At 2 p.m. on Sunday, the University of Minnesota Duluth mens hockey team will hear their name called during the 2026 NCAA tournament selection show on ESPNU for the first time since winning their last Frozen Faceoff title in 2022. The Bulldogs are one of 11 teams who are considered to be a 100% lock for the NCAA tournament based on the 20,000 simulations run by College Hockey News.
But before Selection Sunday, the sixth-ranked Bulldogs are hoping for some hardware, specifically - the NCHC Frozen Faceoff Championship as they will take on fourth-ranked Denver at 7:07 p.m. Friday at Magness Arena on the University of Denver campus in the conference final.
Joining Bulldog Insider co-host Matt Wellens this week to discuss the NCHC playoffs and NCAA Tournament is freshman forward Daniel Shlaine. The native of Moscow, Russia has five goals and five assists in 34 games this season. Shlaine also discusses his background in hockey, growing up in Russia, his brother Artem who played at Arizona State, playing at Shattuck St. Mary's in Faribault, what brought him to UMD, apartment life with teammates as roommates and much more.
Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Dan Williamson and Wyatt Buckner. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts.