Sports

Prep Boys Basketball: Moose Lake/Willow River, Deer River Win Section Quarterfinal Matchups

Both the Rebels and Warriors advance to their respective section semifinals next week.

HERMANTOWN, Minn. – Behind 40 points from Alex Watrin, Moose Lake/Willow River overcame a slow start to defeat Virginia 80-42 in the section 7AA quarterfinals. The Rebels advance to face Pequot Lakes, who defeated Greenway 63-50, in Tuesday’s section semifinal set for 7:00 p.m. at UMD. In the other half of the bracket, Esko defeated Pierz 103-53 while Crosby-Ironton beat…

Noah Cates Scores Game-Winner in Overtime to Send UMD Men’s Hockey to NCHC Frozen Faceoff Semifinals

Cates finished with two goals while Dominic James and Tanner Laderoute each scored once to help the Bulldogs sweep St. Cloud State in the best-of-three NCHC quarterfinal series.

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Noah Cates second goal of the game came at the right time, midway through overtime to give the Minnesota Duluth men’s hockey team the 4-3 win over St. Cloud State to sweep the best-of-three NCHC quarterfinal series. Down 2-0 in the third, UMD scored two quick goals from Cates and Dominic James. Tanner Laderoute then tied…

UMD Men’s Basketball’s Season Comes to an End in Opening Round of NCAA Tournament

The Bulldogs finish the year with a 25-6 overall record. 

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Minnesota Duluth men’s basketball team’s historic season came to an end on Saturday afternoon, as Washburn pulled away late to get the 83-73 win in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Drew Blair led the way with 20 points and eight rebounds while Joshua Brown finished with 19 points. This was UMD’s first NCAA…

Hermantown Boys Hockey Wins Fourth-Ever Class A State Championship

The Hawks win their first state title since 2017 behind two goals from junior forward Zam Plante.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Junior forward Zam Plante scored twice in the second period as the Hermantown boys hockey team defeated Warroad 3-2 Saturday afternoon to win the Class A state championship game at the Xcel Energy Center. The state title is the fourth in program history and the first in the head coaching career of Patrick Andrews. Categories: High…

Mountain Iron-Buhl, Grand Rapids Learn Draws for State Girls Basketball Tournaments

The Rangers are the No. 1 seed in Class A and will face Minneota in the quarterfinals on March 17, while Grand Rapids is unseeded in Class AAA and will face No. 2 seed St. Paul Como Park on March 16.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – State girls basketball tournament brackets have been released as the action gets started next week, and two Northland teams learned their assignments. Mountain Iron-Buhl, who defeated Cromwell-Wright 63-26 to win the section 7A title, earned the No. 1 seed in Class A for its 11th trip to state in the past 12 years. The Rangers (27-3) will…

Bender’s Hat Trick Helps UMD Men’s Hockey Win Game One in NCHC Quarterfinals

Bender would score the fourth-ever hat trick in NCHC tournament history.

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Cloquet native Koby Bender scored a natural hat trick in the second period as the UMD men’s hockey team knocked off St. Cloud State 5-2 Friday night in Game 1 of the NCHC quarterfinals. The Bulldogs will look to sweep the series Saturday night in St. Cloud. Categories: College, Friday Night Frenzy, Sports, University of Minnesota…

Winning Mentality Key for Duluth East Boys Basketball in Section Semi-Finals

The Greyhounds move on to face top-seeded Andover who won the only regular season meeting in double overtime.

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth East boys basketball team got the two-point win over Blaine Thursday night to advance to the Section 7AAAA semifinals. Although the Greyhounds made it to state last season, this year’s squad looks much different so grinding out a win like that on Thursday is beneficial moving forward. “It kind of lets us know what we’re…

Prep Boys Basketball: Hermantown, Cloquet Advance to Section Semi-Finals

The Hawks move on to face North Branch while the Lumberjacks take on Hibbing in the section semi-finals.

