DULUTH, Minn. – For this week’s Coaches Corner, we hear from Erik Lofald who is the new head coach of the Duluth Denfeld football team. Lofald takes over for longtime Hunters head coach Frank Huie, who retired after nearly four decades with the program. Categories: Coaches Corner, Friday Night Frenzy, High School, Sports
CLOQUET, Minn. – We are already through one week of fall practices which means we are that much closer to the regular season. And we continue with our high school football previews with a team who came inches away from a trip to the state tourney: Cloquet. The Lumberjacks finished their regular season with just one loss, but fell to…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Northland has always been a hockey factory, always churning out great high school players. But sometimes, the best of the best have to decide between staying in school or playing junior hockey. And Duluth East got a double wammy announcement on Thursday. Greyhounds standouts Logan Anderson and Jacob Jeanette have decided to leave school for the…
DULUTH, Minn. – Early on in fall camps for high school football teams, coaches can get a good idea of who spent their summer in the gym and who spent it on the couch. The same can be said about the Duluth East football team. The Greyhounds are wrapping up their first week of fall camp and Thursday was just…
DULUTH, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Duluth has announced a two-year contract extension for head football coach Curt Wiese. The deal will keep him on the sidelines through the 2022–2023 season. Wiese is in his 12th year with the UMD football program and seventh as the head coach. In that time, he has led the Bulldogs to a 63–12…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Lester Park Golf Course hosted the Minnesota Junior PGA Championship, better known as the “Warrior Cup” Wednesday afternoon. It’s high level competition that features the winners of various events from this season’s junior tour. “I’m probably most proud of just seeing all the kids go on to play at D1, D2 and D3 schools with the…
DULUTH, Minn. – We continue with our high school football previews and catch up with a team that’s looking to wash out the bad taste of 2018 and do much better this upcoming season. The Rails won just two games last season one year after making it to the state tournament. So for the seniors, they’ve got one thing on…
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Former Wisconsin-Superior women’s hockey standout Ashley Birdsall has signed a deal with the Buffalo Beauts of the National Women’s Hockey League. The Duluth native, who is about to complete her ninth year of service with the Minnesota Army National Guard, also spent time with the Minnesota Whitecaps for three seasons before they joined the NWHL. Birdsall had…
BURNSVILLE, Minn. – The NSIC released their preseason coaches poll for women’s soccer Wednesday morning and UMD locks down the #8 spot on the list. Minnesota State-Mankato, who are ranked #25 in the country, were picked to win the conference. The Bulldogs are looking to bounce back after a disappointing 2018 that saw them win just seven matches. Among the…
DULUTH, Minn. – Four months ago, then-CSS athletic director Brian Jamros stepped down from his position after two years with the Saints. And today, CSS announced who will be taking over. Franco Bari will take over effective August 19th. Bari comes from his alma mater St. Lawrence University in New York where he was director of athletics since 2012. He…
HERMANTOWN, Minn. – Hermantown’s Peter Soumis announced on his Twitter account Monday that he has committed to playing college basketball at UMD. The Hawks point guard averaged just over 19 points per game during his junior year last season, helping Hermantown finish with a 16–10 record, including 7–3 within Section 7AAA. Two years ago as a sophomore, Soumis scored 15…
OSHKOSH, Wisc. – This past weekend, the Wisconsin GLO defeated the three-time reigning GWBA champions the Flint Monarchs 80–78, thanks in large part to a former Northland basketball star. Superior native Jessica Lindstrom finished with 11 points, 15 rebounds and three steals to take home Finals MVP honors. “It was a team effort at the end of the day and…
DULUTH, Minn. – The UMD football team held their first official practice for the upcoming fall season Monday at Malosky Stadium. And coming off an undefeated regular season, the Bulldogs are extra hype for 2019. “It couldn’t have come sooner. We busted our butts all summer and I know the guys were itching to get our here. I was itching…
BURNSVILLE, Minn. – The UMD volleyball team is getting high praise from the NSIC. The Bulldogs are tied for second in the preseason coaches poll. UMD shares the #2 spot with Concordia St.-Paul, while Northern State comes in at the top spot. Emily Balts was named to the list of NSIC Players to Watch for the 2019 season which will…
HINCKLEY, Minn. – It was a bittersweet night for Duluth native Al Sands who settled for a majority draw in his boxing match against DeShon Webster Friday night at the Grand Casino. Two of the three judges scored the match a draw, while the third gave Sands the edge, rendering the rare decision of majority draw, the first career draw…
DULUTH, Minn. – For this week’s Coaches Corner, we spoke with former Cloquet-Esko-Carlton and UMD hockey star and current Boston Bruins forward Karson Kuhlman. The Esko native talked about his last year of playing hockey that saw him win an NCAA championship with the Bulldogs, as well as score a goal for the Bruins in the Stanley Cup Finals. Categories:…
SOLON SPRINGS, Wisc. – It’s been a year of firsts for the Northwestern bass fishing team. This past summer was their first year as a club program. “Since I had two boys of my own who were in high school, I knew I had the two people that I needed. So I started the process and paperwork and we ended…
MAPLEWOOD, Minn. – The Jungle Boy Boxing Gym had a great showing Thursday night at the Generation Next show at the MYTH Nightclub in Maplewood. Duluth native Jesse Walters won his debut fight via knockout in the second round. And fellow Dulutian Danny Huffman went the distance in his bout, but settled for a draw, which preserved his undefeated record….
