Hope everyone’s “summer” is going well.

(Sorry, it’s foggy, windy, and in the 50s as I start this blog, and none of us are surprised, so I’m cynical.)

As you read this, we’re close to the geographic midpoint of the UMD offseason. The actual halfway mark is either Tuesday or Wednesday, depending on how you count the days. Our 100-days-to-go countdown starts on BlueSky Wednesday. It’ll be the only place to catch all 100 days of UMD men’s hockey history, so drop me a follow today.

The offseason — at least from UMD’s perspective — quieted awfully quick after some early transfer portal madness.

But let’s catch everyone up on what’s all been happening. Or not happening.

1. When the season wrapped up and we finally got around to putting a bow on it, we had a lot of questions and few answers when it came to the 2025-26 roster.

UMD had lost seven players to transfers. Forwards Kyle Bettens (ended up at Northern Michigan), Anthony Menghini (North Dakota), Matthew Perkins (Northeastern), and Jack Smith (Minnesota State) ended up moving on, as did defenseman Aiden Dubinsky (Wisconsin) and goalies Klayton Knapp (Michigan Tech) and Zach Sandy (North Dakota).

While the coaching staff had a lot of options, it felt like a situation where UMD had little choice but to dip into the portal. The business of “just bring this guy or that guy in from juniors a year early” is a dangerous one. It can work out well for some players, not so well for others. Player development, after all, is not at all linear.

Head coach Scott Sandelin wrapped up the season with me on my radio show April 3. He made clear at that point that they intended to use the portal to fill some holes.

“I said we’re going to use the portal. as we need to use it. So we’re going through that right now. We’ve got three forwards right now that we signed and we’ve got two defensemen. So we’re on the prowl to fill a couple of spots right now.”

2. And hit the portal the Bulldogs did. UMD added five players from the transfer portal, bringing in three forwards, one defenseman, and a goalie.

All three forwards — Kyle Gaffney from Alaska, Kyler Kovich from Cornell, and Scout Truman from UMass-Lowell — will be seniors this season. Defenseman Brady Cleveland (Colorado College) joins UMD for his junior season. Goalie Ethan Dahlmeir will be a sophomore after one year at Miami.

I haven’t talked to Sandelin since the five made their moves to UMD official, but I have talked to both Gaffney and Cleveland. The team was together the last couple weeks, and I jumped on the chance to meet up with a few of them during some downtime at Amsoil Arena. More on that in a moment.

Without coming across as any kind of sour grapes, allow me to take the same tact that I’ve taken with past transfers. I wish them all well, I do not begrudge any of them for deciding to move on. Enjoyed my interactions with them.

But let’s lay out the numbers surrounding these changes.

UMD lost five skaters. Those five skaters combined for 22 goals and 53 points last season. UMD added four skaters from the portal. Those four skaters combined for 22 goals and 55 points.

3. Arguably, Knapp may be UMD’s biggest loss. But he didn’t play again after giving up six goals in less than two full periods of the game Feb. 22 at North Dakota. He was injured during practice the next week, missed the home finale against Miami, and was dressed but did not play in the regular season finale at St. Cloud State or the playoff series at Arizona State.

When Adam Gajan went down during the Thanksgiving bye, Knapp seized the net for a few weeks and was mostly good. He had a tough start in the Friday game at Colorado College, but he rebounded the next night and basically gave his team a chance to win every time he played.

Dahlmeir’s numbers at Miami last season were not great (1-10-1, 4.04 goals against, .870 save percentage in 14 appearances). But was that him, or was that the product of a team that struggled all year in the defensive zone? Miami’s team save percentage last season was .865, worst in Division I.

It stands to reason Gajan will get the first chance to seize the net. Dahlmeir and freshman Cole Sheffield, however, are not coming in to be purely backups. They’ll be expected to compete for playing time, and Sandelin has never been afraid to use multiple goalies if he wants to accentuate that competition (the 2016-17 season, which ended in the national championship game, saw three goalies start games in October before Hunter Miska took over the rest of the way).

4. Cleveland is a large human. And he embraces the defensive part of being a defenseman.

When I asked him about his identity as a player, he said “it’s being hard to play against. I like to be hard on the opponent, and I like to kill penalties, block shots, do all the hard things.

