The University of Minnesota Duluth men's hockey team is set to compete in the NCAA Tournament for the 16th time, facing Penn State in the regional semifinals in Albany, N.Y., on Friday. This matchup marks a historic first encounter between the Bulldogs and Nittany Lions. UMD, ranked as the No. 2 seed, comes into the game with a record of 23-14-1, while PSU is the No. 3 seed at 21-13-2. Coach Scott Sandelin, also on the NCAA Selection Committee, commented positively on the competitive bracket.

By the Numbers
  • UMD holds a perfect 12-0 record in first-round NCAA Tournament games since the regional format began in 1987.
  • UMD has a 30-14 overall record in NCAA Tournament history and 24-8 under Coach Scott Sandelin since 2000-01.
State of Play
  • UMD faces Penn State in the second game of the regional semifinals at 8:00 CT.
  • Top-seeded Michigan will play Bentley in the first game at 4:30 pm CT on the same day.
What's Next

Winners of the semifinal will advance to the regional final and potentially further in the NCAA Tournament, with the Frozen Four scheduled in Las Vegas for April 2026. UMD aims to capitalize on its strong tournament history.

Bottom Line

As UMD prepares for this crucial NCAA Tournament match against Penn State, the team's past success in early rounds and a solid season performance position them as strong contenders for continued advancement in the tournament.