Bulldog Hockey History
December 10, 1930
Duluth State Teacher's College announces that intercollegiate ice hockey will be added to the institution's varsity sports program.February 24, 1949
Goaltender Norm Thompson and the Bulldogs shut out Carleton College 3-0 in Duluth to close out the year with a 7-0-0 overall record for their only unbeaten, untied season in history.June 27, 1949
After two seasons playing as an independent, Minnesota-Duluth is accepted into the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.December 13, 1957
Minnesota-Duluth dumps visiting Michigan Tech University 5-3 for its first triumph over an NCAA Division I institution.February 15, 1961
In its final game as members of the MIAC, Minnesota-Duluth blanks Augsburg College 19-0 at the Duluth Curling Club. The victory was the Bulldogs' 56th straight in league play and assured UMD of its sixth consecutive MIAC title.August 10, 1961
Minnesota-Duluth abandons the MIAC in hopes of establishing itself as a legitimate big-time college hockey school. The University officially elects to compete as a Division I independent and releases a 1961-62 schedule which features engagements against Western Collegiate Hockey Association powers such as the University of Minnesota, Michigan Tech, Michigan State University, and the University of Denver.April 3, 1965
Minnesota-Duluth Provost Raymond Darland announces that the Bulldogs will officially become the eighth team in the prestigious WCHA beginning with the 1965-66 season.February 11, 1966
The Bulldogs end their 14-game winless WCHA streak by clipping North Dakota 3-2 in overtime in Grand Forks, ND, for the school's first league victory.March 13, 1966
Senior defenseman Bob Hill is among six players selected to 1965-66 AHCA All-American first team, becoming the first Bulldog to ever earn such a distinction.
November 19, 1966
In the first game ever contested at the newly-constructed Duluth Arena, All-American senior center Keith "Huffer" Christiansen, who later that year would be named the WCHA's Most Valuable Player, collects a school-record six assists to help propel the Bulldogs past Minnesota 8-1 before a sellout crowd of 5,700.January 13, 1973
In what arguably ranks as the greatest Minnesota-Duluth comeback of all time, the Bulldogs rally from a 6-2 deficit with just 5:21 remaining in regulation to edge Michigan Tech 7-6 in overtime at the Duluth Arena. Bulldog junior center Pat Boutette scored three straight goals (a natural hat trick) in a span of 2:37 during the comeback effort before rookie right winger Tom Milani notched the game-winner 3:02 into the extra session.March 16, 1974
The host Bulldogs upend the University of Vermont 7-4 to capture the short-lived (it lasted just one year) National Invitational Hockey Tournament, a four-team event patterned after college basketball's NIT, for clubs which didn't qualify for NCAA post-season play.December 29, 1977
Wearing Eveleth High School Golden Bear uniforms because their new home jerseys had yet to arrive, the Bulldogs upends Brown University 4-1. Four different UMD skaters score in the victory, including Eveleth native Mark Pavelich.March 19, 1983
After bowing to Providence College 7-3 the previous night, Minnesota-Duluth succumbs 3-2 to the host Friars in its first showing in an NCAA playoff series.March 22, 1984
The Bulldogs beat North Dakota in the semifinals of the NCAA Championships in Lake Placid, NY. The thrilling 2-1 overtime victory is sealed when two-time All-American right wing Bill Watson scores off a Bob Lasko feed in front of the net at the 3:09 mark of the first extra session.
