DULUTH — Way back, in the before time, in the long, long ago, the only place to find former Bulldogs was in the professional hockey ranks.
Not anymore.
In 2025-26, 17 former Minnesota Duluth players will be suiting up for other NCAA schools after departing Duluth via the transfer portal. Ten former UMD men’s players are playing for different programs this season, while seven former UMD women are with other teams.
Here’s the rundown, leading with the players each Bulldogs team will be seeing again in 2025-26.
Junior forward, North Dakota
A native of Baxter, Minnesota, the Bulldogs will see Menghini right away to open conference play Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks.
Menghini told the Grand Forks Herald in April
that playing for North Dakota has long been his dream. He had 12 goals last season for UMD.
Minnesota Duluth forward Anthony Menghini (26) skates with the puck against St. Cloud State defenseman Josh Luedtke (21) on Friday, Jan. 10 at Amsoil Arena in Duluth.
Clint Austin / File / Duluth Media Group
Senior goaltender, North Dakota
A native of Fargo, Sandy is returning home after three seasons as the No. 3 goalie in Duluth.
He’ll likely play the same role with the Fighting Hawks
after getting two career starts at UMD.
Minnesota Duluth goaltender Zach Sandy (31) warms up prior to a game against North Dakota on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at Amsoil Arena in Duluth.
Clint Austin / File / Duluth Media Group
Junior forward, Western Michigan
After playing the 2024-25 season in the United States Hockey League with the Dubuque Fighting Saints, the 2022 Boston Bruins fourth-round draft pick is back in the NCHC with Western Michigan, joining the school this fall. The Grand Forks native originally committed to play at Arizona State in 2025-26, but then was dropped. Spicer left UMD after failing to regain the academic eligibility he lost midway through his sophomore year 2023-24. UMD is at Western on Dec. 5-6.
Minnesota Duluth forward Cole Spicer (11) skates with the puck against Bemidji State on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, at Amsoil Arena in Duluth.
Clint Austin / File / Duluth News Tribune
Senior forward, Northern Michigan
The Manitoba native had just one goal and five assists last season playing a fourth-line role at UMD. The rebuilding Wildcats finished last in the CCHA and
No. 62 out of 64 teams in the final Pairwise rankings.
Minnesota Duluth forward Kyle Bettens (24) skates with the puck against Alaska defenseman Adam Cardona (12) on Friday, Jan. 3 at Amsoil Arena in Duluth.
Clint Austin / File / Duluth Media Group
Senior defenseman, Wisconsin
After serving as an assistant captain his junior year, Dubinsky used the transfer portal to relocate closer to his home in the Northern suburbs of Chicago. He had four goals and 10 assists for UMD last season.
Minnesota Duluth defenseman Aiden Dubinsky (28) shoots the puck against Western Michigan on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, at Amsoil Arena in Duluth.
Clint Austin / File / Duluth Media Group
Sophomore goaltender, Lindenwood
Knapp thought he found a new home in Houghton with Michigan Tech, and a new coach in former goaltender Joe Shawhan. However, Shawhan was replaced as head coach in May by Lindenwood coach Bill Muckalt,
who brought his own goalie with him from the Lions.
So Knapp landed at Lindenwood, an independent, after splitting time a year ago in the NCHC with Adam Gajan.
Minnesota Duluth goaltender Klayton Knapp (37) lifts his helmet during a pause in the game against Arizona State on Friday, Feb. 14 at Amsoil Arena in Duluth.
Clint Austin / File / Duluth Media Group
Senior forward, Minnesota State
The native of St. Cloud was UMD’s third-line center a year ago, and
one of coach Scott Sandelin’s most trusted players on last year’s team.
The 2020 Montreal Canadiens fourth round draft pick had four goals and five assists as a junior for UMD.
Minnesota Duluth forward Jack Smith (12) and Miami forward Raimonds Vitolins (6) fight for the puck Saturday, March 1 at Amsoil Arena in Duluth.
Clint Austin / File / Duluth Media Group
Junior forward, Northeastern
The Saskatchewan native and 2023 fourth-round Vancouver Canucks draft pick had a strong freshman season with six goals and nine assists, but struggled as a sophomore to stay in the lineup, finishing with just one goal and four assists.
Minnesota Duluth forward Matthew Perkins (34) skates with the puck against Alaska forward Broten Sabo (7) on Friday, Jan. 3 at Amsoil Arena in Duluth.
