ASHLAND, Wis. – Northland College announced Wednesday that Joel Barta has resigned as head coach of the Lumberjacks baseball team. According to a press release, the move was due to personal reasons as Barta wants to spend more time with family. Barta, who was the Lumberjack’s first head coach in program history from 2000 to 2006, returned to the program…
DULUTH, Minn. – So far, two UMD men’s hockey players have left school early to go to the NHL: Scott Perunovich with the St. Louis Blues and Justin Richards with the New York Rangers. Add one more to the list as Hermantown native Dylan Samberg has signed a three-year-deal with the Winnipeg Jets. “I’m very excited. This is something that…
DULUTH, Minn. – UMD offensive line coach Garth Heikkinen has been named to the All-Decade Team by D2Football.com. Back in 2012, the Duluth native became the first Bulldog to win the Gene Upshaw National Division II Lineman of the Year Award and was also chosen to six different All-American teams. His streak of 54 consecutive games started is still a…
PROCTOR, Minn. – Over 200 stadium lights across the state of Minnesota are shining bright this evening in honor of high school students, staff and community members for the “Be The Light Minnesota” social media movement. Among those participating is Egerdahl Field in Proctor, who turned their lights on as a beacon of hope for those who are hoping to…
DULUTH, Minn. – March was National Athletic Trainer Awareness month, shinning a light on how they help student athletes across the country. The St. Scholastica program worked all month-long to showcase what they do, how they’re available for student-athletes, and how they’re daily routines changed once the coronavirus hit. “We have taken for granted so long that sports are always…
DULUTH, Minn. – For this week’s Coaches Corner, we catch up with UMD head football coach Curt Wiese as he announced that spring practices have been cancelled. Among the topics discussed are the team’s plans moving forward as they get ready for the fall and how the coronavirus pandemic has impacted recruiting. Categories: Coaches Corner, College, Friday Night Frenzy, Sports,…
DULUTH, Minn. – After a stellar career at UMD, Brandon Myer now has his eyes on playing professionally. But with everyone in quarantine, it’s making things a little tougher for the Superior native. “The most negative way its impacted me specifically would be the gyms that aren’t open anymore. I guess I hoop out in the driveway. But that’s not…
DULUTH, Minn. – Longtime UMD sports information director Bob Nygaard has been let go from his position. Nygaard is the longest serving member of the UMD athletic staff at 37 years with the Bulldogs where he was in charge of media and public relations. In 2015, he was inducted into the College Sports Information Directors of America Hall of Fame…
DULUTH, Minn. – The College of St. Scholastica announced today that Tim Madsen has stepped down as head coach of the nen’s hockey team. Madsen spent the past two seasons as the Saints’ bench boss, guiding them to a 20-30-2 record, including a top-ten national ranking in his first year and a Harris Cup Playoffs appearance this past season. In…
NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. – In his freshman year, Justin Richards scored a grand total of zero goals. Two years later, he’s become a two-time NCHC Defensive Forward of the Year and now, his career will continue in the pros. Richards has signed an entry-level contract with the New York Rangers. He says the team reached out to him last…
DULUTH, Minn. – UMD defenseman Scott Perunovich was named a Hobey Hat Trick Finalist, along with North Dakota’s Jordan Kawaguchi and Maine’s Jeremy Swayman. The Hibbing native is the ninth Bulldog ever to be named a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award and the first since Jack Connolly back in 2012. Perunovich, who signed a pro deal last week with…
DULUTH, Minn. – It’s spring time and for any other year, that would mean the start of spring football practice for the UMD Bulldogs. But as we’ve learned for the past few weeks, this isn’t any other year. According to head coach Curt Wiese, spring football camp has been cancelled, which includes the annual Red and Maroon Game. Coach Wiese…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Northland Youth Basketball Alliance and Starks Academy are hosting a virtual food drive. Thanks to an anonymous donor, every donation up $650 will be matched and 100% of all donations will go towards feeding community members in need. The donation window will go from Wednesday through April 6th. For information on how you can donate, click…
DULUTH, Minn. – Another major event is taken down by the coronavirus pandemic as Grandma’s Marathon has been cancelled for the first time in 43 years. Longtime runner and Glencoe, Minnesota native Joanna Olson spoke about her initial reaction to the news. “Well I was bummed, of course, training for it. Bummed for not only the runners, the volunteers, the…
TROY, Mich. – UMD’s Scott Sandelin is once again a finalist for the Spencer Penrose Award, which is given to the top coach in Division I men’s hockey. Sandelin is a finalist for the fourth straight year and sixth overall in his career. He won the award back in 2004 and was a runner-up in 2011. The Hibbing native has…
DULUTH, Minn. – Despite the way it ended, the high school basketball season was a pretty good one in the Northland. Lots of wins, lots of points and lots of records broken. Let’s take a look at which players ended the season as the leading scorer at their respective schools: BOYS HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL Pete Sutton, Cook County (1,346 points)…
DULUTH, Minn. – In the last 12 days, the UMD men’s hockey team lost their top defensive duo in Nick Wolff and Scott Perunovich as both signed deals in the pros. But not everyone is leaving as a pair of dynamic forwards will look to run it back next season. UMD Athletics have confirmed that Noah Cates and Nick Swaney…
HIBBING, Minn. – While the spring sports season is still unknown, so is the upcoming AAU, or Amateur Athletic Union, season for high school basketball players. And with the high school basketball season is in the books, many local athletes were looking forward to the upcoming AAU season. “We were going to a lot of cool places. We were going…
HIBBING, Minn. – The continuous spread of COVID-19 has left uncertainty for spring sports and summer programs across the country. While Minnesota is currently under a “Stay at Home” order and team practices aren’t allowed, the Hibbing boys basketball team is getting creative. Sophomore guard Ayden McDonald and his dad, head coach Joel McDonald, decided to start a social media…
SUPERIOR, Wis. – Wisconsin-Superior forward Kaleigh Martinson has been named to the CCM/AHCA Women’s Division III West All-America First Team. The senior captain becomes the 14th All-American in program history. Martinson led the conference in goals with 26 and was second in points with 36. She was also tied for the lead in short-handed goals in all of Division III….