March 23, 1984
Senior defenseman Tom Kurvers, who was chosen the WCHA's Most Valuable Player two weeks prio, becomes the first Bulldog to win the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, which recognizes the most outstanding player in college hockey.March 24, 1984
Making its inaugural appearance in the finals of the NCAA Championships, Minnesota-Duluth falls 5-4 in four overtimes to Bowling Green in Lake Placid, NY. The 97-minute, 11-second game was, at the time, the longest in NCAA post-season history. Freshman goaltender Rick Kosti turns back a tournament-record 55 shots in the setback.December 22, 1984
UMD concludes its six-day tour of the Soviet Union, thus becoming the first American collegiate ice hockey team to ever visit that country. The Bulldogs split a two-game exhibition series with the Junior Red Army in Leningrad and in Moscow during their historic voyage.February 16, 1985
The Bulldogs, behind a pair of goals from junior right winger Bill Watson, claim their second straight WCHA regular season crown by skating past Michigan Tech 4-3 at the Duluth Arena.March 25, 1985
Third-year Head Coach Mike Sertich is selected the WCHA's Coach of the Year for an unprecedented third season in a row.March 29, 1985
One day before he was to record his 109th point of the season (which, at the time, was an NCAA Division I record), junior right winger Bill Watson is bestowed with the Hobey Baker Memorial Award. Watson, who had earlier been named the WCHA's Most Valuable Player after leading the circuit in scoring for a second straight year, becomes the second Bulldog in as many years to receive the prized national honor.March 30, 1985
After losing a heartbreaking 5-4 triple-overtime decision the previous evening to eventual NCAA champion R.P.I., Minnesota-Duluth rebounds with a 6-5 triumph in one overtime against Boston College to capture third place at the NCAA National Championships at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, MI.January 30, 1988
In a special in pre-game ceremony at the DECC, the Minnesota Duluth Department of Intercollegiate Athletics officially retires Keith "Huffer" Christiansen's familar No. 9 jersey, marking the only time the school has bestowed any of its athletes with that honor.February 27, 1993
The Bulldogs skate off with their third WCHA title by blanking visiting St. Cloud State University 4-0. Junior left wing Chris Marinucci contributes two goals in the triumph while rookie netminder Taras Lendzyk turns aside all 18 Husky shots in recording his first collegiate shutout.
March 19, 1993
The Bulldogs steal the show at the annual WCHA Awards Banquet as senior center Derek Plante lands the league's Most Valuable Player honor and fellow All-WCHA first team pick Brett Hauer, a senior defenseman is named the Student-Athlete of the Year (a Bulldog first). Mike Sertich also becomes only the second individual to ever be chosen the WCHA's Coach of the Year on four occasions.April 1, 1994
WCHA Player of the Year Chris Marinucci, who scored more points than any other collegian during the past two seasons, closes his Bulldog ice career by claiming the 1994 Hobey Baker Memorial Award.March 15, 1998
Basically left for dead and down 4-0 with less than 14 minutes remaining in regulation, the Bulldogs rally to defeat the University of Minnesota 5-4 in the third and deciding game of their best-of-three WCHA playoff series at the DECC. Five different Bulldogs score in the victory, including senior Mike Peluso whose goal 10:49 into overtime caps the Minnesota-Duluth comeback.March 18, 2004
UMD's spirited regular season does not go unnoticed as two of the WCHA's major honors are bestowed on Bulldogs at the league's Awards Banquet. Senior right wing Junior Lessard is chosen the WCHA's Player of the Year -- the seventh Bulldog to be so recognized -- after topping that circuit in both scoring and goals while Scott Sandelin receives the WCHA Coach of the Year Award after he directed UMD to its highest league finish (second place) in 11 years. Sandelin would go on to lay claim to the Spencer Penrose Award as the NCAA I Coach of the Year as well, joining Mike Sertich (1983-84) as the only two Bulldog bosses to win that piece of hardware.March 28, 2004
In the first NCAA playoff meeting ever between the two archrivals, the Bulldogs ambush two-time defending national champion Minnesota 3-1 to seize the NCAA Midwest Regional title in Grand Rapids, MI. Three different Bulldogs collect goals in the victory -- UMD's fifth in six tries against the Gophers that winter -- and junior goaltender Isaac Reichmuth turns aside 22 of 23 shots en route to being tabbed the tournament's Most Valuable Player.April 9, 2004
Junior Lessard puts the exclamation point on a marvelous senior season by being presented with the Hobey Baker Memorial Award -- the fourth Bulldog to win college hockey's most coveted individual prize. The first Quebec native to ever lace up a pair of skates at UMD, Lessard paced the country in scoring (63 points), goals (32) and power play tallies (14) from his right wing post and was selected to the NCAA All-American first team as well as the national Player of the Year by both insidecollege hockey.com and USCHO.com.
