Bulldogs blasted by Tigers 6,035 feet above sea level

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Minnesota Duluth surrendered four goals during the second period en route to losing 7-2 at Colorado College in NCHC play Friday at Ed Robson Arena.

Freshmen Ty Hanson and Callum Arnott scored the lone goals for the Bulldogs.

Hanson’s third goal of the year came on a shorthanded breakaway with freshman wing Max Plante in the second period. Hanson, a defenseman, put away a rebound off the shot of his former Hermantown High School teammate.

UMD was already down 5-0 when Hanson scored the shorty, and the Tigers got that goal back just 14 seconds later on the ensuing shift to go back up by five.

The Bulldogs finished the night 1-for-7 on the power play — the Tigers went 2-for-7 — failing to convert on a nearly two-minute 5-on-3 advantage to start the third period. Arnott, a centerman, finally scored a power play goal for UMD on its sixth advantage, pulling his team within five. It was Arnott’s third goal as a Bulldog and first since Oct. 25, 2024.

UMD freshman goaltender Klayton Knapp made his sixth consecutive start and seventh start in eight games, but he didn’t finish the night in goal. Knapp was pulled from the crease 3:15 into the second period after giving up four goals on 13 shots.

Bulldogs junior Zach Sandy finished Friday’s game in goal — freshman Adam Gajan missed his eighth-straight game with an ankle injury — and made 13 saves on 16 shots.

In addition to Gajan, the Bulldogs were also without senior wing Carter Loney and freshman wing Harper Bentz due to upper-body injuries. According to KDAL’s Bruce Ciskie, neither player made the trip to Colorado Springs this weekend.

Tigers junior goaltender Kaidan Mbereko made 20 saves on 21 shots, and got to sit back and relax for the final 12:40 of the game with the Tigers leading 7-1. Freshman Carsen Musser got on the ice for just the second time this season, making two saves on three shots.

Colorado College junior forward Noah Laba completed his first collegiate hat trick in the third, giving him seven career goals against the Bulldogs in seven games over the past three seasons.

Plante was credited with an assist on Hanson’s goal, giving him a point in each of the last five games. Fellow Hermantown native Aaron Pionk assisted on Arnott’s goal with a shot from the point that was tipped, giving the sophomore defenseman a point in each of the last seven games.

Pionk, with one goal and 18 assists, shares the team-high of 19 points with senior center and captain Dominic James.

The teams will complete their series on Saturday at 7 p.m. CST in Colorado Springs.

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