Bulldogs failed to advance to NCAA Tournament
DULUTH, Minn. – NCAA men's hockey's Frozen Four is set to take place, but UMD has been absent for more than two weeks after being eliminated in the NCHC Tournament.
On Monday, Bulldogs head coach Scott Sandelin spoke to the media about his thoughts on the 2023-24 season.
“We probably weren't as good a team as we wanted to be,” said Sandelin, who led the Bulldogs to a 12-20-5 record in 2023-24. “I mean, I was able to go back to all the teams that won championships together… Look, feel, and this, but I never really got that feeling. But it was just because of how this year went.”
In the time since UMD's season ended, three of UMD's players have entered the transfer portal. This ultimately changed the way many college hockey teams operated. But Sandelin says it's getting out of hand. “That's stupid. I'm sorry. It's asinine. Shall we use it? Yes, it's there. We have to use it. We're going to use it properly and do what everyone should do. But what's happening behind the scenes is… this is not right. It's wrong.”
With fifth-year players like Luke Rohit ineligible and Ben Steeves signing with the Florida Panthers, the Bulldogs will look to young players to take on bigger roles next season. .
“We're very excited to have our players back,” Sandelin said. “I'm really excited about the kids coming in next year and two more years. I feel like we have some guys that can come in and they're going to score 24 goals, 45 goals in two years. I'm not saying, it's possible. But we have good players. It's very exciting.”
Sandelin listed Matthew Perkins, Owen Gallatin and goaltender Zach Sandy among the players he is excited about.
