DULUTH, Minn. – This past weekend, UMD standout Nick Swaney signed his first pro contract to join the Minnesota Wild. The Lakeville native says even with the choice of an extra year of eligibility, he felt that this was the right time to begin his professional career. “I think everyone at Duluth, too, knew that if I had the chance…
ST. PAUL, Minn. – UMD men’s hockey senior forward Nick Swaney has signed a one-year, entry-level contract with the Minnesota Wild, the organization announced on Sunday. Swaney will report to the Iowa Wild of the AHL on an amateur tryout for the remainder of the season with his entry-level contract starting in the 2021-22 season. The alternate captain finished his…
DULUTH, Minn. – For this week’s Coaches Corner, we spoke with Duluth FC head coach Sean Morgan as the Bluegreens begin building excitement for the upcoming season this May. Categories: Coaches Corner, Friday Night Frenzy, Professional Sports, Sports
DULUTH, Minn. – Wednesday, Duluth FC announced some player signings to begin to build excitement for the upcoming season. The Bluegreens did not get to play at all last year due to the pandemic. But now that the roster almost set and the schedule is finalized, the team is anxious is finally get back on the pitch. “There was always…
DULUTH, Minn. – One of the most important aspects of any business is growth. Jungle Gym is in the business of boxing and now they’ve expanded into downtown Duluth. The new gym is now located on West First Street and features among other things, a much larger training space for its members. Owner Zach Walters says he always wanted to…
HAYWARD, Wis. – This week, the Hayward United soccer team announced that they are branching off as a separate team and becoming Hayward Wolfpack FC, which includes a new logo. Since its inception in 2017, the team has operated as part of the Hayward United Soccer Club youth organization. The Wolfpack will continue to play in the Wisconsin Primary Amateur…
DULUTH, Minn. – This week, Duluth FC released their schedule for the upcoming season. The Bluegreens will play 12 games, starting with their home opener May 22nd against Joy Athletic Club. They will wrap up their season at Public Schools Stadium as well against Sioux Falls on July 17th. Click here for the full schedule. Duluth FC did not play…
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Eveleth native and U.S. Hockey Hall of Famer John Mayasich has been granted the State of Hockey Legacy Award from the Minnesota Wild. Mayasich led the Golden Bears to four straight state championships, going undefeated in each year. He went on to play with the minnesota golden gophers, becoming the program’s all time leader in goals…
DULUTH, Minn. – Sunday’s Super Bowl was historic for many reasons. One of the biggest was Sarah Thomas, who became the first female to officiate a Super Bowl game. UMD head softball coach Jen Walter has officiated in softball, volleyball and basketball games for several years and says she was excited to see Thomas break another glass ceiling for women…
DULUTH, Minn. – Registration opens on Monday for the Minnesota Wild’s “Little Wild Learn to Play” youth program. The Duluth Heritage Center will host four days of activities in the month of April for boys and girls ages five to nine. The program is intended for kids who have not participated in organized youth hockey programs. For more information, click…
SUPERIOR, Wis. – Superior native Mike Carlson has had a superb start to his season in the ACB League, widely considered the best basketball league outside of the NBA. In his debut game, the Duluth Marshall alum hit the game winning three-pointer to give his team their first victory of the season. “I’ve done that in my backyard a couple…
DULUTH, Minn. – Former UMD captain and two-time national champion Parker Mackay announced Tuesday that he retiring from professional hockey after two years. The 2019 Frozen Four’s Most Outstanding Player cited personal health concerns for the decision. After leading the bulldogs to their second straight national championship, The Irma, Alberta native signed with the Texas Stars. Mackay holds the record…
DULUTH, Minn. – Former St. Scholastica and UMD defenseman Brenden Kotyk announced on his Twitter on Friday afternoon his retirement from professional hockey. Kotyk spent the past three years playing in the ECHL with both Toledo and Greenville. He started his pro career with Hartford in the AHL in 2017, and totaled 52 points throughout his pro career. Kotyk spent…