“I’ve been working a lot on my stick and just using my size throughout my whole career. I really pride myself on being heavy and physical.”

The Wausau native started his college career at Wisconsin after spending time with the U.S. National Team Development Program in Michigan. After seeing action in just 16 games as a freshman, he moved on to Colorado College. The Tigers dressed Cleveland in all 37 games last season, but he told Matt Wellens something happened there that he felt would affect his opportunity moving forward, so he decided to enter the portal.

(Cleveland declined to get into detail, which is his right, but he made clear to both Matt and me that he was not planning to go in the portal a second time.)

5. Gaffney had 20 points last season with the Nanooks, and while he said it was hard to leave Fairbanks, he called his decision to head to UMD “easy.”

“I visited here about a month ago,” Gaffney said. “Staff was great. They were great talking to me in the portal. The facility (Amsoil Arena) is great. The campus is awesome.”

Gaffney, Kovich, and Truman join a group of seniors that was decimated by portal losses. Only defensemen Joey Pierce and Riley Bodnarchuk are back for their senior seasons.

“They told me I’d be an older guy coming in here,” Gaffney said. “Back in Fairbanks, we had a lot of young guys, so I’m used to that.”

We haven’t seen an announcement on UMD’s leadership group for this coming season, but it seems reasonable to suggest that there could be a newcomer who earns a letter (Joe Molenaar almost did last season, so it’s not completely unprecedented to consider such an idea). The last two weeks — which saw the group come together to work out, bond, and get some ice time — is part of that process.

6. UMD added one player from the major junior ranks, as those 1,000 Canadian Hockey League players are now eligible for NCAA hockey. Defenseman Grayden Siepmann joins after around 300 games in the Western Hockey League, most recently with the Saskatoon Blades.

Siepmann said the program’s history stood out to him when he found out he’d have a chance to play for an American college team.

“It was a long process,” Siepmann said of his recruitment, “but I was familiar with UMD.”

He said he’d been to Minneapolis for a tournament growing up, but never to Duluth. He committed sight unseen.

“Cool little spot for sure,” he said.

Siepmann should slot into UMD’s second or third defensive pairing, depending on how he transitions to college hockey. He has a chance to compete with guys like Ty Hanson and Aaron Pionk for power play minutes, given that Owen Gallatin graduated and Dubinsky went into the portal.

7. Other schools, however, are jumping into the CHL pool with both feet. Sandelin said at his end-of-year media conference that he wanted to wait and see how things went with this transition. Given his cautionary words, it is more than reasonable that UMD stopped at one major junior player in this recruiting class.

We’re starting to see top players from the CHL make the trek south. North Dakota has a few younger prospects committed, some set to join this season with new head coach Dane Jackson. But there is concern among some coaches about taking too many, as they can rejoin their CHL teams at the season’s midpoint if they aren’t happy with their college experience.

The great Mike McMahon noted this weekend that those players can’t be replaced on college rosters, meaning those teams will be a player short the rest of the way. That’s plenty of reason to be cautious moving forward.

(Siepmann, by the way, has exhausted his junior eligibility.)

Along with ramifications from the House settlement, which was approved a few weeks ago, it will be very interesting to watch how the CHL/NCAA relationship evolves. Everyone thought NIL money would ruin the sport, but Western Michigan won a national title with its athletes getting none, per head coach Pat Ferschweiler. Don’t just assume the game will fundamentally turn on its ear and the NCHC will stop dominating.

8. I asked the BlueSky audience for questions.

From Ryan: “What newcomer has the best chance to make an impact next year? What returning player will be most improved?”

The transfer forwards, all being seniors, are almost too easy to pick here. Among them, I’m guessing Gaffney and Truman are in the best position to make an impact. Among the incoming freshmen, I think Daniel Shlaine has a chance to center a middle-six line, and could be in line for some big minutes.

As for returning players, I’m going with Gajan. This is in line with an upcoming question, but he’s going to have a bounceback season. I can feel it.

From Clusiau204: “Is Adam Gajan ready to be the #1 goalie for the Dogs this season???”

I think he will be. Last season was not an easy transition for Gajan. He was learning how to be a college student, learning a new level of hockey, and trying to deal with the pressure that comes from doing all of that at the same time.

