UMD Hockey Teams Set to Open Season at Amsoil Arena — The Statesman http://www.theumdstatesman.com/sports-and-outdoors/2016/9/30/umd-h...

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UMD Hockey Teams Set to Open Season at Amsoil Arena

SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 BY ERIK GAFFRON

Both UMD men's and women's hockey teams open their 2016-2017 seasons at the

Amsoil Arena this coming weekend.

The contests for the weekend will kick off with the women's team regular season opener facing off against the No. 3 in the nation Boston College Eagles.

The Bulldog ladies are coming off a strong 4-1 victory last week against the Minnesota

Whitecaps. Lara Stalder and Ashleigh Brykaliuk powered the Bulldog offense in the

exhibition win with a pair of goals each.

Women's head coach Maura Crowell was pleased with her team's performance in their

opening game and expressed excitement and a positive outlook for their matchup

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against the Eagles.

"Going into our opening weekend I think

it's fantastic we play B.C. (Boston

College). They have a lot of speed and a

lot of finesse and good depth just like us.

So it should be a great match-up,"

Crowell said.

Sophomore goaltender Maddie Rooney

will get the start in net for the regular

season opener for the Bulldogs. She

stopped 33 of 34 Whitecap shots last

weekend and coach Crowell has been

happy with the growth she sees in her

goalie. Ashleigh Brykaliuk Photo Courtesy of UMD Athletics

"She had a great performance last

Saturday," Crowell said. " She's stronger,

she's more confident, she's more

focused and she knows it's her net. I

think that brings a level of confidence to

her game as well."

Crowell's squad will drop the puck

against the Eagles on Friday, Sept. 30 at

7 p.m. and again for the second game of

the series on Saturday, Oct. 1 at 3 p.m.

Saturday will continue with another

Bulldog home matchup.

The UMD men's hockey team will look to

get their first victories of the season this Lara Stalder Photo Courtesy of UMD

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weekend against the Michigan Tech Athletics

Huskies.

The Bulldogs, lead by 17-year head

coach , return 16

letterwinners from the 2015-2016 regular

season. Notably, captain Dominic

Toninato returns for his senior season.

The Bulldog men also gain a new crop of

rookies and transfers. Former Mr.

Hockey Award winner Riley Tufte will join

the team for his freshman year. Coach

Sandelin is optimistic about Tufte's

capabilities and finding a way to let him

keep improving at the collegiate level.

"There's going to be some ups and Dominic Toninato Photo Courtesy of UMD Athletics downs as there's a lot of things for him to learn, like every player," Sandelin said.

"We just want him to go play and we will

let him make some mistakes and grow into it."

Sandelin also looks to see leadership out of his older returners to help his new players

adjust to Bulldog hockey.

'The luxury of having some of our older guys back, you know getting Dom (Toninato)

and Alex (lafallo) and having some veteran guys is nice because hopefully we can put

him (Tufte) in positions like other freshman that we've had to get success right away,"

Sandelin said.

Sandelin was unwilling to divulge who's starting in net for the Bulldogs to open the

season. The 2015-2016 starting goaltender left the Bulldogs to a free

agency signing with Toronto Maple Leafs after the conclusion of the season.

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The Bulldogs have three goalies on the

roster who could possibly get the nod

this weekend. Those are freshman

Hunter Shepard, and

red-shirt freshman Nick Deery.

Sandelin's group of Bulldogs will take on

the Huskies on Saturday, Oct. 1 at 7:07

p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 2 at 4:07 p.m.

Riley Tufte Photo Courtesy of UMD Athletics

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