HERMANTOWN, Minn. – In the Section 7AAA boys basketball quarterfinals, Hermantown defeated Duluth Denfeld 91-64 and Cloquet hangs on to beat Grand Rapids 50-47. The Hawks move on to face North Branch while the Lumberjacks take on Hibbing in the section semi-finals. Categories: Friday Night Frenzy, High School, Sports

Mountain Iron-Buhl Girls Basketball Cruises Past Cromwell-Wright to Capture Section 7A Title

The win sends the Rangers to their 11th trip to state in the past 12 seasons.

DULUTH, Minn. – The Mountain Iron-Buhl girls basketball team started fast and never looked back, cruising past Cromwell-Wright 63-26 to capture the section 7A title on Friday night at Romano Gym. Jordan Zubich led the way with 23 points while Sage Ganyo had 14 points and Ava Butler chipped in with 10 points. This gives the Rangers their 11th trip…

Cloquet’s Conner Barney, Izzy Burley Sign National Letters of Intent

Barney will be playing basketball at the collegiate level, while Burley will compete in archery.

CLOQUET, Minn. – Friday morning, a pair of Cloquet student-athletes put pen to paper on their college commitments. Conner Barney signed his National Letter of Intent to play basketball at Central Lakes College. Barney was a transfer to the Lumberjacks where he recently scored over 2,000 career points. He credits his family and new teammates to helping him get to…

UMD Women’s Hockey Set to Face Minnesota in NCAA Regional Finals

Puck drop Saturday at Ridder Arena is set for 2:00 p.m. 

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The UMD women’s hockey team recorded a shutout win over Harvard on Thursday night in the NCAA Regional semifinals. The Bulldogs will now face Minnesota with a trip to the Frozen Four on the line. The team says their performance Thursday night gives them confidence going into Saturday. “It’s a fun place to play at and it’s…

Hermantown Boys Hockey Rolls Past Alexandria to Advance to State Title Game

Seven different Hawks scored in the game as they get set to face Warroad in the Class A state championship game. Puck drop is set for 12 p.m.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Hermantown boys hockey team continued their dominance at the state tournament as they defeated Alexandria 7-1 Friday afternoon in the state semi-finals at the Xcel Energy Center. Seven different Hawks scored in the game as they get set to face Warroad in the Class A state championship game. Puck drop is set for 12 p.m….

Late Rally Falls Short for UMD Women’s Basketball Team as Season Ends in NCAA Regional Quarterfinals

The Bulldogs finish their season with a 24-5 overall record.

HAYS, Kansas – In the first round of the NCAA regional playoffs, the UMD women’s basketball team could not get past Nebraska-Kearney as the Lopers defeated the Bulldogs 77-70 to knock out UMD for the second straight season. The Bulldogs finish their season with a 24-5 overall record. Categories: College, Sports, University of Minnesota – Duluth

Grand Rapids Girls Basketball Wins Second Straight Section 7AAA Championship

Sophomore Jessika Lofstrom and junior Taryn Hamling combined to score 36 points as the Thunderhawks advance to the Class AAA tournament.

HERMANTOWN, Minn. – For the second straight season, the Grand Rapids girls basketball team captured the Section 7AAA championship, taking down Cloquet 51-39 Thursday night. Sophomore Jessika Lofstrom and junior Taryn Hamling combined to score 36 points as the Thunderhawks advance to the Class AAA tournament. Categories: High School, Sports

Hughes’ Hat Trick, Soderberg’s Shutout Sends UMD Women’s Hockey to NCAA Regional Finals

The Bulldogs now move on to face rivals Minnesota in the regional championship game. Puck drop is set for 2 p.m. on Saturday.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Senior center Gabbie Hughes scored her first career hat trick and senior goaltender Emma Soderberg recorded a 27-save shutout as the UMD women’s hockey team defeated Harvard 4-0 Thursday night in the NCAA regional semi-finals at Ridder Arena. The Bulldogs now move on to face rivals Minnesota in the regional championship game. Puck drop is set for…

UMD Men’s Basketball Aiming for First-Ever NCAA Tournament Win

Tip-off Saturday between the Bulldogs and Washburn is set for 2:30 p.m. at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls.