On the ice, he had to miss the season opener because the NCAA is dumb, his first start in Lowell was outstanding, and then UMD hung him out to dry with regularity against the Gophers and North Dakota. It was up and down for Gajan from there, both before and after he was out long term with an injury.

With a stable summer, I think he’ll be fine.

From Dan: “Things to do in Fairbanks in October?”

Wouldn’t know, because I won’t be there. The plan is to work those games off the video feed from our Duluth studio. More to come on that, because it might not be a traditional game call. Still working on that.

9. The rest of the summer? Hopefully some summer weather, more fishing, and some downtime throughout July.

As I mentioned, the countdown starts Wednesday. August goes fast, and we’ll be in the thick of season prep come September. NCHC Media Day won’t be happening this year, at least not in its old in-person format, but I expect that I’ll have all nine NCHC coaches, some student athletes, and all the other Minnesota men’s coaches on my radio show to get ready for puck drop.

Otherwise, we hope everything stays nice and quiet.

Allan Winans Makes His MLB Debut with the New York Yankees

Allan Winans is set to step onto the hallowed ground of Yankee Stadium, marking a significant milestone in his baseball journey. The 29-year-old right-handed pitcher is making his Major League Baseball debut for the New York Yankees against the Cincinnati Reds, a moment that encapsulates years of hard work, perseverance, and resilience.

A Stellar Minor League Performance

Winans’ ascent to the big leagues has been nothing short of remarkable, particularly during his time with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, where he has dominated the competition. With an impressive 7-0 record and a minuscule 0.90 ERA over nine starts, he has showcased his ability to control games and keep hitters at bay. Striking out 59 batters in just 50 innings, Winans’ performance has been pivotal for the RailRiders, and it’s clear he is ready for the challenge that awaits him in the majors.

A Journey Through the Ranks

The path to this moment has been a long one for Winans, who was originally selected in the 17th round of the MLB draft by the New York Mets out of Campbell University. His collegiate career with the Camels laid a strong foundation, but it was his dedication and tenacity in the minor leagues that truly honed his skills. Over seven seasons, Winans has maintained a commendable 2.73 ERA, highlighting his consistency and growth as a pitcher.

Before making his mark at Campbell, Winans began his academic and athletic journey at Bakersfield College in his hometown of Bakersfield, California. This local connection has undoubtedly fueled his passion for the game and his desire to succeed at the highest level.

The Call-Up and Its Significance

Winans’ call-up to the Yankees comes at a crucial time, with Ryan Yarbrough being placed on the 15-day injured list. This opportunity not only signifies a new chapter for Winans but also reflects the Yankees’ commitment to investing in homegrown talent. With the bright lights of Yankee Stadium shining down, he will have the chance to prove himself on one of baseball’s biggest stages.

Looking Ahead

As Winans prepares to take the mound, he carries with him the hopes of fans and the legacy of those who have worn the Yankees uniform before him. His journey from Campbell University to the pinnacle of baseball serves as a testament to the power of perseverance and the importance of seizing opportunities.

In this moment, Winans stands not just as a player but as an embodiment of determination, ready to carve out his own legacy in the storied history of the New York Yankees. The coming days will reveal how this talented pitcher adapts to the challenges of the major leagues, but one thing is certain: his journey is just beginning, and the baseball world will be watching closely.

OMAHA, Neb. — LSU knocked previously unbeaten Coastal Carolina ace Jacob Morrison out of the game with a four-run fourth inning and the Tigers won their second national championship in three years Sunday with a 5-3 victory in the College World Series finals.

The Tigers (53-15) completed a two-game sweep of the Chanticleers (56-13), who entered the finals on a 26-game win streak and on Sunday saw coach Kevin Schnall and first base coach Matt Schilling ejected in the bottom of the first inning.

LSU gave the Southeastern Conference its sixth straight national title in baseball and 11th in 16 years. It was LSU’s eighth, all since 1991 and second most all-time behind USC’s 12.

Tigers coach Jay Johnson became the first Division I coach to win two titles in his first four years at a school. No other coach had accomplished that feat in fewer than eight seasons.

“Our whole motto for the year was ‘Tough And Together,’ and that’s what they did from Aug. 26 until now,” Johnson said in a postgame television interview. “It’s only 12 returning players. That collection of talent became a team and a family.”