February 3, 2006
Nearly two decades after he last dazzled college hockey fans with his goal-scoring wizardry, Brett Hull returns to his old hockey stomping grounds -- the DECC -- to have his jersey number (29) retired during the Bulldogs' WCHA clash with Wisconsin. Hull, who still owns a number of UMD scoring records and hung up his National Hockey League skates earlier that year as its third all-time leading goal producer behind icons Wayne Gretzky and Gordie Howe, joins hockey center iceman Keith "Huffer" Christiansen as the only two Bulldog male athletes to ever have their numbers forever enshrined.March 21, 2009
UMD becomes the first play-in game participant to capture the WCHA Final Five title in the 17-year history of that event by blanking the University of Denver 4-0. The WCHA playoff crown is the Bulldogs’ third ever, but first since 1984-85. Junior goaltender Alex Stalock is named the Final Five’s Most Valuable Player after stopping 90 of 91 shots in the three games and posting back to back shut outs -- a UMD program first.March 27, 2009
It what became known as the “Miracle at Mariucci” the Bulldogs score twice in the final 40 second of regulation and go on to nip Princeton University 5-4 in overtime in the NCAA West Region semifinals. Trailing 4-2, goals by UMD rookie center Jack Connolly and sophomore defenseman Evan Oberg (with just .8 seconds to play) send the game into overtime before freshman left winger Mike Connolly puts an end to the evening by scoring on the power play at 13:39 of the extra session. A partisan UMD crowd of 7,187 at Minnesota’s Mariucci Arena are on hand to witness perhaps the most astonishing comeback in Bulldog history.March 28, 2009
The longest post-season winning streak in UMD’s 65-year history comes to an end as the Bulldogs fall 2-1 to Miami University in the NCAA West Region championship. The Bulldogs, who defeated five straight Top 15 clubs during that stretch in Colorado College (twice), the University of Minnesota, the University of North Dakota, the University of Denver and Princeton University, close out the year ranked eighth in both major national polls. The loss is the collegiate finale for All-American junior goaltender Alex Stalock, who set UMD single-season marks for both goals against average (2.13) and saves percentage (.924) and became just the second Bulldog ever -- and first since Rick Kosti in 1984-85 -- to hold the title as the WCHA’s goals against average leader.
December 4, 2010
After 44 years and nearly 900 games, UMD (adorned in its classic 1966-era throwback jerseys) farewell to the DECC -- and do so in style -- by turning back the University of Denver 2-1. The introduction of the 20-member All-DECC Team is among the highlights of the historic night, which is capped off with an emotional post-game ceremony featuring some 100-plus past and present Bulldogs.December 30, 2010
A capacity crowd of 6,764 -- the largest gathering to ever to take in a UMD home game -- watches North Dakota blank the Bulldogs 5-0 and spoil AMSOIL Arena’s long-anticipated grand opening party. The Sioux, who blew the game open by scoring three times in a span of 74 seconds late in the second period, become the first team to hold UMD scoreless in Duluth since March 21, 2008.April 7, 2011
Four different Bulldogs score goals and rookie defenseman Justin Faulk and senior right winger Justin Fontaine each add three assists to propel UMD past the University of Notre Dame 4-3 in the NCAA Frozen Four semifinals. The Bulldogs, playing before a somewhat hometown crowd of 19,139 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, go 3-for-6 on the power play and stymie the Fighting Irish on all five of their man advantage opportunities.April 8, 2011
Junior center Jack Connolly, who earlier in the spring was chosen a Top 10 Finalist for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, is named to the All-American first team while his linemate, junior right winger Mike Connolly, attains second team aclaim. Jack Connolly becomes just the sixth Bulldog ever -- and first in 25 years -- to received All-American honors on more than one occasion.April 9, 2011
One day after being bestowed with the Derek Hines Unsung Hero Award, Kyle Schmidt is anything but unsung in the NCAA Frozen Four championship. The the senior left winger scores 3:22 into overtime, propelling UMD to a 3-2 victory over the the University of Michigan, and, after a 67-year wait, give the Bulldogs their first national title. Junior defenseman Brady Lamb assists on three of the four UMD goals, including Schmidt’s game-winner, and junior enter Travis Oleksuk turns in a two-point night for the Bulldogs, who were appearing in their second title game ever (the other coming 27 years ago). Rookie right winger J.T. Brown is chosen the Frozen Four’s Most Valuable Player and joins Schmidt and freshman defenseman Justin Faulk on the All-Tournament Team.
