UMD Men’s hockey vs. The University of North Dakota. Photo by Russell Hons from UMD Athletics

Friday’s game marked the 265th all-time meeting between the two NCHC rivals. Entering the two-game series at AMSOIL Arena, North Dakota had Duluth’s number, going 9-1-0 in the last 10 matchups between the two teams.

The UMD Bulldogs currently sit fourth in the NCHC standings with 26 points, trailing the first-place North Dakota Fighting Hawks with 38.

The Bulldogs came into Friday’s game on a four-game losing streak and without sophomore goaltender Adam Gajan, who is representing Team Slovakia in Milan, Italy, for the 2026 Olympics. Gajan is the 15th player in program history to earn an Olympic roster spot and the first since Noah Cates, who played for Team USA in 2022. He’s also just the second Bulldog goaltender ever to make an Olympic roster, alongside Bob Mason, who stood between the pipes for Team USA in 1984.

This required sophomore backup goaltender Ethan Dahlmeir to step up for UMD in the series.

Friday

1st Period

Friday’s NCHC conference series between the No. 10-ranked Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs and the visiting No. 3-ranked North Dakota Fighting Hawks sure did attract the attention of everyone. Both fanbases did not disappoint, filling the AMSOIL Arena with maroon and green.

The Fighting Hawks came out of the gates hot, putting early pressure on UMD, but were unable to register any shots on goal. Despite both teams flying up and down the ice and getting offensive rushes, the first shot of the game didn’t come until five minutes in. Soon after that, Bulldog goaltender Ethan Dahlmeir was forced to make multiple crucial saves, keeping the game tied and North Dakota off the board.

With just a few minutes left in the first, the Bulldogs were given their third power play of the period. However, North Dakota goaltender Jan Spunar stood tall, turning aside several Bulldog shots. Spunar then smothered the puck while lying on his back during a net-front scramble, denying UMD a chance to take the lead.

Although it was a competitive and fast-paced first period, UMD struggled to capitalize on the power play, going 0-3, and the first period ended scoreless.

UMD outshot the Fighting Hawks 12-6 in the period.

2nd Period

The second did not start as planned for UMD, as they took a penalty 15 seconds in, giving North Dakota an early power play. Despite a couple of chances by the Fighting Hawks, UMD stayed composed to kill off the penalty and get back to even strength.

Just over three minutes into the period, Hunter Anderson sped down the left half wall on his forehand and roofed a perfect shot above Spunar’s shoulder to give UMD an early second-period lead. Once the puck hit the back of the net, Bulldog fans jumped out of their seats and AMSOIL Arena erupted with cheers.

Immediately after UMD’s goal, the Fighting Hawks promptly entered the offensive zone, trying to swing some momentum back in their favor. However, UMD battled to keep its lead at one, while North Dakota did not register a shot on goal until halfway through the period.

Around the six-minute mark, tempers started to flare as multiple players from both teams engaged in a scuffle behind the UMD net after UMD goaltender Ethan Dahlmeir took a slash after the whistle. This led to the referee assessing matching roughing penalties, making it four-on-four for the next two minutes. Not only were the players fired up, but the UMD student section made its presence felt as well.

Just after the four-minute mark in the period, the Fighting Hawks took yet another undisciplined slashing penalty, giving UMD their fifth power play of the game. About a minute later, Jayson Shaugabay picked up a loose puck and found Zam Plante, who one-timed it into an empty net to extend the Bulldogs’ lead to two.

3rd Period

Shortly after the period began, Dahlmeir made an excellent save on a miniature breakaway to keep the Bulldogs’ lead at two.

With 10:55 left in the third period, the Fighting Hawks took a tripping penalty, giving UMD their sixth power play of the game. 30 seconds later, Mac Swanson and Ellis Rickwood entered the UMD zone on a two-on-one. Swanson sauced the puck over to Ellis Rickwood, who ripped a one-timer past Dahlmeir to cut the Fighting Hawks’ deficit to one while still shorthanded.

After their goal, North Dakota began to ramp up the pressure, testing Dahlmeir in hopes of tying the game up. With just over three minutes left in the game, the Fighting Hawks rang a shot from the point off the iron. With 2:40 left in the game, they pulled their goalie for the extra attacker. Just over a minute later, their plan worked as Jack Kernan jammed home a rebound to tie the game at two.

UMD ended regulation by outshooting North Dakota 31-18, as the game carried into overtime.

Overtime

North Dakota controlled the opening faceoff, but with 3:18 left in overtime, the Bulldogs took an unfortunate tripping penalty, giving the Fighting Hawks a four-on-three man advantage.

Despite North Dakota humming in UMD’s defensive zone and peppering Dahlmeir with shots, including one that hit the post, UMD was able to kill off the penalty with composure and a bit of luck.