MAPLE, Wisc. – The Northwestern football team is wrapping up their first week of practices. And although the team will be loaded with seniors once again, they’ll have big shoes to fill from last year’s squad who finished 11–1, including an undefeated record in the Heart O’ North Conference. “We just learned how our offense and defense needs to be…
DULUTH, Minn. – Nico Lima would drive in two runs in the bottom of the first, but Duluth would get blanked the rest of the way as Waterloo gets the win 4-2 Thursday night at Wade Stadium. Schuyler Hill struck out eight batters in four innings of work as the Huskies will play their home finale Friday night. Categories: Northwoods…
DULUTH, Minn. – Football season is upon us, but don’t forget that soccer action is right around the corner as well. And some of the best local high school players spent this week with some of the best in the college game. The St. Scholastica men’s soccer team held a special high school prep camp this week up at Saints…
DULUTH, Minn. – The 94th annual Northland Golf Invitational will begin Thursday at the Northland Country Club in Duluth. The fun starts with the qualifying round, followed by the first and second round of match play on Friday, leading up to the championship on Sunday afternoon. And after an exciting finish at the Arrowhead Invite two weeks ago, the field…
BURNSVILLE, Minn. – The NSIC preseason football coaches poll was released Wednesday and UMD was picked to win the North Division once again. Since the NSIC began divisional play back in 2008, the Bulldogs have won at least a share of all 11 North Division championships. However, the top overall spot went to Minnesota State-Mankato, who shared the conference title…
CLOQUET, Minn. – The Minnesota Wilderness have announced that assistant coach Jon Vaillancourt has been promoted to head coach of the team. General manager Dave Boitz, who served as head coach this past season, will remain in his role saying in a press release that the team decide “it was best for the organization and our players to have a…
SUPERIOR, Wisc. – High school football is officially back in the state of Wisconsin. Practices kicked off this week across the state including for the boys across the bridge. The Superior football team held their first official practice Tuesday afternoon and will have the next few weeks to get ready before the season starts. Although it was just the first…
SUPERIOR, Wisc. – The University of Wisconsin-Superior Mini-Track Meet began its third week of action Tuesday afternoon. The meet is open to all ages and abilities and includes events like the 100-, 400- and 800-meter dashes, as well as a 5K cross country course. Organizers say it’s a great way to get people outside as the summer season starts to…
DULUTH, Minn. – Later this week, the Duluth Huskies will play their last two home games of the season. It’s also the final two home games for one Huskies superfan, who has been there with the team through the good times and the bad. Wade Stadium is just as much a home for the Huskies as it is for Joe…
DULUTH, Minn. – For this week’s Coaches Corner, we’re talking with local pro boxer Al Sands about his upcoming fight next Friday at the Grand Casino in Hinckley. We also spoke with his trainer Mike McKean about what they learned from Sands’ bouts overseas. Categories: Coaches Corner, Friday Night Frenzy, Professional Sports, Sports
DULUTH, Minn. – This weekend, some of the brightest and best youth girls hockey players will get to learn from some of the best in the game at UMD. The Bulldogs women’s hockey team held their annual summer camp at Amsoil Arena. The girls came from all over the country, including seven different states and a even few from Canada….
