) and Koby Bender (empty net goal, four shots). They had an out-freaking-standing shift in the third period after the late penalty kill, possessing the puck in Bemidji’s zone for a good minute and change, forcing the Beavers to take an icing and then their timeout with 1:49 left. It was a big part of why UMD wasn’t really in trouble after that kill.
Dominic James and Carter Loney both had their moments in their college debuts. James can scoot, he won draws, and linemates Biondi and Quinn Olson both had good games, combining for the eventual game-winning goal. Olson, as I’ve written, had a tough sophomore season, with some iron-related misfortune along the way. He scored, had a game-high six shots, and was visible virtually every shift in this game. Loney is a slick playmaker with a lot of smarts.
I thought Owen Gallatin had some strong moments. He’s another in what seems to be a long line of somewhat-undersized defensemen who can absolutely skate but also aren’t afraid to stick their noses into a good ol’ board battle. And they win more often than you might think for a player of that size.
Stejskal started in goal, but coach Scott Sandelin strongly indicated pregame that this would be a rotation to begin, and there’s a good chance Ryan Fanti starts the home opener Saturday.
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The NCHC had a good night. Omaha (beat Maine), North Dakota (Niagara), Denver (Arizona State), and Western Michigan (Ferris State) all posted wins. St. Cloud State dropped a 1-0 game in Mankato against Minnesota State, and Colorado College outshot St. Lawrence 41-14 but lost 2-1 in its first game at on-campus Ed Robson Arena.
Everyone plays again Saturday, with Western going to Ferris in the only change besides UMD hosting Bemidji State.
The UMD women fell 3-1 to Minnesota Friday night, and will rematch at 3pm. Grab the family and make a doubleheader day of it. Some great restaurants in Canal Park you can check out in between games.
UMD sold a record number of student season tickets for men’s hockey, so while Amsoil Arena might not be packed for this game, it will be loud. 6:30 pregame kicks off with a special montage on KDAL. Join us then. I’ll be back pregame with the lines.
