The 2025–26 Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs men's ice hockey season is the 82nd season of play for the program and 13th in the NCHC. The Bulldogs represent the University of Minnesota Duluth in the 2025–26 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season, play their home games at AMSOIL Arena and are coached by Scott Sandelin in his 26th season.
Season The season started against Alaska-Fairbanks. The Bulldogs, coming off of a 13-20-3 season, did not have the highest of expectations heading into the year. And while things started well, sweeping Alaska-Fairbanks and Bemidji State, as well as being ranked #18 in the country heading into their matchup against in-state rival Minnesota, things were not expected to go well, as many saw UMD's 5-1-0 start as the result of an easy schedule. That would change however, as UMD shut down Minnesota and took both games against them in convincing fashion, 3-0 and 4-1 respectively, helping them leapfrog to #10 in the rankings. They then managed to split with North Dakota on the road, before taking both games back at home against another in-state rival in St. Cloud State. The Bulldogs white-hot streak of games would simmer down as the season went on, as they split their next 4 series, those being at home against Omaha, on the road against Colorado College, on the road against #7Western Michigan, and at home against Arizona State. And while they would win their next three matches(an exhibition win against Manitoba and a sweep of Lindenwood, all at home), they got cold once again, splitting against St. Cloud State on the road, before being swept by both #3 Western Michigan at home and #11 Denver on the road. After the Denver series, sophomore goaltender Adam Gajan would be replaced by backup Goaltender Ethan Dahlmeir. Once Dahlmeir took over, UMD split with North Dakota. They would sweep Miami(OH) on the road before a home split with Colorado College. They would finish the regular season with a 20-13-1 record, going 11-12-1 in-conference. Despite the sub-.500 conference record, UMD secured the 4 spot in the conference and got the 4 seed as a result, which meant they hosted St. Cloud State. Adam Gajan came back in to replace Dahlmier to start the playoffs. They would end up sweeping the Huskies in two dramatic games, as Max Plante was able to bury both game-winning goals to push UMD over St. Cloud State. The next week was a road match between #8 UMD and #2 North Dakota. Despite the #2 ranking and being on the road, the Bulldogs came in and utterly trounced the Fighting Hawks, leaving with a 5–1 victory and a NCHC Championship birth against #4 Denver. Denver proved to be too much, as while UMD and Denver went the extra mile, needing two overtimes to decide it, it was Denver who ultimately won it, 4–3. Despite the crushing loss, UMD's season wasn't over, as their play throughout the season was good enough to earn both an NCAA playoff berth and a #2 seed in the Albany Region. Their first game was against Penn State, and while it would be close, UMD was able to pull away late and get a 3–1 victory, putting them 1 win away from the Frozen Four. However, the season would ultimately end at the hands of the #1 ranked Michigan Wolverines, as while the Bulldogs would take a 3-goal deficit and turn it into a 1-goal game, they ultimately ran out of time and lost 3–4. The Bulldogs finished the season going 24–15–1, with hope for more next season.
Departures Luke Bast Defenseman Graduation (retired) Kyle Bettens Forward Transferred to Northern Michigan Aiden Dubinsky Defenseman Transferred to Wisconsin Will Francis Defenseman Graduation (signed with Anaheim Ducks) Owen Gallatin Defenseman Graduation (signed with Fort Wayne Komets) Dominic James Forward Graduation (retired) Klayton Knapp Goaltender Transferred to Lindenwood Carter Loney Forward Graduation (retired) Anthony Menghini Forward Transferred to North Dakota Joey Molenaar Forward Graduation (retired) Matthew Perkins Forward Transferred to Northeastern Zach Sandy Goaltender Transferred to North Dakota Jack Smith Forward Transferred to Minnesota State
Recruiting Hunter Anderson Forward 20 Manhattan Beach, CA Luke Bibby Forward 20 Brantford, ON Brady Cleveland Defenseman 20 Wausau, WI; transfer from Colorado College; selected 47th overall in 2023 Ethan Dahlmeir Goaltender 22 Lakeville, MN; transfer from Miami Kyle Gaffney Forward 24 Plymouth, MN; transfer from Alaska Kyler Kovich Forward 23 Coquitlam, BC; graduate transfer from Cornell Cole Sheffield Goaltender 21 London, ON Daniel Shlaine Forward 19 Moscow, RUS Grayden Siepmann Defenseman 21 Windsor, ON Jake Toll Defenseman 20 Rosemount, MN Scout Truman Forward 22 Lethbridge, AB; graduate transfer from Massachusetts Lowell Ryan Zaremba Forward 19 Balgonie, SK
Roster As of August 12, 2025.
Standings
Schedule and results
!colspan=12 style=";" | Regular season
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Rankings
PollWeekPre 1 23456789101112131415161718192021222324252627 (Final) USCHO.comRVRVRV18107345455–5567710109910866 USA HockeyRVRVRV19117345445–556681099910866 Note: USCHO did not release a poll in week 12.Note: USA Hockey did not release a poll in week 12.
References