DULUTH, Minn. – Last month, Betty Anderson celebrated her 90th birthday. As a die-hard Packers fan, she always wanted to go to Lambeau Field. But due to the pandemic, fans aren’t allowed to attend Packers game. So her grand-daughter, McKenzie Thomas, came up with the next best thing. “I wanted to reach out to all the Packers players, just to…
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Florida Everblades of the ECHL have traded UMD alum Jared Thomas to the Indy Fuel. It was a short stint with the Everblades for Thomas, who signed with the team on September 20th. The Hermantown native joins fellow Bulldog Peter Krieger, who signed with the Fuel last Friday. Categories: Professional Sports, Sports, University of Minnesota –…
BARNUM, Minn. – Back on August 8th, Minneapolis boxers Jamal “Shango” James and David Morrell Jr. each captured world championship titles on national television. They both trained at the Circle of Discipline Gym in Barnum and Tuesday, they returned to give thanks to the Barnum and Moose Lake communities. James won the WBA interim welterweight crown with a unanimous decision…
DULUTH, Minn. – Former UMD forward Peter Krieger has signed a contract with the Indy Fuel, the ECHL affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks, for the upcoming season. Krieger spent the past season in Sweden with Vasterviks IK where he recorded 12 goals and 10 assists in 52 games. Krieger spent two seasons with the Bulldogs, scoring 20 goals and recording…
BOSTON, Mass. – The Boston Bruins announced Tuesday that have re-signed former UMD men’s hockey captain Karson Kuhlman to a two-year contract. The 25-year-old appeared in 25 games last season, recording one goal and five assists. The Esko native also skated in five playoff games for Boston in the NHL’s Toronto bubble. Kuhlman originally signed with the Bruins back in…
DULUTH, Minn. – It’s been a busy weekend for local NHL players and now the Winnipeg Jets are slowly becoming the Duluth Jets. Duluth natives and former Duluth East Greyhounds Dominic Toninato and Derek Forbort have signed to one-year contracts with the Jets. The former Bulldog forward Toninato has spent time in the pros with both the Colorado Avalanche and…
DULUTH, Minn. – NHL free agency is in full swing and now two former UMD Bulldogs are on the move. The Anaheim Ducks have signed Duluth native and former UMD defenseman Andy Welinski to a one-year $750,000 contract, while the New Jersey Devils traded former UMD forward Joey Anderson to the Toronto Maple Leafs for forward Andreas Johnsson. Welinski was…
HERMANTOWN, Minn. – With the 109th pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, the Montreal Canadiens selected former Hermantown hockey star and current UMD men’s hockey freshman Blake Biondi. Biondi wrapped a stellar career with the Hawks, being named Mr. Minnesota Hockey this past season. He will join another UMD teammate, freshman Jack Smith, who was also drafted by the Canadiens….
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Since being drafted to the NHL in 2005, Matt Niskanen has made a name for himself as a physical, two-way defender. But after 13 years of slamming opponents into the boards, the Virginia native is ready to call it a career. According to multiple sources, Niskanen has informed the Philadelphia Flyers and his teammates that he retiring…
SUPERIOR, Wis. – Former UWS men’s basketball forward Vid Milenkovic will be starting his professional career in Birsfelden, Switzerland for Starwings Basketball. Milenkovic, who’s from Switzerland, had a breakout year last season for the Yellowjackets. He missed two seasons due to injury but saved his best for last, ending with being named to the All-UMAC First-Team. Milenkovic led the team…
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Former UMD Bulldog and current Proctor/Hermantown girls hockey coach Emma Stauber has re-signed with the Minnesota Whitecaps. The 27-year-old defender will still keep her position as the bench boss for the Mirage. Whitecaps general manager and co-head coach Jack Brodt says Stauber is one of the team’s key defenders as an excellent puck-mover with speed and…
EAGAN, Minn. – Former UMD men’s hockey captain Nick Wolff has signed with Hungarian pro hockey team DVTK Polar Bears. The story was first reported by the Star Tribune. The plan is for Wolff to stay there for a few months as he awaits more details on the NHL’s next season. Back in march, the Eagan native signed with the…
ESTERO, Fla. – Former UMD men’s hockey standout Jared Thomas has signed with the Florida Everblades of the ECHL. The Hermantown native spent this past season with the Tulsa Oilers, where he tallied 31 points in 50 games. Thomas is entering his fourth season of playing pro hockey after helping the Bulldogs win their second-ever national title back in 2018….