EAGAN, Minn. – Vikings training camp is well underway and Duluth native CJ Ham is looking forward to his fourth season in the purple and gold. After being an undrafted free agent and spending most of his rookie season on the practice squad, the Denfeld alum has found himself in a comfortable spot for his fourth year. Ham saw playing…
DULUTH, Minn. – For 18-year-old Jesse Walters, you could say he was born with boxing gloves on his hands. “Basically I was already introduced to it when I was two weeks old. I went to one of Zach’s first fights,” said Walters. “Shortly after he was born, they brought him and said, “Meet little Jesse!” I’m all sweaty coming out…
DULUTH, Minn. – This week, basketballers from across the Northland laced up their shoes and headed to the Ward Wells Fieldhouse at UMD for the annual Starks Academy Basketball Camp. Kids of all ages were put through several drills and scrimmages to continue to build on their fundamental skills of basketball. And of the many things that sets this camp…
DULUTH, Minn. – Max Guzman and Alex Tappen would each hit three-run home runs as the Duluth Huskies knock off La Crosse 11-5 Wednesday night at Wade Stadium. Aaron Greenfield also chipped in with three hits on the night, while Colton Williams pitched six shutout innings, allowing just five hits and striking out four. Huskies will be back at home…
DULUTH, Minn. – This week, a group of local squirt hockey players got the special opportunity to learn from not one, but two former UMD stars who both currently play in the NHL. Hermantown native Neal Pionk and Esko native Karson Kuhlman are teaming up this week for a Bulldogs hockey squirts camp. The idea for this camp was brought…
DULUTH, Minn. – Travis Booth was stellar on the mound, but it was all for naught as the Duluth Huskies drop a close one to La Crosse 2-1 Tuesday night at Wade Stadium. Booth struck out seven batters while allowing four hits in eight innings of work. Matt Hogan knocked in the lone run for the Huskies, who will look…
DULUTH, Minn. – The legion baseball season has come and gone and Lakeview survived their Sub-State 10 tournament. Now they have their eyes on the state tournament. The Tropics are heading back to state for the first time in two years. But these players aren’t strangers to big games as most of them played on the Duluth East team that…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Huskies’ play as of late has reminded a lot of people of last year’s team. One of those people is outfielder Kyle Jacobsen, who has re–joined the Huskies in the second half of the season after playing in 31 games last year. “There’s a little bit of de ja vu there. This team is really…
DULUTH, Minn. – For this week’s Coaches Corner, we hear from Heavy on Wrestling’s Dave Sabick as he previews this weekend’s FortuneBaynia II, taking place at Fortune Bay Casino in Tower, MN. Among those expected to attend are WCW icon Sting, WWE Hall of Famer Booker T and former WWE champion Aberto Del Rio. Categories: Coaches Corner, Friday Night Frenzy,…
DULUTH, Minn. – Despite out-hitting Thunder Bay 9-7, the Duluth Huskies would strand too many runners as they take the home loss against the Border Cats 7-3 Friday night at Wade Stadium. Channy Ortiz and Kyle Jacobsen each had two hits for the Huskies, who will look to bounce back Saturday night as they open a three-game road series against…
DULUTH, Minn. – UMD hockey players from the past and present traded in their sticks and pucks for clubs and golf balls as they took part in the annual alumni golf outing at the Ridgeview Country Club. 75 former Bulldogs showed up to the event for a relaxing day on the links. For former players, it was a chance to…
SUPERIOR, Wisc. – Superior High School announced their 2019 Hall of Fame class which includes former basketball standout Hailey Kontny. She is the second-leading scorer in school history and continued her strong play at the Universtiy of Wisconsin-Superior, winning UMAC Player of the Year honors three years in a row. Kontny now serves on the Spartans coaching staff with her…
DULUTH, Minn. – Alex Tappen would hit a grand slam in the fifth inning as the Duluth Huskies top Thunder Bay 9-7 Thursday night at Wade Stadium. Tappen, Channy Ortiz and Kyle Jacobsen each scored twice for Duluth who will look for the sweep against Thunder Bay Friday night. Categories: Northwoods League, Sports
DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Huskies had a special guest at Wade Stadium Thursday night as legendary pitcher Ila Borders returned to the Northland for the first time in two years. Borders was the first woman ever to earn a collegiate baseball scholarship and went on to sign with the St. Paul Saints in 1997, as well as spending a…
DULUTH, Minn. – The dreams of becoming a St. Scholastica football player began Thursday up at Saints Field as the team held their annual youth football camp. The campers aged five to 13 were put through several drills that focus on skills like ball security and agility. The goal of the camp is to not only teach the fundamentals of…
DULUTH, Minn. – This weekend, the High School Summer Classic returns to Mars Lakeview Arena. Eight teams, including the hosts Duluth Marshall, will take part in the fun and for most teams, it will be their first action since the season ended back in March. “It’s hard to find ice, but we get out here as much as we can…
DULUTH, Minn. – Danny Wapola drove in two runs while Joe Vos and Drew Grindahl each had two hits as Lakeview defeated West Duluth 5-2 in the second round of the Legion baseball playoffs Wednesday night at Wade Stadium. Caden Edwards was stellar on the mound for Lakeview with five strikeouts in five innings of work. The playoffs now shift…
DULUTH, Minn. – We are less than a week away from the annual Starks Academy Basketball Camp and this year, camp director Dyami Starks is bringing two very special guests: the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Minnesota Lynx. The partnership comes from a long-standing relationship between T’Wolves and Lynx Youth Academy director George Ellis and the late Will Starks, the namesake…
DULUTH, Minn. – This week, young golfers from across Minnesota made stops right here in the Northland as part of this year’s Minnesota PGA Junior Tour. 64 golfers ages 10 to 16 hit the links for the two days of competition and all events are 18-hole stroke play. This stop of the tour started on Monday at the Lester Park…
DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth East High School was the place to be this week for the Twin Ports Summer Jam. 14 teams from across the Northland competed at the tournament, including the hosts the Greyhounds boys basketball team. The event featured teams from all different class groups like Cloquet and Northwestern in Wisconsin. Along with summer camps, Duluth East takes…
WINNIPEG, Ontario – The Winnipeg Jets announced this weekend that they have signed Hermantown native Neal Pionk to a two-year deal with an average annual value of three million dollars. The 23-year-old was acquired from the Rangers back on June 17th after scoring 26 points in 73 games in the Big Apple. The former UMD star spent two seasons with…