Once the Bulldogs made it back to full strength, AMSOIL Arena shook with roars and cheers from every Bulldogs fan in the building.

Just before overtime expired, Grayden Siepmann dished the puck to Zam Plante as they entered the zone. Zam Plante skated to the left faceoff dot and snapped a wrist shot off the far-side post and in to beat North Dakota goaltender Jan Spunar. Plante’s game-winner was his 13th of the year and second of the night.

UMD celebrates Zam Plante’s game-winning goal with six seconds remaining in overtime at AMSOIL Arena on February 6, 2026. Photo by UMD Athletics.

Yet again, AMSOIL Arena was louder than ever after UMD clinched a Game 1 win in an NCHC conference series showdown.

Duluth’s electric home victory was ignited by forward Zam Plante and goaltender Ethan Dahlmeir. Plante earned two goals, and Dahlmeir denied 20 of 22 shots, improving his record to 3-0 on the season.

In a post-game interview posted on the UMD Men’s Hockey Instagram page, Zam Plante spoke on the overtime win, saying, “It felt good. We’ve been on the other side of a lot of one-goal games lately, so being able to get over that hump and hopefully carry that into tomorrow is a big deal.”

Saturday

1st Period

Following Friday’s overtime thriller, Saturday’s clash began with a lot of back-and-forth play. Neither squad could sustain much offensive-zone time for the first five minutes.

That quickly changed when North Dakota began generating grade-A scoring chances in the Bulldog zone. They forced Dahlmeier to scramble, making multiple high-quality saves, including a rebound opportunity that rang off the post.

With just over 13 minutes to play in the period, the Fighting Hawks took two penalties in the span of two minutes, gifting UMD a five-on-three man advantage. However, North Dakota was able to successfully kill off both penalties.

Just before time expired in the first period, the Fighting Hawks yet again took another undisciplined cross-checking penalty right in front of their own net. North Dakota’s unfamiliar strand of hockey gave the Bulldogs their fourth power play of the game to start the second period.

Despite the scoreless opening period, UMD outshot North Dakota 16-10.

2nd Period

Even with another man advantage, Duluth was unable to capitalize as they failed to get set up.

Just over a minute after North Dakota’s successful kill, defenseman Jayden Jubenvill found the back of the net after deking Bulldog goaltender Ethan Dahlmeir. However, UMD wasted no time challenging the goal. After official review, it was clear that the play was offside, keeping the game scoreless.

After the no-goal call, both teams struggled to break it out of their zones, as play went back and forth for the next five minutes.

UMD defenseman Adam Kleber attempts to break the puck out of his defensive zone under pressure on February 7, 2026. Photo by UMD Athletics

At the halfway point in the period, Ethan Dahlmeir made a fabulous sliding cross-crease save to keep the Fighting Hawks off the board. A few minutes later, Dahlmeir came up with yet another save, stoning North Dakota forward Ellis Rickwood on the rush.

As the period came to an end, tensions boiled over as players from both teams exchanged shoves, and the physical play intensified greatly.

3rd Period

Both teams began the third playing four-on-four after the post-second period altercation, but nobody was able to take advantage of the extra space.

Roughly four minutes into the period, UMD committed a five-minute major penalty for boarding. About a minute into the five-minute power play, the Fighting Hawks took advantage of Duluth’s mistake. Will Zellers set up Mac Swanson with an effortless cross-crease back-door tap-in for the game’s first goal.

After multiple Bulldog clears down the ice, Will Zellers logged one more point, one-timing a shot past Dahlmeir from inside the right faceoff circle to extend the Fighting Hawks’ lead to two.

Once UMD finally killed off the full five minutes, North Dakota kept its foot on the pedal, controlling the pace of play and generating numerous high-quality scoring chances that tested Dahlmeir. That said, once the Bulldogs gained some offensive-zone time of their own, Max Plante fired a shot from the point that deflected off Zam Plante’s skate to cut their deficit to one.

Just as UMD began to push for the tying goal, the Fighting Hawks shut it down quickly. Forward Dylan James beat Dahlmeir glove side on a breakaway with around five minutes remaining to restore their two-goal lead. A little over two minutes later, Dylan James struck again, icing the game with an empty net goal, extending their lead to three for the series split.

North Dakota’s win was fueled by forwards Will Zellers and Dylan James, defenseman Abram Wiebe, and goaltender Jan Spunar. Zellers finished with one goal and an assist, while James tallied two goals. Wiebe ended with three assists, and Spunar turned away 25 of 26 shots, all in the 4-1 road victory.

UMD will look to bounce back in their next series on the road against the University of Miami (OH). The two-game series will be held at Goggin Ice Center on Friday, Feb. 20, at 5:30 pm and Saturday, Feb. 2,1 at 6:05 pm.

UMD Men’s Hockey Comes Away With Series Split Against No. 3 Ranked North Dakota