April 6, 2012
Jack Connolly puts an exclamation point - a huge exclamation point -- on the most decorated playing career in team history by walking off with the 2011-12 Hobey Baker Memorial Award. The senior center from Duluth, who becomes the nation-leading fifth Bulldog to claim the prestigious honor, also earned All-American acclaim for a third time (first team in both 2012 and 2011 and second team in 2010) -- a feat only one other UMD player had ever accomplished before (Norm Maciver, 1983-86). In addition, he also was the school's first three-time All-WCHA first team pick, and closed out the year ranking second in the country in both scoring (a career-high 60 points -- the most by any Bulldog in eight years) and assists (40). A member of WCHA All-Academic Team for three years, Connolly captained UMD to a 25-10-6 overall record and a second place WCHA finish as a senior and wound up skating in all 166 games (a program record) during his four seasons with the Bulldogs. Connolly's portfolio for 2011-12 also included selection as the Lowe Senior CLASS Award (a UMD first),the USA Hockey College Player of the Year Award,the Premier Player of College Hockey Award, the WCHA Player of the Year Award, and the uscho.com Player of the Year Award recipient.Special thanks to UMD Athletics and Vintage Minnesota Hockey for the information and pictures.
NCAA Champions
2011
In front of a soldout crowd in the state of hockey's own Xcel Energy Center, the Bulldogs beat the University of Michigan in overtime by a score of 3-2.Frozen Fours
1984
UMD beat Clarkson in the quarterfinals in a best of two-game, total-goals series (6-2 umd, 3-6 Clarkson) to advance to their first Frozen Four. They beat North Dakota 2-1, in overtime, before falling to Bowling Green in 4 overtimes by a score of 5-4.1985
In a similiar format as the year before, UMD beat Harvard in two 4-2 contests to advance to the Frozen Four. They would lose in the first round to Rensselaer in the third overtime by a score of 5-6.2004
With a 5-0 win over Michigan State and a 3-1 victory over Minnesota in the Midwwest Regional, the Bulldogs punched their tickets to their third Frozen Four appearence to date. They would fall in the first round, though, to Denver by a score of 5-3.2011
After earning an at-large bid to attend the NCAA playoffs, the Bulldogs beat shutout Union 2-0 and beat Yale 5-3 to fly back to the state of hockey for their fourth Frozen Four. The Dogs beat Notre Dame 4-3 in the first round and beat Michigan by a score of 3-2 in overtime to earn the title of National Champions.Conference Tournament Champions
1984
1985
2009
After defeating Colorado College 4-1, 3-1 in the first round of the WCHA playoffs, UMD went on to beat Minnesota 2-1, then shutting out North Dakota 3-1 before shutting Denver out 4-0 in the WCHA final game.Conference Regular Season Champions
1952
1953
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
1961
1984
1985
1993
Tom Kurvers
1984
Tom Kurvers holds the UMD Bulldog record for goals by a defenseman with 43 tallies in a Dog sweater. He was the rookie of the year in his first season with the Dogs and named WCHA’s most valuable player in 1984, the year he took the Hobey home. Although he was unable to win the national championship, he did help the Dogs to the championship game and led UMD to their first regular season championship.Bill Watson
1985
WCHA leading scorer in 1984 and 1985.Chris Marinucci
1994
WCHA leading scorer in 1993-94 with 30 goals and 31 assists for 61 points.Junior Lessard
2004
Junior Lessard was the fourth Bulldog to win the Hobey Baker Award, as well as the seventh Bulldog to be nominated. He won the “Player of the Year” award in the WCHA and was on the first team as well. Lessard also earned the Midwest All-Regional team after taking the Dogs to their first Frozen Four in 11 years. During the 1984-85 season, he led all NCAA players in points with 61 and goals with 30.Jack Connolly
2012
Jack Connolly
Jason Garrison
Jason Garrison was a product of the BCHL before coming to UMD. Skating for the Nanaimo Clippers for two years, he was able to score 89 points, giving him all the experience as a scorer he needed before playing college hockey. He spent three years with Duluth, scoring 14 points in his junior, and final, season. In 2009, Garrison skated in his first NHL game for the Florida Panthers, and now can be found in Vancouver, skating in a Canuck sweater.