DULUTH, Minn. – For the UMD men’s basketball team, this season has been all about proving people wrong. But now that they’re in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2003, doubters are turning into believers. On paper, the roster is very young with just one true senior. But the sophomores and juniors have played major minutes in their…

Duluth Denfeld’s McClure Twins Sign with MJHL’s Winkler Flyers

The McClure twins will head north this upcoming summer as the MJHL season will begin in late August.

DULUTH, Minn. – This week, Duluth Denfeld’s Cooper and Connor McClure will continue their hockey careers together as both signed with the Winkler Flyers of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. Cooper wrapped up his prep career with 83 points, while Connor finished with 130 points. “For a junior team to reach out to you with calls and zoom calls, not…

UW-Superior’s Coltyn Bates, Troy MacTavish, Jordan Martin Sign with SPHL’s Birmingham Bulls

The group was part of a major turnaround for the Yellowjackets' program, which included a WIAC championship in 2021.

SUPERIOR, Wis. – A trio of UW-Superior men’s hockey players will continue their playing careers down south. Forwards Coltyn Bates, Troy MacTavish and Jordan Martin have signed with the Birmingham Bulls of the Southern Professional Hockey League. The group was part of a major turnaround for the Yellowjackets’ program, which included a WIAC championship in 2021. MacTavish and Martin have…

Prep Girls Basketball: MIB, Cromwell Advance to 7A Title Game; Proctor, Esko Fall in 7AA Semi-Finals

The Rangers will face the Cardinals Friday night at 5 p.m. in the Section 7A championship game at Romano Gym.

DULUTH, Minn. – In the Section 7A girls basketball semi-finals, Mountain Iron-Buhl rolled past Chisholm 90-28 and Cromwell-Wright defeated Ely 52-45. The Rangers will face the Cardinals Friday night at 5 p.m. in the Section 7A championship game at Romano Gym. In Section 7AA, Proctor fell to Pequot Lakes 57-45 and Esko couldn’t rally past Pierz 4842. Categories: High School,…

Plante Powers Hermantown Boys Hockey Past New Prague in State Quarterfinals

The Hawks would score four goals in the first period to get the win over the Trojans.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Junior forward Zam Plante scored two goals as the Hermantown boys hockey team defeated New Prague 5-1 Wednesday night in the Class A state quarterfinals at the Xcel Energy Center. The Hawks move on to the state semi-finals, which will take place Friday afternoon at 1 p.m. Categories: High School, Sports

UMD Men’s Hockey Preparing for First NCHC Quarterfinals Road Trip Since 2015

Puck drop Friday night is set for 7 p.m. at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center.

DULUTH, Minn. – At this point, the UMD and St. Cloud State men’s hockey teams might be getting sick of seeing each other so much. We spoke with the players Wednesday and they agreed with that sentiment. “I think we’ve played these guys so much lately, you know what you’re gonna get out of one another. Just like our game’s…

Rematch Against Nebraska-Kearney Awaits UMD Women’s Basketball Team at Regionals

Tip-off between the Bulldogs and the Lopers is set for Friday at noon on the campus of Fort Hays State in Kansas.

DULUTH, Minn. – This week, the UMD women’s basketball team is getting set for its fourth straight trip to the NCAA tournament. For the upperclassmen on the roster, it’s become the standard for the team, so the week of practice isn’t as tense as it would’ve been in years past. “I think now, it kind of is that “business as…

Grand Rapids/Greenway’s Ryleigh Sherlock Recovers From Skating Accident to Score Game-Winning Goal

Sherlock and the Lightning now get set for the state tournament which will take place March 18th in Moorhead.

GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. – You hear it all the time that hockey players are just built differently. And that sentiment rang loud and clear at a recent youth hockey tournament. Two weeks ago, ninth-grader Ryleigh Sherlock was playing with the Grand Rapids/Greenway 15U team when she fell down on the ice and accidentally cut her wrist with her own skate….

