Bulldogs forward Jayson Shaugabay finds the back of the net. Photo by UMD Athletics - 2024-25 season

The Bulldogs lit the lamp five times in their 5-1 victory over Bemidji State University to secure their second series sweep of the year at AMSOIL Arena on Saturday night.

Friday’s Recap

UMD’s 7-3 victory on Friday night at Bemidji State University was fueled by their top-line of Max Plante, Zam Plante, and Jayson Shaugabay. Between the three of them, they contributed five goals, with two on the power play, and one shorthanded, combining for a total of 12 points. Max and Zam Plante recorded two goals and two assists each, as Shaugabay earned one goal and three assists.

Friday’s win started off with UMD falling behind 2-0 quite early, but they stormed back, scoring six unanswered goals to secure the win. Adam Gajan was in the net for the Bulldogs last night, as he turned away 17 of 20 shots.

Bulldogs defenseman Aaron Pionk shields Bemidji State forward away from the puck on October 17, 2025. Photo by Brent Cizek from UMD Athletics

After Friday’s win, the Bulldogs improved their overall record to 4-1, while Bemidji fell to an overall record of 2-3. Both teams traveled to the AMSOIL Arena for a Saturday night face-off to cap off the home-and-home series.

Saturday

1st Period

UMD wasted no time in the first period, quickly gaining pressure in the offensive zone while keeping the puck away from Bulldog goaltender Adam Gajan. The Bulldogs’ top line with the Plante brothers and Shaugabay didn’t take long to generate quality scoring chances as well, putting Beaver goaltender Max Hildebrand to the test early.

With a little over 12 minutes to play in the first, the Bulldogs drew a tripping penalty that gave them their first power play of the game. Despite the early pressure, the Beavers stayed composed, killing off the penalty.

However, in the last few minutes of the period, Bemedji started to string together some of their own offensive zone time. However, Gajan was up for the test, steering away multiple high-quality scoring chances.

Despite scoring chances for both teams, nobody was able to find the back of the net, as UMD controlled the pace and outshot Bemidji 16-10 to end the first period.

2nd Period

Just like the first period, the Bulldogs’ top-line continued to set the tone in the offensive zone right away. After Bemidji killed off another UMD power play, both teams began trading scoring chances on the rush, but both goalies stayed sharp, keeping the game scoreless.

Around the 12-minute mark in the second, UMD drew a tripping penalty, putting them on their third power play of the game. Just over a minute later, forward Jayson Shaugabay received a pass from defenseman Ty Hanson and fired it in from the left circle, putting the Bulldogs on the board first.

Although UMD broke through on the power play, both goalies were sharp throughout the second period. Gajan and Hildebrand each came up with timely stops to prevent the game from opening up.

With around three minutes left in the period, UMD took a slashing penalty that put the Beavers on their first power play of the game. Despite the Bulldogs being a man down, they didn’t let that stop their momentum, as they stayed aggressive throughout the penalty kill. This led to a couple of UMD shorthanded rushes, putting pressure on Beaver goaltender Max Hildebrand to make a couple much much-needed stops.

Immediately after the penalty expired, UMD kept its foot on the pedal. Jayson Shaugabay stepped out of the penalty box, entered the zone with speed, and deked goaltender Max Hildebrand for his second goal of the game, giving the Bulldogs a two-goal lead in the final minute of the period.

Third Period

Early into the period, Bulldog goaltender Adam Gajan faced a 2-on-1, but responded perfectly, squaring up to the shot to make the save, keeping the Beavers off the board for the time being.

Four minutes into the third, Bemidji takes another costly penalty for interference, putting the Bulldogs on yet another power play.

Not too long after the power play began, the Beavers chipped the puck out of the zone, allowing one of their forwards to chase it down as it trickled toward the Bulldogs' net. To prevent a breakaway, Gajan charged out of his net and dove headfirst to poke the puck away. By the time he got back to his skates, he was nearly at the blue line.

In the meantime, the Bulldogs scrambled to cover the empty net until Gajan made it back to his net. As soon as UMD regained possession of the puck, Bemidji committed a tripping penalty, giving Duluth a 5-on-3 man advantage.

Once the whistle blew to assess Bemidji’s penalty, AMSOIL erupted with thunderous cheers, shifting all of the momentum in the Bulldogs’ favor.

About a minute into the 5-on-3, Zam Plante capitalized by throwing a puck toward the net, where it deflected off a Beaver defenseman's skate and in, beating Hildebrand to give UMD a three-goal lead.

With just over 11 minutes in the period, the Beavers broke into the scoring, as forward Kasper Magnussen beat Gajan with an explosive one-timer to cut their lead to two.

Soon after Bemidji’s first goal, a UMD tripping penalty handed the Beavers a power play and a chance to climb back into the game. Bulldog goaltender Adam Gajan had other plans, making multiple remarkable saves to preserve UMD’s two-goal lead.

Just after the five-minute mark, UMD was awarded another power play and tallied their fourth goal of the day, as Max Plante set up Callum Arnott with an easy back-door tap-in goal to extend the Bulldogs’ lead to 4-1.

Just as the game wrapped up, UMD was granted its final power play of the game with around two minutes remaining. Forward Ryan Zaremba made it count, scoring his first collegiate goal on a snap shot from the point, securing the 5-1 victory and series sweep for the Bulldogs.

UMD relied on forwards Jayson Shaugabay, Zam and Max Plante, defenseman Ty Hanson, and goaltender Adam Gajan to lead them to victory.

Shaugabay finished with two goals and one assist, while Zam Plante contributed a goal and an assist, and Max Plante added two assists. The Bulldogs’ top line stacked up 19 points in the series, consistently setting the tone for both games. In net, Gajan stopped 22 of 23 shots, making several exceptional saves to secure the win and sweep. UMD also relied on its four power play goals to control the pace of the game and wear down the Beavers.

Following the series sweep, the Bulldogs look to carry this momentum into next weekend, as they travel down to the Twin Cities for a two-game series against the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. Both games on Friday, Oct. 24. and Saturday, Oct. 25. are at 7 pm at Mariucci Arena.

UMD Men’s Hockey Secures Their Second Series Sweep Of The Season Against Bemidji State University