DULUTH, Minn. – For this week’s Coaches Corner, we talk with Nick Garramone who was recently named the new head coach of the Duluth Marshall baseball team. From 2006 to 2013, Garramone was an assistant coach at his alma mater, the University of Wisconsin-Superior. He takes over for Joe Wicklund who stepped down to take the head coaching position at…
SAGINAW, Minn. – Luke Salo is one of the top basketball trainers in the Northland. “I had knee surgery, ACL surgery, miniscus surgery. I had shoulder surgery. I kind of had to find ways to keep the game in my life, other than just playing all the time,” Salo said. He currently trains nearly 50 local players for his program:…
HERMANTOWN, Minn. – Former Hermantown basketball standout Connor Bich announced on twitter Thursday night that he will be joining the St. Scholastica men’s basketball team. He’ll be transferring over from Dakota Wesleyan University. In his junior year, Bich helped the Hawks capture the Section 7AAA championship. He followed that with a senior campaign which saw him average nearly 22 points…
DULUTH, Minn. – Thursday, Northland soccer fans were dealt a tough blow as the NPSL announced the cancellation of the 2020 season, ending the year before it started for Duluth FC. Head coach Sean Morgan, who was getting set for his first year leading the Bluegreens, talked about the disappointing news. “To be honest, a lot of people probably had…
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – It has been quite the week for UMD’s Scott Perunovich. He took home three awards from the NCHC, including Player of the Year. And Friday, he’s made a decision regarding his future hockey career. The St. Louis Blues announced that they have agreed to a two-year, entry-level contract with the Hibbing native. The 21-year-old was drafted…
DULUTH, Minn. – Wednesday, the MSHSL announced that the spring sports season will continue to be postponed as long as schools are closed. Governor Tim Walz pushed his school closure declaration to May 4th and the league continues to be in lockstep with how the state government decides when it’s safe for students to go back to school. League executive…
ST. PAUL, Minn. – UMD junior defenseman Scott Perunovich has been nothing short of spectacular in his time with the Bulldogs. The two-time All-American is one of the best two-way players in the country and Thursday, he added another award to his mantle. Perunovich was named Player of the Year by the NCHC. It is the third major conference award…
DULUTH, Minn. – UMD’s Justin Richards won his second straight Defensive Forward Award from the NCHC Wednesday afternoon. The assistant team captain is the first player to win the award twice, leading the conference with 307 face-off wins. Richards was also the only player to score two short-handed goals in conference play and helped the Bulldogs’ penalty kill finish second…
BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. – Wednesday, the Minnesota State High School League announced that all participation in spring activities will remain suspended. According to a press release, the league says the ruling will stay in place until Governor Tim Walz has lifted his school closure declaration, which was extended until May 4th. The suspension includes training, practices, scrimmages and contests. The…
DULUTH, Minn. – Back in December, St. Scholastica quarterback Zach Edwards received an invite to the FCS Bowl in Florida and played well enough to earn MVP honors. Since then, the St. Paul native has continued to bolster his resume for a shot to play professional football. After training out in New Jersey with former teammate Aaron Olson, Edwards went…
ESKO, Minn. –Â It’s been one week since a majority of businesses have shut down due to COVID-19, but many state parks have remained open, giving people a chance to get outside. “The sun is shining and social distancing is a little boring, so we thought we’d make it interesting,” Kate Spaulding, who was visiting Jay Cooke with her kids,…
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – UMD’s Brandon Myer earned All-American status from the National Association of Basketball Coaches Tuesday afternoon. The Superior native is the eighth player in program history to earn the distinction and the first since Jason Schneeweis in 2003. Myer led the Bulldogs to their best season in over 20 years while being named NSIC Player of the…
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The UMD men’s hockey team earned two awards from the NCHC as junior Scott Perunovich was named Offensive Defenseman of the Year and senior Hunter Shepard earned Goaltender of the Year honors for the second straight season. Perunovich became the first defenseman in league history to lead in scoring in conference games. The Hibbing native is…
DULUTH, Minn. – The impact of the coronavirus has been wide-ranging in the world of sports, including teams, players, schools, coaches and even in the media. But here’s another group that is hurting bad: referees, specifically umpires. Schedules have been turned upside-down as local umpires are waiting on the MSHSL’s decision on the fate of the high school spring sports…
BOULDER, Colo. – Duluth native Kara Goucher received a special package this past weekend: a silver medal. Back in 2007, Goucher finished in third place in the 10K run at the World Championships in Osaka, Japan. Ten years later, a doping investigation disqualified the second place finisher. And now, three years after that decision, Goucher finally gets her silver medal….