COVID-Shortened 2021 Season Fuels Latest Run to the State Tournament for Hermantown Hockey Team

Puck drop Wednesday night against New Prague is set for 6 p.m. at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

HERMANTOWN, Minn. – If you show up to a Hermantown hockey practice, you’ll hear one phrase said a lot: control what you can control. That mantra became even more prevalent after how last season ended for the Hawks, which has added fuel to the fire for their latest run to the Class A state tournament. Last season, just two days…

Harvard Awaits UMD Women’s Hockey Team in Regional Semi-Finals

The Bulldogs battled the Crimson at the start of the new year, picking up two big road wins over one of the top teams in the ECAC.

DULUTH, Minn. – The UMD women’s hockey team is getting set for their regional semi-final game against Harvard. The Bulldogs battled the Crimson at the start of the new year, picking up two big road wins over one of the top teams in the ECAC. “It was good games. I remember it was high-score games, too. We scored a lot…

Esko Girls Basketball Advance to Section 7AA Semi-Finals

The Eskomos move on to face Pierz in the Section 7AA semi-finals Wednesday night.

HERMANTOWN, Minn. – Senior guard Jayden Karppinen continued her hot streak in the playoffs with a team-high 24 points as the Esko girls basketball team defeated Virginia 47-43 Monday night at Hermantown High School. The Eskomos move on to face Pierz in the Section 7AA semi-finals Wednesday night. Categories: High School, Sports

Prep Boys Basketball: Northwestern, Superior Fall in Regional Finals

Seasons come to an end in the regional finals for the Tigers and Spartans.

MAPLE, Wis. – In the WIAA Division 3 regional finals, it was Baldwin-Woodville getting the road win over Northwestern 82-72 Monday night. In the Division 1 regional final, Appleton East made some big baskets late as they held on to beat Superior 64-60. Categories: High School, Sports

East’s Grant Wodny Becomes First Duluth Prep Boys Swimming State Champion in 60 Years

The junior won both the 200- and 500-yard freestyles at the Class AA meet. In both races, he would come from behind and break his own school records.

DULUTH, Minn. – This past weekend, the MSHSL state championships took place for prep boys swimming and a local swimmer made history in the pool. Duluth East’s Grant Wodny won both the 200- and 500-yard freestyles at the Class AA meet. In both races, he would come from behind and break his own school records. In fact, Wodny became the…

Proctor Girls Basketball Set to Battle Top Seed Pequot Lakes in Section Semi-Finals

Tip-off between the Rails and the Patriots is set for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday night at Hermantown High School.

PROCTOR, Minn. – This past weekend, the Proctor girls basketball team picked up a big win over Duluth Marshall in the Section 7AA quarterfinals. Now the Rails move one game away from the title game, and standing in their way is top seed Pequot Lakes, who beat Proctor in the regular season just one month ago. “They’re really good at…

Northwestern’s Greg Ohman Commits to Minnesota Morris Football

This past season, Ohman rushed for nearly 700 yards and 11 touchdowns, helping the Tigers win another Heart O' North conference title.

MAPLE, Wis. – Northwestern’s Greg Ohman has committed to joining the Minnesota Morris football team. This past season, Ohman rushed for nearly 700 yards and 11 touchdowns, helping the Tigers win another Heart O’ North conference title. He was also an all-state honorable mention at the fullback position. Categories: College, High School, Sports

Former UMD Defenseman Brenden Kotyk Named Interim Head Coach of South Carolina Stingrays

Monday morning, the team fired head coach Ryan Blair in the midst of one of the worst seasons in the franchise's history.

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. – Former UMD defenseman Brenden Kotyk has been named interim head coach of the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL. Monday morning, the team fired head coach Ryan Blair in the midst of one of the worst seasons in the franchise’s history. Kotyk joined the Stingrays last season after playing three years of pro hockey, which included…

UMD Women’s Hockey to Head to Minneapolis to Take on Harvard to Open NCAA Tournament

This is the first time the Bulldogs have earned back-to-back NCAA Tournament bids since 2010 and 2011. 

