Overheard at Amsoil: Max Plante, Jack Smith remain out

Bulldogs coach Scott Sandelin ruled junior center Jack Smith and freshman wing Max Plante as out for this weekend’s NCHC opening series against North Dakota at Amsoil Arena.

Plante has been out with an upper body injury since the Oct. 5 season-opening overtime loss to Bemidji State. He is once again skating with the team, but in a limited fashion.

Smith, also out with an upper body injury, went down on Oct. 25 in the opening game of the Stonehill series. He was not on the ice Wednesday at the end of practice.

UMD hosts the Fighting Hawks to open conference play at 7:07 p.m. Friday and 6:07 p.m. Saturday at Amsoil Arena.

Both Smith and Plante are still considered week-to-week. Sandelin said he’s hopeful they are back next week when UMD travels to Miami.

Here’s what else Sandelin and his captain, senior Dominic James, had to say Wednesday leading into the series:

• Zam Plante, the older brother of Max Plante, is moving back to center. He’s been playing alongside sophomore wing Matthew Perkins and freshman wing Harper Bentz this week in practice. Bentz and Plante played together last year in Fargo with the Force in the USHL.

• Sandelin said he’s been impressed with UND’s Caleb MacDonald, a sophomore defenseman, to start the season. “I’ve actually been impressed with the MacDonald kid on the back end for them. Last year, I thought (Jake) Livanavage when he came in was really good. And he is good. For a freshman, he played really well. They have some heaviness back there and some puck movers."

• Second and third efforts in battles have been an issue for Sandelin. He talked about how important battles along the walls will be against North Dakota this weekend. The Hawks are good on the boards and in front of the net, Sandelin said. “It doesn’t mean you’re always going to come out with the puck, but you can keep pucks alive, keep pucks contested with good stick detail and good body position. And using your brain a little bit more.”

• “It’s a different world when you go play in our league.” That’s how James said he’s been describing the start of NCHC play to the team’s 11 freshmen. “We’re the best league in college hockey, in my opinion,” James said.