UMD Men’s Hockey to Open Up NCHC Tournament Play at Arizona State

In their most recent series against Arizona State in February, UMD won one game 3 to 2 and tied the other, 3-3.

DULUTH, Minn.- The UMD men’s hockey team will open up NCHC tournament play when they pay the 12th ranked Arizona State Sun Devils a visit this upcoming weekend.

A team that the Bulldogs played very close in the regular season. Four meetings that were determined by two goals or less.

In their most recent series in February, UMD won one game 3 to 2 and tied the other against Arizona State, 3 to 3.

Head Coach Scott Sandelin detailed just how wide open the chase for the NCHC title is this season.

“I keep going back, there’s six teams in our league that are in the same boat that we are. Six out of the eight, that’s very rare this time of the year for this league. Yes, there’s some team’s closer to being in the tournament but they’re not in, so everyone is in the same boat,” said Sandelin.

“It’s making the play for the team whether you want to make it or not. You know all the cliche sayings. But it comes down to making the play for the team. Doesn’t matter whether you want to make it or not, it has to be for the team,” added forward Dominic James.

A special moment for the Bulldogs last weekend came in Saturday’s contest against St. Cloud State as defenseman Will Francis made his return to the ice after his 3rd bout with cancer.

“Yeah I’ve gone through them three times now. I feel like this one was the easiest where I could just go out there and play. Super thankful to get the opportunity to go out there. Obviously I have a ton of people to thank that helped me get there. I was skating the last two weeks in Philly and then coming back here. I’m honestly now in better shape than I was at the beginning of the season in October,” said Francis.

Francis and the Bulldogs drop the puck against the Sun Devils on Friday at 8 PM.