ATLANTA, Ga. – Monday, UMD forward Brooke Olson was named an All-American by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. The sophomore is just the fifth Bulldog in program history to earn All-American status since 1988. The distinction is given to ten players in all of Division II. Olson had a stellar second season with UMD, taking home NSIC Player of the…
CROMWELL, Minn. – Cromwell-Wright girls basketball head coach Jeff Gronner was named Class A head coach of the year, while Dave Foster was named Class A assistant coach of the year. The Duo led the Cardinals to a 29-2 record, the second seed in the tournament, and a state quarterfinal win. Gronner and Foster also coach the Cromwell-Wright football team…
DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth Marshall girls basketball head coach C.J. Osuchukwu has been named Class AA state coach of the year. After falling in the section finals last season, Osuchukwu led the Hilltoppers to the state tournament for the first time in 20 years after winning the section 7AA title. The Hilltoppers won their state quarterfinal game for their first…
DULUTH, Minn. – Grandma’s Marathon announced this weekend that they have postponed the annual Fitger’s 5K Run and Walk due to coronavirus concerns. The event was originally scheduled for April 28 but will now take place on Sept. 12. You can register online through Sept. 10 for $35 for adults and $15 for children ages 6-14. As of now, Grandma’s…
DULUTH, Minn. – “I was really looking forward to this season. This offseason I had a little injury, so I was really, really looking forward to this one,” Duluth East junior catcher/pitcher Ethan Cole said. For most spring athletes, junior year is when you do most of your recruiting for college. With the MSHSL saying no practices or games until…
DULUTH, Minn. – For this week’s Coaches Corner, we spoke with Jasen Wise who was named the new head coach of the Duluth Marshall boys hockey team. Wise has over 20 years of college coaching experience, with his latest stop coming at Concordia University in Wisconsin. He is a graduate of International Falls High School and after spending two years…
CROMWELL, Minn. – Like most teams across the country, the Cromwell-Wright girls basketball team saw its season come to an abrupt end last week during the state tournament. But now, with the spring sports season still a possibility, senior Shaily Hakamaki is hoping for a happier ending to her high school career. “We came back to the hotel and got…
SUPERIOR, Wis. – Last summer, former Superior basketball star Jessica Lindstrom continued her pro career as she signed with a team in Belgium. But last month, the corona virus made its way into the country, forcing Lindstrom to start planning a way to get back home. “It was really prominent when Italy got really bad because they’re so close to…
DULUTH, Minn. – Earlier this week, St. Scholastica became the latest school to shut down their spring sports season, in accordance to a ruling from the UMAC. Athletic director Franco Bari talked about how he reacted when the NCAA cancelled all athletic activities. “As soon as I heard that announcement, my heart absolutely broke for our student-athletes, epecially our spring…
HERMANTOWN, Minn. – Back in December, Mike Zagelmayer stepped down as head coach of the Hermantown baseball team. And this week, the Hawks announced who is taking his spot. Billy Tafs will take over as the new head coach of the Hawks baseball team. He graduated from Hermantown back in 2003 and would go on to play his college ball…
STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Board of Control voted to pause spring sports until further notice. That’s according to Travis Wilson of WisSports.net. He added that nothing is cancelled and that a timeline would be dependent on what the state says about school resuming. In a press release, the WIAA Board decided to postpone any decision…
DULUTH, Minn. – The local basketball community has come together to support a local youth basketball player. Seventh-grader Jay Nick recently had surgery down in St. Paul for a brain tumor. His family set up a GoFundMe page that has already raised well over $40,000. Duluth East boys basketball coach Rhett McDonald says that illustrates how tightly-knit Northland basketball programs…
ESKO, Minn. – While high school teams are prohibited from holding organized practices the Esko softball team is putting in work in a creative way. “My dad brought it to my attention this morning. He was like ‘Well do you want to hit?’ And I’m like ‘Where am I supposed to do that?’ He was like ‘Well we can set…
SUPERIOR, Wis. – This week, the University of Wisconsin-Superior had to make the tough decision and cancel their entire spring sports season. Athletic Director Nick Bursik spoke about making the announcement to the Yellowjackets community. “It’s been tough to navigate. We certainly know these decisions impact a lot of student-athletes and a lot of opportunities, some of which may never…
DULUTH, Minn. – Three weeks ago, Missouri freshman pitcher and Duluth native Ben Pedersen extended his scoreless innings streak to 5.1 with a clean three outs in relief. What the former Duluth Marshall star didn’t know was that would be his final inning of work for his freshman year due to the corona virus pandemic. “Our team was on a…
