Beavers spoil expected debut of Bulldogs’ freshmen – Duluth News Tribune

DULUTH – Minnesota Duluth’s freshman class put on a show Saturday in their first games as Bulldogs at Amsoil Arena, but couldn’t cap it off with a win.

The Bulldogs never led in a 4-3 overtime loss to Bemidji State in front of 6,587 spectators and trailed by less than two minutes in the 2024-25 season opener.

“It wasn’t the result we wanted, but we’re in it for the long haul,” UMD junior defender Aiden Dubinsky said. “We took a big step tonight, stayed late in this game and scored the late goal. I’m proud of this group for sticking around and continuing to fight.”

Freshman winger Jayson Shaugabay scored UMD’s first two goals and set up freshman center Zam Plante’s game-winning goal in the final two minutes. However, a turnover by Plante against the wall in the UMD zone during 3-on-3 overtime led to the game-winning goal by Jackson Jutting, the Beavers’ fifth-year captain.

Junior Zach Sandy started the season opener for the Bulldogs and finished the game with 19 saves on 23 shots. It was just his second start in three seasons at UMD, the first coming in the second-to-last game last season – a 6-5 overtime win over St. Cloud State in Duluth.

Clint Austin/Duluth Media Group

Bulldogs coach Scott Sandelin said there were a lot of good teaching points for his young team on Saturday.

“There are some things we obviously need to get better at, there are certainly some bright spots, but I don’t want the guys to settle for losing,” Sandelin said. “We definitely had chances. We just have to clean up the mistakes. I thought we were careless, losing the ball again. I sound like a broken record from last year.”

• Sandy got the start of the season on Saturday because rookie Adam Gajan of Slovakia, the Chicago Blackhawks’ 2023 second-round NHL draft pick, was ineligible to play in a friendly game in a Slovak professional league during the 2020-21 season . His punishment from the NCAA was that he had to sit out Saturday’s game. UMD had appealed the ruling. Gajan and freshman Klyaton Knapp are expected to split time on Sunday when UMD hosts Manitoba in an exhibition.

Clint Austin/Duluth Media Group

• Shaugabay led UMD with three points Saturday — two goals and an assist — while both Plante brothers had two points. Zam Plante had a goal and an assist while Max Plante had two assists. As announced during the week, Sandelin had the three rookies together on a forward line. Eight of the eleven newcomers were in the squad on Saturday.

“They are offensive players, they are talented, they think alike,” Sandelin said of the Plantes and Shaugabay. “We knew that when we came in. I told you that. They hope it will continue like this forever, and I think it will continue. It will be more difficult games for them, but they had a good evening tonight. Offensively they were catalysts for us, no question about it.”

Clint Austin/Duluth Media Group

• Max Plante left the game with an injury in the third period but returned briefly for a short shift with Zam and veteran defenseman Owen Gallatin for a 3-on-3 overtime period. Sandelin did not have an update on Max Plante’s condition after the game.
• Shaugabay, the 2023 Minnesota Mr. Hockey from Warroad, was the first of the announced 11-member freshman class to score in 2024-25. It took 1.1 seconds left in the first period after Max Plante found himself alone in front of the net after a pass from his brother Zam Plante.

He is not only Plante’s linemate, but also one of her roommates. He said that it was much more fun to play with them than to live with them. The three go back quite a long way, having played together in their youth, Shaugabay said.

“We grew up in different areas, but we grew up the same way and play the same style,” Shaugabay said. “We all love the game. It’s our biggest passion and that’s what makes us really good.”

• Shaugabay’s second goal of the night came on a power play in the second period. He played alongside four Hermantown alumni Saturday on UMD’s second power-play unit with the Plante brothers Hanson and Aaron Pionk.

“Max made unreal plays and we supported each other. Then he took it to Ty, who made an unrealistic pass to me. I had the whole goal,” Shaugabay said of the goal. “It was a lot of hard work and a bit of skill thrown in.”

Clint Austin/Duluth Media Group

• Saturday marked the first game for senior center and captain Dominic James since he suffered a season-ending injury two games into the 2023-24 season. He received an assist on Zam Plante’s game-winning goal, shooting into the net late in the game. James nearly scored a highlight-reel goal in 3-on-3 overtime. On Saturday, he posted a 17-5 (77.3%) record in the faceoff circle. Zam Plante was 14-4 (77.8%).
• Donte Lawson — who scored the game-winning double goal in overtime for Greenway against Hermantown in the 2019 Section 7A championship at Amsoil Arena — scored another goal Saturday at Amsoil Arena. The Beavers’ senior wing scored 3:21 into the second period, putting the Bulldogs – and their five Hermantown alumni – behind 2-1 at the time.
• BSU senior goalkeeper Mattias Sholl had to leave the game in the third period after making a save from Zam Plante. Raythan Robbins finished the game in goal for the Beavers, making 11 saves on 12 shots. Sholl finished the game with 26 saves.

Clint Austin/Duluth Media Group

UMD hosts Manitoba in an exhibition at Amsoil Arena on Sunday at 2 p.m. The Bulldogs are on the road next weekend at UMass-Lowell.

“The good thing is we can go play tomorrow and bring some other people and maybe try some other things,” Sandelin said. “Hopefully a good result and a good week, a short week.”

Bemidji State 1-2-0-1—4
Minnesota Duluth 1-1-1-0-3
First period
1. BSU, Carter Randklev (Austin Jouppi), 1:41
2. UMD, Jayson Shaugabay (Max Plante, Zam Plante), 19:58
Second period
3. BSU, Donte Lawson (Rhys Chiddenton), 3:21
4. UMD, Shaugabay (Ty Hanson, Max Plante), 7:50
5. BSU, Jere Vaisanen, 17:33
Third period
6. UMD, Zam Plante (Dominic James, Shaugabay), 18:18
Over time
7. BSU, Jackson Jutting, 3:47
Saves — Mattias Sholl, BSU, 26; Raythan Robbins, BSU, 11; Zach Sandy, UMD, 19.
power play – BSU 0-1; UMD 1-4. Penalties – BSU 4-8; UMD 1-2.

Clint Austin/Duluth Media Group

Clint Austin/Duluth Media Group

Clint Austin/Duluth Media Group

Clint Austin/Duluth Media Group

Clint Austin/Duluth Media Group

Clint Austin/Duluth Media Group

Clint Austin/Duluth Media Group

Clint Austin/Duluth Media Group

Clint Austin/Duluth Media Group