Clint Austin / File / Duluth Media Group
Senior forward, Alaska Anchorage
The St. Cloud native left UMD after his sophomore season and played last year as a junior at Alaska (Fairbanks), getting in a collegiate-low 15 games while scoring collegiate-highs of two goals and four points. Now he’s with the Seawolves after taking a second trip through the portal.
Minnesota Duluth forward Luke Johnson (37) skates with the puck against St. Cloud State at Amsoil Arena on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Duluth.
Clint Austin / File / Duluth Media Group
Redshirt senior forward, Augsburg
The Moorhead native has a fifth year of eligibility left after missing all of his sophomore season in 2022-23 with an injury, so he’ll play hockey and pursue a masters degree at the NCAA Division III level. Kleven had three goals and six assists last season at Niagara.
Minnesota Duluth forward Kyler Kleven (22) shoots the puck agaist St. Cloud State defenseman Cooper Wylie (26) at Amsoil Arena on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Duluth.
Clint Austin / File / Duluth Media Group
Junior forward, St. Cloud State
While the native of Tomah, Wisconsin, dressed for 69 of UMD’s 78 games the previous two seasons, she was often the odd player out on the line chart playing as the extra skater. Holloway is the Huskies’ third-line center to start this season.
Minnesota Duluth forward Payton Holloway (6) passes the puck against Syracuse on Friday, Jan. 3 at Amsoil Arena in Duluth.
Clint Austin / File / Duluth Media Group
Senior goaltender, St. Cloud State
Chobak hasn’t played for the Bulldogs since 2022, but is still in the NCAA after redshirting in 2024-25. She’s now a redshirt fifth-year senior at SCSU and in line to be the Huskies’ No. 1 after splitting time her first two seasons in St. Cloud. UMD is at SCSU on Oct. 31-Nov. 1.
St. Cloud State goaltender Jojo Chobak (29) makes a save against Minnesota Duluth during the first round of the WCHA playoff on Saturday, March 2, 2024 at Amsoil Arena in Duluth.
Clint Austin / File / Duluth Media Group
Senior goaltender, Ohio State
If MacLeod thought she was going to get a significant boost in playing time in Columbus after leaving the shadow of Eve Gascon, she was wrong. The Chicago native played six fewer games, finishing with a 1.63 goals against average and .907 save percentage, both collegiate lows. MacLeod is now the Buckeyes’ most experienced goalie in 2025-26. UMD hosts Ohio State Nov. 21-22.
Minnesota Duluth goaltender Hailey MacLeod (35) makes a save against Ohio State during the WCHA semifinal at the Ridder Arena on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Minneapolis.
Clint Austin / File / Duluth News Tribune
Redshirt senior goaltender, Clarkson
Gruber also left UMD along with Chobak in 2022, and finally got her shot a year ago, posting a strong 1.45 GAA and .930 save percentage with five shutouts in 20 games, She played just three games for the Golden Knights and Bulldogs in the three prior seasons.
Minnesota Duluth goaltender Holly Gruber (35) and Minnesota Duluth goaltender Emma Soderberg (30) watch the game against St Cloud State on Friday, Feb. 18, 2022, at Amsoil Arena in Duluth.
Clint Austin / File / Duluth News Tribune
Sophomore forward, Clarkson
After playing 15 games in the first semester, Logan was ruled “unavailable” for the entire second semester for reasons the team chose not to publicly disclose. She failed to register a point in her single semester at UMD.
Minnesota Duluth forward Reese Logan (17) skates with the puck against St. Thomas on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, at Amsoil Arena in Duluth.
Clint Austin / File / Duluth Media Group
Senior forward, Maine
After wearing a letter in her first season with the Black Bears as alternate captain, the Chisago Lakes graduate is now wearing a ‘C’ this season after tallying a goal and five assists last year.
Minnesota Duluth forward Danielle Burgen (8) shoots the puck against Minnesota on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023, at Amsoil Arena in Duluth.
Clint Austin / File / Duluth Media Group
Junior defenseman, Union
Dunkle is still seeking her first collegiate goal after a season at UMD and a season at Union. She had four assists last year after registering one at UMD.
Minnesota Duluth defenseman Quinn Dunkle (4) controls the puck against Long Island on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023, at Amsoil Arena in Duluth.
Clint Austin / File / Duluth News Tribune