UMD Men’s Hockey: Bulldogs crashes overtime 2-1 in Minnesota State despite late confirmation

The second round of the series will be played at 18.07 on Saturday – New Year’s Day – at Amsoil Arena in Duluth.

“Of course, the result isn’t what we wanted, but it was definitely a good game,” UMD senior defender Matt Anderson said. “We don’t have to get back to it until Saturday.”

Mavericks junior winger Cade Borchardt scored the winning goal in the semifinal 2:22 remaining in the 3-3 OT period. His goal came just after Mavs senior goalkeeper Dryden McKay banned Bulldog’s senior winger Kobe Roth from leaving.

UMD Senior Center Jesse Jacques – cafter playing the two-goal game for the last time the Bulldogs went ice on December 11 to beat NCHC Denver 6-2 – leveled the match in the third round plus seven minutes. With his fifth goal of the season, Jacques walked straight through the opening with Mavericks senior All-American goalkeeper Dryden McKay to shoot a quick shot.

Jacques admitted he was surprised he was able to walk straight inside McKay, which is why he looked surprised after the goal was scored.

“Matt Anderson gave me a good feed up and I wanted to feed right away,” Jacques said. “But their guy took my options, so I just slipped in and shot the puck.”

Junior goalkeeper Ryan Fanti was the sharpest Bulldog on the ice on Thursday. He blocked 28 shots with 30 shots, but the Mavericks were able to take advantage of his and his teammates ’substitutions at the start of the second round to a 1-0 lead.

Minnesota state defender Wyatt Aamodt (7) puts pressure on Minnesota Duluth goalkeeper Ryan Fantia (39) on Thursday, December 30, 2021 at the Mayo Health System Event Center in Mankato. Clint Austin / Duluth News Tribune

Fanti incorrectly played the puck behind his own net after it came hot from the end board in the playoffs less than five minutes later. This gave Mavs the lead with an open look for second-year fourth-row winger Connor Gregga from a distance. As traffic slowed, Fantia Gregga only scored her second goal of the season and her university career.

“It’s fun because we skated this morning and took the puck from the kick plate, they were pretty lively,” Bulldogs coach Scott Sandelin said. “Especially around the net, I think it surprised Ryan a bit, but that wasn’t the reason (they scored a goal.) We turned the puck and they played and got a second chance.

“They’re good at it. That’s how they make a lot of goals around the net. They get a lot of access to the net.”

Fanti more than made up for his mistake the rest of the evening and stopped the Mavericks point after an empty opportunity, including one with just over a minute of playing time after freshman defender Owen Gallatin – alone with the puck. – crashed and scored for MSU Center Sam Morton.

Minnesota Duluth striker Noah Cates (21) will shoot the puck at the finish line against Minnesota State goalkeeper Dryden McKay (29) on Thursday, December 30, 2021 at the Mayo Health System Event Center in Mankato. Clint Austin / Duluth News Tribune

While Phanti’s fights may have surprised the crowd, Anderson said that’s what he and his teammates are used to expecting from his goalkeeper.

“He’s a great goalkeeper and he kept himself in place,” Anderson said. “You certainly can’t ask anymore.”

James and Kaiser return from World Juniors

Just over 24 hours after the IIHF canceled the COVID-19 epidemic of the World Championships in late 2022 among several team players and staff, Bulldogs freshman center Dominic James and sophomore Wyatt Kaiser returned to the ice for the UMD. After spending the last two weeks on the U.S. junior team in Edmonton and Red Deer in Alberta on Thursday.

Kaiser, James and Team USA played just two games at World Juniors – a 4-3 overtime loss to Finland in the pre-tournament match on December 23rd and a 3-2 first-round win from Slovakia on Sunday. The United States had to give up their second quarterback against Switzerland on Tuesday because two players had a positive COVID-19 test. The tournament was canceled after Wednesday when two other teams had to lose their matches.

Minnesota Duluth striker Dominic James (17) will shoot the puck at the finish line against Minnesota State goalkeeper Dryden McKay (29) on Thursday, December 30, 2021 at the Mayo Health System Event Center in Mankato. Clint Austin / Duluth News Tribune

James scored a goal for Finland in the pre-tournament defeat, and Kaiser scored in the preliminary victory against Slovakia when teammate Landon Slaggert knocked out a shot from Kaiser’s shot.

Both players left Calgary early on Thursday morning to return to Minnesota, although it was delayed. Kaiser and James finally got to Mankato at about 4:30 p.m.

“They were excited to be back. Apparently they’re big parts of our team. They’ll feel a little better on Saturday after the whole trip,” Sandelin said. “I told them it’s like a call (to the NHL).

“That’s good. It’s nice to get those guys back.”

Stejskal is well suited

After participating in practice this week, sophomore Zach Stejskal settled for the Bulldogs as their third goalkeeper on Thursday.

Stejskal, a former Grand Rapids High School goalkeeper from Cohasset, has been out of the lineup since the October Ice Breaker Tournament as he battled testicular cancer. He started two matches earlier this year – on October 8 at Bemidji State and on October 15 against Michigan at Ice Breaker – before starting his diagnosis and treatment.

Stejskal announced his cancer diagnosis in November and vowed to return to the ice this season. Sandelin said Wednesday that although Stejskal has returned to skate with the team, he still needs time to get back in shape.

“It’s nice to have him back out, a really good teammate like Zach is,” Fanti said on Tuesday of Stejskal’s return. “We haven’t been with him too much in recent months. He’s done his things and treatments and stuff like that, so he hasn’t been on the field too much. Absolutely kind face, I will definitely return. “

Minnesota Duluth goalkeeper Zach Stejskal (35) is sewing during warm-ups on Thursday, December 30, 2021 at the Mayo Health System Event Center in Mankato. Clint Austin / Duluth News Tribune

Box scores

Minnesota Duluth 0-0-1-0-1

Minnesota State 0-1-0-1-2

The first season

No scoring.

Second episode

1. MSU, Connor Gregga (Ondrej Pavel, Josh Groll), 5:06

Episode Three

2. UMD, Jesse Jacques (Matt Anderson, Koby Bender), 7:18

Over time

3. MSU, Cade Borchardt (Brendan Furry, Dryden McKay), 2:28

save – Ryan Fanti, UMD, 28; Dryden McKay, MSU, 26.

Power Games – UMD 0-1; MSU 0-2. Penalties – UMD 2-4; MSU 1-2.