DULUTH, Minn. – Port Wing native and Dallas Wings forward Megan Gustafson returned home Monday after spending the past few months in the WNBA bubble down in Florida. The South Shore High School alum appeared in nine games for the Dallas Wings, who missed out on advancing to the WNBA playoffs. The 23-year-old says although the season didn’t go as…
DULUTH, Minn. – Training methods for hockey have come a long way in the past few decades. But now, a new facility has a device that is sure to be a game-changer for any and all hockey players. The Northern Elite Training Facility, which opened just a few weeks ago, has the Northland’s first-ever SkateMill, which is a treadmill for…
DULUTH, Minn. – This week, professional sports has been turned upside-down as teams across the country are not playing games in response to the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin. We spoke with Duluth native Dyami Starks about his reaction to the news and how the “uncomfortable discussion” about racial injustice needs to take place. Categories: Professional Sports,…
DULUTH, Minn. – The pandemic has led many people to take up new hobbies to fill their time. Things like knitting. yoga and even mixed martial arts. The Jungle Boy Boxing gym is now offering classes for those who want to learn MMA. The instructors include longtime UMD and Superior wrestling coach Bill Gedde and Air Force veteran Adam Linn,…
DULUTH, Minn. – Former UMD men’s hockey captain and 2019 Frozen Four MVP Parker Mackay is headed to Austria and has signed with the Moser Medical Graz99ers. After leading the Bulldogs to back-to-back national championships, Mackay signed with the Texas Stars, the Dallas Stars’ AHL affiliate, where he scored two goals in 28 games. The Graz99ers play in the Austrian…
EAGAN, Minn. – Everyone loves a great underdog. And the Northland has one of their own in Minnesota Vikings fullback CJ Ham. The Denfeld alum is once again suiting up for another season with the purple and gold, and is an important piece of the team’s rushing attack. Ham says his mindset hasn’t changed since his rookie year, when he…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Minnesota Mile and Fitger’s 5K races will have an in-person option for this year’s races. This comes after the success of the Park Point 5-Miler. The races will have block segments with 10 waves in each block. The Minnesota Mile will take place on Friday, September 11th, while the Fitger’s 5K, which was originally scheduled back…
SUPERIOR, Wis. – With the MLB season in full swing, baseball fans can finally enjoy watching america’s favorite past time. For those interested in old school memories, the Douglas County Historical Society is the place for you. The organization has inherited a wide assortment of photos of the Superior Blues, a minor league team that played from the early 1930’s…
DULUTH, GA. – Former UMD hockey standout Avery Peterson has re-signed with the Atlanta Gladiators of the ECHL. This past season, the Grand Rapids alum set career highs across the board, including games played, goals and assists. Peterson transferred to UMD from Nebraska-Omaha, helping the Bulldogs win the 2018 national championship during his senior campaign. Categories: Professional Sports, Sports, University…
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. – Former UMD men’s hockey player Jade Miller has signed his first pro deal with the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL. The forward appeared in all 34 games in his COVID-shortened senior campaign, finishing with two goals and seven assists, including a career-high +9 rating. He wrapped up his career at +28, never ending a season…
DULUTH, Minn. – Former UMD hockey star Scott Perunovich was officially awarded his Hobey Baker trophy Thursday night. Next up for the Hibbing native is preparing for the NHL. Last month, Perunovich signed a two-year deal with the St. Louis Blues. But instead of burning this season in the uncertainty of the NHL bubble, Perunovich decided to begin his contract…
SUPERIOR, Wis. – Disc golf fans rejoice as the 10th annual Lake Superior Open is underway in Superior. The tournament usually takes place at the Mont Du Lac course, but this year’s installment is a little bit different. The 200-plus field of disc golfers is now split between Mont du Lac and the new Superior Municipal Forest disc golf course….