DULUTH, Minn. – After a disappointing loss in the WCHA semifinal on Saturday, the UMD women’s hockey team got some good news on Sunday as they found out they’re officially headed back to the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs are headed back to Minneapolis and will face Harvard in the regional semifinals. Last season, the Bulldogs earned their first NCAA Tournament…

UMD Basketball Teams Learn NCAA Tournament Bids

The UMD women earned the No. 3 seed in the Central Region and will head to Fort Hays State to take on Nebraska-Kearney, while the UMD men earned the No. 2 seed and will head to Augustana to take on Washburn. This will be the first time both teams will play in the NCAA Tournament since 2003. 

DULUTH, Minn. – After strong regular seasons and NSIC championship game appearances, both UMD basketball teams are officially going dance. The UMD women earned an automatic bid after winning back-to-back NSIC Tournament Championships. The Bulldogs earned the No. 3 seed in the Central Region in their fourth straight NCAA Tournament and will face Nebraska-Kearney in the first round at Fort…

Northern Star: Makoi Perich

For this week's segment, we feature an Esko boys basketball player who earlier this season, scored 50 points in a game to set a new school record.

ESKO, Minn. – Whether it’s on the football field or the basketball court, Esko’s Makoi Perich loves to score. “The adrenaline, that’s what I like about it. It comes quite easy to me so I like those clutch moments when you score down the wire, that’s the most fun,” Perich, a sophomore guard for the Eskomos, said. His competitive nature…

UMD Men’s Hockey Talks “Inconsistency” in Regular Season Finale Loss

Because of the head-to-head tiebreaker, St. Cloud State will host UMD for the best-of-three quarterfinal series starting Friday. 

DULUTH, Minn. – Following an overtime win on Friday, the UMD men’s hockey team needed just one point on Saturday to clinch home ice. But St. Cloud State got the 2-0 win, the first regulation win between these two teams this year. They finished tied for fourth in the NCHC standings, but the Huskies won the tiebreaker, sending UMD on…

St. Scholastica’s Sam Eben Ebai Jr., UW-Superior’s Gage Stankiewicz Qualify for NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships

The action gets started on Friday in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. 

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., – A few local athletes have officially qualified for next weekend’s NCAA DIII Indoor Track and Field Championships. St. Scholastica’s Samuel Eben Ebai Jr. is the first sprinter in program history to compete at an NCAA Championship and will race in the 60-meter dash. Esko thrower Gage Stankiewicz will represent UW-Superior in the shot put. He is the…

UMD Men’s Hockey Shut Out by St. Cloud State in Regular Season Finale

With the win, St. Cloud State will host UMD for next week's NCHC best-of-three quarterfinal series. 

DULUTH, Minn. – The Minnesota Duluth men’s hockey team could not find the back of the net on Saturday night as St. Cloud State got the 2-0 win. With the win, the Huskies and Bulldogs tie for fourth in the NCHC, but St. Cloud State wins the tiebreaker and will host UMD for next week’s NCHC quarterfinal series. Ryan Fanti…

Prep Girls Basketball: Proctor, Cromwell-Wright Advance to Section Semifinals

The Rails will face Pequot Lakes in the section 7AA semifinals on Wednesday, while the Cardinals will play Ely in the section 7A semifinals on Wednesday night.

HERMANTOWN, Minn. – Behind 27 points from Payton Rodberg, the Proctor girls basketball team got the 62-48 win over Duluth Marshall in the section 7AA quarterfinals. The Rails move on to face top-seeded Pequot Lakes, who defeated Mesabi East 70-34, Wednesday at 5:30 in Hermantown. In the other half of the bracket, Esko vs. Virginia and Pierz vs. Crosby-Ironton were…

UMD Women’s Hockey Falls to Minnesota in WCHA Final Face-Off Semifinal

The Bulldogs now wait to find out if they receive an NCAA Tournament bid, with the selection show taking place Sunday at 8:00 p.m. 

