UMD men’s hockey falls in exhibition against St. Thomas

Despite the UMD men’s hockey team falling 3-1 on Saturday in an exhibition game against St. Thomas, the story of the day was who was and wasn’t on the ice.

Will Francis returned to the ice for the Bulldogs after a relapse with leukemia in August. Francis received a loud ovation as he was introduced as part of UMD’s starting lineup. Francis played a few early shifts, but did not finish the game.

Goaltender Zach Stejskal and Senior wing Blake Biondi were kept out of the game, as head coach Scott Sandelin eluded to holding players out this week for “precautionary reasons”.

As for the action on the ice, the lone Bulldog goal came from Braden Fischer in the third period, and although it won’t count for the season statistics, it was Fischer’s first goal of the game.

The Bulldogs turn towards Colorado College on January 12th in hopes of their first win of 2024.