Matt Wellens

Duluth

College Hockey Reporter at Duluth News Tribune

College hockey reporter for @duluthnews covering the UMD Bulldogs men's and women's hockey programs. Co-host of the Bulldog Insider Podcast.

Articles

Proctor goaltender A.J. Reyelts will be a Bulldog

3 weeks ago | duluthnewstribune.com | Matt Wellens

DULUTH — Proctor’s A.J. Reyelts has committed to Minnesota Duluth for the future. The former Rails goaltender announced his commitment to the Bulldogs on Wednesday via Instagram. “I am extremely proud and excited to announce my commitment to play hockey for the UMD Bulldogs,” Reyelts wrote on Instagram.
Matt Wellens column: Whatever happened to New Champ?

4 weeks ago | duluthnewstribune.com | Matt Wellens

DULUTH — I have many concerns as a parent, but my biggest nightmare is having to replace my child’s favorite stuffie, Teddy. Teddy is a pretty generic bear. He was a gift from my aunt to my oldest child when he was born. Teddy has no doubt seen better days after 6-plus years of love. He’s lost a lot of weight, his fur is permanently matted and his bow tie is now just a tattered knot. What would happen if I tried to replace Teddy in any way?
Mannon McMahon still hasn't missed a game since high school

1 month ago | duluthnewstribune.com | Matt Wellens

Mannon McMahon still hasn't missed a game since high schoolFormer Bulldogs captain Mannon McMahon played in all 38 games for the Ottawa Charge as a rookie in the PWHL in 2024-25. The Charge lost in the PWHL Walter Cup Finals in four games to the Minnesota Frost, falling 2-1 in overtime Monday at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. McMahon didn't miss a game in five seasons at UMD from 2019-2024, playing in a school record 173 straight games.
5 things to know about the 2025-26 Bulldogs women's hockey schedule

1 month ago | duluthnewstribune.com | Matt Wellens

DULUTH — The picture for 2025-26 at Amsoil Arena is now complete as the Minnesota Duluth’s women’s hockey program revealed next season’s schedule Wednesday in conjunction with the WCHA releasing its league schedule. The Bulldogs are coming off a fifth-straight NCAA tournament appearance in 2024-25 and will be entering their second season under head coach Laura Schuler in 2025-26. The Sept. 20 start date is the earliest for a regular season game in program history.
O'Brien named UMD captain for 2025-26

1 month ago | duluthnewstribune.com | Matt Wellens

DULUTH — Minnesota Duluth redshirt junior forward Mary Kate O’Brien is receiving a promotion for her redshirt senior season, being named captain of the Bulldogs women’s hockey program for 2025-26. O’Brien was an alternate captain for UMD in 2024-25 when she scored seven goals and 18 assists for a collegiate-high 25 points. The Wilbraham, Massachusetts, native received a medical redshirt her freshman year after missing all but three games due to injury.
Bulldogs battle for Walter Cup in PWHL Finals

1 month ago | duluthnewstribune.com | Matt Wellens

DULUTH — The 2025 Professional Women’s Hockey League Finals get underway at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Canada’s capital city when the Ottawa Charge host the defending PWHL Walter Cup champion Minnesota Frost at TD Place Arena. Eight alumni of the Minnesota Duluth women’s hockey program will be on the ice in the best-of-five championship series, with three going for back-to-back titles with Minnesota while five chase their first PWHL championship in Ottawa.
Wellens column: NCAA regional debate requires creative thinking

1 month ago | duluthnewstribune.com | Matt Wellens

Change is coming to the NCAA Division I men’s hockey tournament, but not the change some have been shouting for from center ice the last couple of years. Starting in 2025-26, the NCAA championship committee will use a different mathematical formula to select at-large teams and seed the 16-team NCAA tournament. The Pairwise rankings are being replaced entirely by the NCAA Percentage Index (NPI).
UMD hockey attendance at Amsoil Arena drops in 2024-25

1 month ago | duluthnewstribune.com | Matt Wellens

DULUTH — A third-straight losing season in 2024-25 for the Minnesota Duluth men’s hockey program led to the lowest average attendance in 13 full seasons at Amsoil Arena, not counting the COVID-19 pandemic season of 2020-21 when only a few hundred fans were allowed at games. The Bulldogs averaged 5,668 fans per game in 2024-25 as they lost 20 games for the third-consecutive season, finishing 13-20-3.
Winnipeg 'Bulldogs' will Jets onward in Stanley Cup Playoffs

1 month ago | duluthnewstribune.com | Matt Wellens

DULUTH — Former Minnesota Duluth defensemen Neal Pionk and Dylan Samberg, both of Hermantown, played over 40 minutes each Sunday night for the Winnipeg Jets in a come-from-behind 4-3 double-overtime victory over the St. Louis Blues in Game 7 of their first round series. Pionk had three assists and finished with 46 minutes, 15 seconds of ice time.
Swedish, Finnish national team players transfer to UMD

1 month ago | duluthnewstribune.com | Matt Wellens

Swedish, Finnish national team players transfer to UMDThe UMD women’s hockey program has added a pair of transfers who just finished playing for Sweden and Finland in the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship in Czechia. Mercyhurst junior forward Thea Johansson of Sweden and Minnesota junior defenseman Krista Parkkonen of Finland are transferring to the Bulldogs for 2025-26.