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The Minnesota Duluth women’s hockey team fell behind early and couldn’t catch back up as top-seeded University of Minnesota got the 5-1 win in the WCHA Final Face-Off semifinal game. Elizabeth Giguere scored the lone goal for the Bulldogs while Jojo Chobak made 34 saves. The Gophers move on to the WCHA Championship game on Sunday afternoon….

Hermantown Boys Hockey Earns Top Seed for Class A State Tournament

The Hawks earn the No. 1 seed in Class A for the second year in a row and will face New Prague in the state quarterfinals on Wednesday at 6:00 p.m.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The boys hockey state brackets have been released and for the second year in a row, Hermantown is the top seed in Class A. The Hawks will face New Prague in the state quarterfinals on Wednesday, March 9, at 6:00 p.m. Hermantown went 26-2 this season, earning the Hawks’ 13th trip to state in the past…

Coaches Corner: Jason Kalin

For this week's segment, we chat with the former head coach of the Superior boys hockey team.

SUPERIOR, Wis. – For this week’s Coaches Corner, we hear from Jason Kalin who announced this week that after 21 seasons, he is stepping down as head coach of the Superior boys hockey team. In his time with the Spartans, they won over 300 games and captured three state championships. Categories: Coaches Corner, Friday Night Frenzy, High School, Sports

Roth’s OT Goal Gives UMD Men’s Hockey Win Over St. Cloud State

Tanner Laderoute also scored for the Bulldogs who will end their regular season Saturday night at home against the Huskies.

DULUTH, Minn. – Kobe Roth would score his second goal of the game in overtime as the UMD men’s hockey team rallied to top St. Cloud State 3-2 Friday night at Amsoil Arena. Tanner Laderoute also scored for the Bulldogs who will end their regular season Saturday night at home against the Huskies. Categories: College, Friday Night Frenzy, Sports, University…

Cloquet Girls Basketball Tops Hermantown to Advance to Section Finals

The Lumberjacks move on to face Grand Rapids, who defeated North Branch 81-51.

CLOQUET, Minn. – In the Section 7AAA semi-finals, Cloquet picked up the win over Hermantown 68-51 Friday night. The Lumberjacks move on to face Grand Rapids, who defeated North Branch 81-51. The section championship game will take place Thursday night in Hermantown. Categories: Friday Night Frenzy, High School, Sports

Esko Girls Basketball Looking to Break Through in Competitive Bracket

The Eskomos will take on Virginia Saturday at 4:00 p.m. in the quarterfinals of the section 7AA tournament at Hermantown High School. 

ESKO, Minn. – We’ve reached the quarterfinals in the section 7AA girls basketball tournament. One of the teams remaining is Esko who knocked off Hinckley-Finlayson on Thursday night behind 34 points from senior Jayden Karppinen. The team says with eight teams remaining, there is no favorite to come out of the section. “Focusing on what we can control and just…

Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum to Release Figurines of John Shuster, Matt Hamilton

The bobbleheads are only available online and will ship out in July.

MILWAUKEE, Wis. – The Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum announced Friday morning that they are releasing limited-edition bobbleheads featuring U.S. Olympic curlers Matt Hamilton and Superior’s John Shuster. Each one comes with a removable gold medal. The bobbleheads are only available online and will ship out in July. Categories: News, News – Latest News, Professional Sports, Sports

UMD’s Matt Anderson Set to Break Program Record for Games Played

Anderson will set the program record for all-time games played with 175, surpassing the record set by Jim Johnson when he suited up for the Bulldogs from 1981 to 1985.

DULUTH, Minn. – This weekend, the UMD men’s hockey team will honor 12 seniors on their roster, which includes some fifth-year seniors, too. And one of them will be making some history Saturday night. According to UMD play-by-play announcer Zach Schneider, defenseman Matt Anderson will set the program record for all-time games played with 175, surpassing the record set by…