Tom’s Notes: UMD Men’s Hockey Team Prepares for Playoffs + More

It's playoff hockey now for the UMD men’s hockey team. They move into the post–season on a roll, winning four games in a row, sweeping Alabama–Huntsville and Nebraska–Omaha at Amsoil Arena.

The Bulldogs tied a school record on Saturday with five power–play goals, in route to a 6–0 victory over the Mavericks, on senior night. Aaron Crandall with the shutout in the nets and now has back to back shutouts. UMD will now head on the road, to face the Wisconsin Badgers a team they lost to and tied at Amsoil Arena back in October.

Head Coach Scott Sandelin said he was pleased with how the team is coming together as the post-season nears.  He said, “Yeah it was a good weekend, it was the final weekend for our seven seniors and we talked about that during the week and sending them out on the right note we got a real good win on Friday coming back from a two goal deficit. I thought Saturday we played well from start to finish and obviously our special teams was the difference which it needs to be at this time of the year.”

The UMD men’s hockey team will open the WCHA Playoffs in Madison this weekend vs the Wisconsin Badgers.

The WCHA honored two UMD players this week, Austin Farley as the WCHA Rookie of the Week, and Mike Seidel as the Offensive Player of the Week.

Seidel had five points on the weekend and Farley with six points on two goals and four assists...

Hoops team honored

The UW–Superior women’s team that set a number of records during the past season, including the most wins (19) and going undefeated at home (11-0) and hosting a home playoff game for the first time in the WIAC.

Tuesday Mayor Bruce Hagen of Superior declared it UW–Superior Women’s Basketball Day in Superior, and delivered the official proclamation at the school in front of the team and some fans.

The Chancellor, Dr. Renee Wachter, Head Coach Don Mulhern and Athletic Director Steve Nelson all addressed the crowd about the amazing team which carried a 3.4 grade point average this year. The senior players were honored and congratulated for building the success for the future of the program.

In high school boys basketball on Tuesday night, Barnum boys in the Section 5A playoffs beat Onamia 51-46.  The Section final will be Friday at Crosby-Ironton.  Barnum is 26-3.

Game one of the St. Lukes Orthopedics and Sports Medicine All–Star boys hockey series started Tuesday in Grand Rapids at the IRA Civic Center.

Skills competition was held prior to the game which features players from Duluth vs. the Iron Range....The Iron Range took game one on 6-4 on Tuesday night.

We'll have game two of that all–star series, Wednesday night from Amsoil Arena, coverage starting at 7pm on the My9 sports network. The winner receives the Dick Stewart Cup. International Falls Head Coach Bruce Elson coaches the Iron Range team and Denfeld's Kevin Smalley is the Duluth coach.

Tuesday Scoreboard:

Spurs   83

Wolves   107

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Dallas   115

Bucks     108

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NHL:

Anaheim  2

Wild   1

World Baseball Classic:

USA  7

Puerto Rico  1

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Keep Smile’n Northland! I will.