University of Minnesota Duluth
2018-19 Record: 29-11-2 (14-9-1, 2nd in NCHC)
Head Coach: Scott Sandelin, 20th Year
Top returning scorers: Justin Richards (12G-20A) and Nick Swaney (15G-10A)
Top returning goaltender: Hunter Shepard (Sr.)
Sadly, this series comes to an end with the University of Minnesota Duluth being the 60th and final Division 1 men's hockey team profile. 60 Days. 60 Teams. 36,000 total words (or so). When your team repeats as national champions, there are no limits. 600 words don't seem like enough. Alert the affiliates. This one's going long.
If we're being honest, I'm more impressed with how Minnesota Duluth's second straight title came together than its first. That's no easy task. The Bulldogs were the last team in the 2018 tournament, needing several bounces to go its way both getting into and during several tournament games. The 2019 version of UMD was more traditional, winning as a No. 2 overall seed and becoming the first school since Denver in 2004-05 to repeat as national champions.
Normally no college hockey team wants to be the hunted. Even when the expectations hit an all-time high (i.e. Boston College in 2010-11, Denver in 2017-18, Minnesota in 2014-15), meeting impossible can be a difficult task.
And yet Minnesota Duluth was extremely comfortable being the defending champions, getting other teams to play Scott Sandelin's game. Putting itself in position to take advantage, UMD did not allow other schools many chances. As a team, the Bulldogs allowed the third-fewest goals per game (1.88) while leading the nation in shot margin (11.19 more shots per game its opponents). Minnesota Duluth trailed once in the NCAA Tournament (once again coming in the first round) and gave up seven goals in eight victorious postseason games across the NCHC and NCAA Tournaments.
What's New: Not as much as one would think.
Two key players from the past two seasons turned pro early in Mikey Anderson (Los Angeles) and Riley Tufte (Dallas). Sandelin received NHL overtures, interviewing with Anaheim, but returns. So do five of six key defenders along with four of the top six goal scorers.
Over the past two championship seasons, only eight players combined have graduated. The group may be small but made up of several who contributed major roles on and off the ice (see: Karson Kuhlman). Parker Mackay can be counted upon the group, graduating as captain and leading goal scorer (going 4G-2A in 4 NCAA Tournament games). Billy Exell got the game-winner against Providence. Peter Krieger had 54 points over the past two seasons.
Continuity means Minnesota Duluth only brings in five freshmen - four forwards and goalie Ryan Fanti. Of the group, Luke Loheit helped lead Minnetonka to a Class AA championship. Quinn Olson was selected by Boston in the third round of the 2019 NHL Draft. Reuniting with juniors teammate Tanner Laderroute, Olson was sixth in the AJHL in points last season.
A third national championship banner in Amsoil Arena's nine years goes up October 11th against UMass Lowell. Minnesota Duluth also faces Minnesota State, travels to Wisconsin for the first time since its final WCHA games and its nearly annual home-and-home series with Minnesota.
Closing Thoughts: Let's end this series the only I know how: By referencing someone or something. In this case, that someone is Ric Flair. If he went to Minnesota and St. Cloud State has his wooooo, it's appropriate right now for Minnesota Duluth to be the ones to use one of his catchphrases. To beat the Bulldogs, teams either had to be the best or make the most of very few chances. Hunter Shepard was pulled once all year and it came the opening weekend thanks to a period where the Gophers scored twice on three total shot attempts. One of the few missteps came off the ice.
This series has tried to look at what teams can learn from their past to put towards the future, in addition to what teams can learn from others. There are plenty of lessons other teams can learn from the two-time defending champions, who in a way are defining how to succeed in college hockey.
UMD has been winning with both high-end players and depth. The Bulldogs teams have been full of underclassmen yet its upperclassmen leadership play a major role and leads by example. The Bulldogs finished tenth in goals per game yet its leading scorer was 65th nationally.
A puck-moving defense happy to counter and lead the nation's top Corsi also contains a goaltender who put up a .920%+ save percentage. (In a growing international sport, last year's team was made up of 17 Minnesotans from the Iron Range, North Shore and Twin Cities if that matters to you.) He's coming back for his senior year too. The defensive play matches the offense and special teams. UMD ends up in the top-15 of almost every major category.
Several schools can claim to have one or two of these. Very few pertain the well-roundedness of a team that brings much of its core back from the past two seasons (along with Sandelin). Besides the defense, where Scott Perunovich is healthy, Nick Swaney and Justin Richards are another year older, the Cates brothers and Laderroute are now sophomores.
Mostly, it's why the second title was more impressive as the Bulldogs continue to succeed when the pressure is on. It's more difficult to showcase two weeks into five successful months - look at the number of 2018 NCAA Tournament teams who had high expectations yet were profiled in July/August. To accomplish both when being hunted by all 59 teams, no matter how exciting or boring it may be, is a feat.
Until proven otherwise, to be the man, teams will need to beat Minnesota Duluth.
Recent 60 Days. 60 Teams. 600 Words (or Less) Features
Massachusetts
Denver
Providence
Quinnipiac
Links To All 60 Teams
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