DULUTH, Minn. – Before the pandemic hit, Duluth native Rob Bordson was in Finland, getting ready for a playoff run with his current hockey team. But then COVID-19 happened, forcing the Duluth Marshall alum to go back home. And now, his 10-year pro career is up in the air with more questions than answers. “They kind of put on a…
DULUTH, Minn. – The DECC and the Duluth Amateur Hockey Association are planning to host a drive-in viewing party at the Amsoil Arena parking lot for the first two games of the Wild-Canucks series. Tickets are 15 dollars per vehicle and can be purchased ahead of time at DuluthHockey.com. The lot will be opened 90 minutes before puck drop and…
DULUTH, Minn. – Late last week, former St. Scholastica quarterback Zach Edwards signed his first pro deal with L’Hospitalet Pioners of Spain’s American football league. I asked Edwards what went into the decision to start his career overseas. “With everything going on here in the states with the uncertainty of football in terms of the CFL…the NFL, they’re doing a…
SUPERIOR, Wis. – Just a few months ago, we had no clue if any kind of sports would be going on this summer, much less camps. But this week, one of the most popular hockey camps in the Northland is back on the ice. The Twin Ports Pro Development Camp returned for its fifth year in Superior. Campers were able…
PROCTOR, Minn. – The restart of the NBA season is right around the corner and it’s bringing back fond memories for one local basketball player from Proctor. Two years ago this week, Ty Nyberg, who was ten years old at the time, took part in a basketball camp hosted by NBA superstar Russell Westbrook, who was then playing for Ty’s…
DES MOINES, Iowa – Former Duluth East hockey standout Phil Beaulieu has signed a two-way deal with the Iowa Wild of the AHL and the Allen Americans of the ECHL. The defenseman wrapped up his college career at Northern Michigan University recording 121 points in 158 games, finishing third all-time among Wildcat blueliners. Beaulieu was a three-time All-Conference honoree and…
DULUTH, Minn. – The NorthShore Inline Marathon announced Tuesday that the 2020 race has been cancelled. The event was supposed to take place the weekend of September 18th. Registration for the in-person race has been closed and those who have pre-registered have the option to enter into the virtual version of the race, receive a coupon towards any NorthShore race…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Northland running community took a big hit last month when Grandma’s Marathon was cancelled for the first time in the race’s history. But as restrictions began to be lifted, it gave hope to other summer races to take place, including the oldest road race in Northern Minnesota. The 49th annual Park Point 5-Miler had a different…
DULUTH, Minn. – The White Castle USA Luge Slider Search will begin its national search for talent in Duluth on July 25th and 26th. It’s open to kids ages 9 to 13 as the events helps USA Luge find 60 to 80% of their Olympic teams every year. “The nice thing about the slider search is that is allows us…
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – It looks like Scott Perunovich’s pro debut will be on hold for at least another year. The Hibbing native has agreed to a two-year, entry-level deal with the St. Louis Blues and will be eligible to join the team next season. The 21-year-old won the 2020 Hobey Baker Award after leading the NCHC in scoring. Due…
SUPERIOR, Wis. – The Superior Trailblazers Pool League hosted their first-ever all-star match Tuesday night at the Top Hat Tavern in Superior. The league has about 200 players, but this action features the top eight in a four-on-four showdown. The event was originally scheduled for back in April, but was postponed a few times due to the coronavirus pandemic. “We…
SUPERIOR, Wis. – The Nemadji Golf Course announced this weekend that they are adjusting their operations due to a positive case of COVID-19 by one of their staffers. The clubhouse and grill will be closed and check-in will take place through the window of the golf shop. Food orders are to be called in and beverage carts will be out…