Coastal Carolina won the national title in 2016 and was trying to become the first team since 1962 (Michigan) and the fifth all-time to win the championship in its first two CWS appearances.

With five-time champion coach Skip Bertman watching from the stands, LSU tied it at 1 in the third on Ethan Frey’s RBI double and went up 5-1 in the fourth on two-run singles by Chris Stanfield and Derek Curiel.

Coastal Carolina pulled within 5-3 in the seventh against LSU starter Anthony Eyanson when No. 9 batter Wells Sykes hit his fourth homer of the season.

That brought on Chase Shores for his fourth appearance of the CWS. The 6-foot-8 right-hander touched 100 mph with his fastball while retiring the first five batters he faced before Dean Mihos, who homered in the second, singled through the right side leading off the ninth.

With Tigers fans on their feet and chanting “L-S-U, L-S-U,” Shores struck out Ty Dooley and got Sykes to ground into a game-ending double play. The Tigers’ dugout emptied and the celebratory dogpile behind the mound ensued. The 87-year-old Bertman came onto the field in a wheelchair and walked with assistance to have pictures taken with coaches and players.

The Chanticleers had won 15 straight when Morrison (12-1) started. Morrison’s 3 2/3 innings marked his shortest start of the season and the five runs against him were the most he has allowed.

LSU entered having won 13 games in a row in which one of its top two pitchers — Kade Anderson and Eyanson — started.

Anderson was selected the Most Outstanding Player of the CWS after allowing one run and six hits and striking out 17 in 16 innings over two starts in Omaha.

Anderson threw a three-hit shutout in LSU’s 1-0 win in Game 1 of the finals, and Eyanson (12-2) was mostly sharp over his 6 1/3 innings. The three runs against him came on seven hits and a walk. He struck out nine.

Schnall, in his first year as head coach after taking over for the retired Gary Gilmore, had not been ejected this season before Sunday. After the game, he said his ejection wasn’t justified and he was wrongly accused of bumping an umpire.

Walker Mitchell was at bat with two outs and Sebastian Alexander had just stolen second base when Schnall went to the top steps of the dugout, gestured at plate umpire Angel Campos with three fingers and began shouting at him.

The NCAA said Schnall was arguing balls and strikes, was given a warning and thrown out when he did not leave immediately. Instead, Schnall went onto the field to continue arguing.

When Schnall was arguing with Campos, one of the base umpires ran toward the confrontation and fell on his back.

“If you guys watch the video, there was a guy who came in extremely aggressively, tripped over Campos’ foot, embarrassed in front of 25,000, and goes ‘two-game suspension’ and says ‘bumping the umpire,’ Schnall said. ”There was no bump. I shouldn’t be held accountable for a grown man’s athleticism. Now it’s excessive because I was trying to say I didn’t bump him.

“It is what it is. If that warranted an ejection, there would be a lot of ejections. As umpires, it’s your job to manage the game with some poise and calmness and a little bit of tolerance.”

A spokesman said the NCAA stands by its original statement on the incident when asked for comment on Schnall’s remarks about bumping an umpire.

The NCAA in its initial statement on the incident said Schnall and Schilling engaged in “prolonged arguing,” which is to result in a two-game suspension. Schnall would miss the first two games of the 2026 season.

Schilling was thrown out for the comments he made while arguing, the NCAA said. If an assistant is ejected, he automatically also is suspended for one game. Schilling also got an additional two-game suspension under the “prolonged arguing” rule, the NCAA said. That means he will miss the first three games next year.

Associate head coach Chad Oxendine took over Schnall’s duties.

Schnall said he couldn’t hear Campos’ initial warning when he was arguing balls and strikes from the dugout.

“As a head coach, it’s your right to get an explanation for why we got warned,” Schnall said. “I’m 48 years old and I shouldn’t get shooed by another grown man. When I came out, I got told it was a warning issued for arguing balls and strikes, and I said it was because you missed three. At that point, ejected. If that warrants an ejection, I’m the first one to stand here like a man and apologize.”

That wasn’t going to happen.

“I’m not sorry for what happened,” he said. “I’m sorry for this being over. I’m sorry for how it ended.”