Justin Faulk
Justin Faulk protected UMD’s blue-line just one year before signing with the Carolina Hurricane. The South St. Paul native was considered a huge pick-up for the Bulldogs, which held true as he helped the Dogs win their first national championship in the program’s history. Before coming to the North Shore, Faulk played for the U.S. National U17 and U18 Team, even earning a shot to skate in the World Junior Championships. Faulk finished his short career at UMD with 8 goals and 25 assists for 33 points in 39 games.
Jack Connolly
Jack Connolly was a Bulldog fan-favorite during his four years at Minnesota Duluth. Connolly was able to carry himself off-ice as well as he was able to play on the ice. The Duluth native played for Duluth-Marshall in high school, scoring 77 points in 31 games during his senior year. Before pulling on a Bulldog sweater, Connolly was a dominant member of the Sioux Falls Stampede, scoring 72 points in 58 games in his first and only USHL season. As a Bulldog, Connolly’s final two years were his greatest. Scoring a career high 41 assists and helping the Dogs win the national championship in 2011, and winning the Hobey Baker Award and scoring 60 points in 2012 as a senior were just some of his remarkable achievements.
Matt Niskanen
Matt Niskanen joined the Bulldogs right out of high school, which is becoming more and more rare these days. Niskanen only played two years in a maroon and gold uniform, but made the most out of his time in the NCAA ranks. As a sophomore at UMD, he scored 31 points in 39 games, which was enough to get himself noticed and move to Iowa where he began in the AHL playing for the Iowa Stars before he would venture farther south to play in Dallas. Now, Niskanen skates in a Pittsburgh Penguins uniform and has for the last three years.
Mason Raymond
Mason Raymond was a gift to UMD from the Camrose Kodiaks of the AJHL. Although he didn’t spend much time in Duluth as a NCAA hockey player, Raymond made the most out of his two years. After a 46 point season, Raymond headed northward to join the Vancouver Canucks in 2007, where he still plays to this day.
J.T. Brown
J.T. Brown started off his junior-amateur career playing in Waterloo, Iowa for the Black Hawks of the United States Hockey League. After two years, 94 games, 48 goals and 113 points with the Black Hawks, the Roseville native headed to the collegiate ranks. Playing for only two years with the Bulldogs, Brown helped take the bulldogs to a national championship and made a heck of a career for himself in the making. Known as one of the fastest skaters in the NCAA, Brown tallied 84 points during his short-lived college career. After winning the national championship, Brown found himself on the ice in the NHL, skating for the Tampa Bay Lightening.
Mike Connolly
Mike Connolly came to the University of Minnesota Duluth from Canada, where he skated in the AJHL for the Camrose Kodiaks. During his two years with the Kodiaks, Connolly put together quite the career; scoring 114 points in regular season match-ups. During his time with the Dogs, he helped UMD earn wins from his freshman year, where he scored 42 points, his sophomore year, where he scored 40 points, and his final and junior year, where he scored 54 points and helped the Dogs win a national championship. Now, Connolly is with the Colorado Avalanche but skating mostly with the Lake Erie Monsters.
Justin Fontaine
Justin Fontaine joined the Bulldogs after a few successful seasons in the AJHL with the Bonnyville Pontiacs. In his first complete season as a Pontiac, Fontaine scored 81 points in 50 games, followed by 71 points in 52 games the following year. Fontaine joined the UMD Bulldogs for the 2007-08 season and went right to work. After a slower freshman year with 12 points, Fontaine adjusted by scoring 48 points in his sophomore year, 55 points in his junior year, and finally 56 points in his senior season, which was the year the Bulldogs won the national championship as well. Fontaine can be found in Houston now, soon to be in Iowa, with the Houston Aeros. With such a bright and successful future on hand, Minnesota fans can look to see Fontaine wearing a Wild jersey in the future.
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