Sophia Villanueva is the first Bulldog — men or women — to call Texas home. However, Texas is just one of the plethora of places the Minnesota Duluth freshman goaltender has called home in her young life.

Villanueva's father, Mark, was a maintenance test pilot for Apache helicopters in the U.S. Army and his career took the family to Texas, Korea, Colorado Springs and back to Texas. Meanwhile, Villanueva's burgeoning hockey career has taken her to Arizona, Minnesota, Connecticut and back again to Minnesota, where at UMD she is the ever-ready understudy of Bulldogs junior goalie and Canadian Olympic hopeful Eve Gason.

Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producer Wyatt Buckner. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts.

UMD sophomore defenseman Ty Hanson is one of the top scoring defensemen in the NCAA, and an alternate captain of a No. 3-ranked Bulldogs team that's having a blast to start the 2025-26 season.

Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producer Wyatt Buckner. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts.

You had questions — a lot of them — and the "Insiders" who cover the Minnesota Duluth men's and women's hockey teams have answers. Some of them may actually be good answers.

The radio voice of Bulldogs hockey, Bruce Ciskie, joined News Tribune college hockey reporter Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider of My 9 Sports on the Bulldog Insider Podcast this week to break down the start of the 2025-26 season for the men and women. The "Bulldog Insiders" resubmitted their ballots for the preseason NCHC poll and they answered questions that were sent in by podcast listeners and viewers on this week's episode.

Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producer Wyatt Buckner. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts.

Finland's Krista Parkkonen and Sweden's Thea Johansson transferred to Minnesota Duluth not only to improve themselves as hockey players, but their national team programs ahead of the 2026 Olympics.

Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producer Wyatt Buckner. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts.

0:00 Intro

1:22 Transferring to UMD

11:51 Winter Olympics 2026

24:02 Edmund Fitzgerald: 50 Years Below

26:07 Finland vs Sweden

44:41 Rapid Fire Questions

UMD's Zam Plante joins the Bulldog Insider Podcast to talk hockey, hunting and the competitive nature of his family. The Hermantown native also answers the questions submitted by you and his family.

Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producer Wyatt Buckner. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts.

0:00 Intro

1:10 Responding to grievances

15:50 Zam's forward line

18:31 Plante family

22:01 Edmund Fitzgerald: 50 Years Below

24:07 Team nicknames

29:13 Listener submitted questions

37:34 Rapid fire questions

UMD junior goaltender Eve Gascon is juggling more than just pucks in the crease this season, backstopping the Bulldogs while trying to make the 2026 Canadian Olympic women's hockey team.

Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producer Wyatt Buckner. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts.

0:00 Intro 1:21 Olympics 2026 Possibilities 19:36 Edmund Fitzgerald: 50 Years Below 21:38 Canadian Goaltending Room 25:01 UMD Goaltending Room 31:07 Rapid Fire Questions

UMD sophomore wingers Callum Arnott and Jayson Shaugabay return to the podcast to break down Tampa Bay Lighting development camp, the Bulldogs' trip to Alaska and this season's living arrangements.

Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producer Wyatt Buckner. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts.

0:00 Intro

0:31 Alaska Trip & Future Travel

8:09 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL Development Camp

15:33 Edmund Fitzgerald: 50 Years Below

17:26 Arnott's Knowledge of High School Hockey

18:26 Roommates & Teammates

25:36 The Strong Bond of the Bulldogs Team

29:39 Listener Submitted Questions

There has been a wave of retirements by veteran college hockey coaches in recent years. Is Bulldogs coach Scott Sandelin anywhere close to joining in? What still drives him entering Season 26 at UMD?

Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producer Wyatt Buckner. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts.

0:00 Intro

0:51 Feelings Going Into Season 26

1:39 Scott Sandelin's Thoughts on Retirement

21:30 "Edmund Fitzgerald: 50 Years Below" Promo

23:32 Listener Submitted Questions

44:12 Conclusion

Bulldogs captain Mary Kate O'Brien is kind of a big deal on the ice and off it, giving a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a college hockey players on TikTok.

Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producer Wyatt Buckner. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts.

0:00 Intro

2:25 Benefits of a lengthy road trip to start the season?

6:01 Rookie Idol

8:56 Rookie standouts

10:29 Transfers from rival teams

13:12 Which transfer has been the biggest surprise to join the Bulldogs?

16:39 "Edmund Fitzgerald: 50 Years Below" preview

18:50 MK's TikTok Journey

31:49 How to make a good TikTok

38:07 Conclusion

The Bulldog Insider Podcast is back for Season 8. The 'Insiders' Matt, Zach and Bruce preview the upcoming 2025-26 UMD men's and women's hockey seasons, and answer questions submitted by listeners.

Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by Matt Wellens and Zach Schneider. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producer Wyatt Buckner. You can find more Bulldog hockey coverage at duluthnewstribune.com and more episodes of Bulldog Insider wherever you listen to podcasts.

0:00 Intro

3:14 Why will this season be different?

9:16 Potential Impact of 2026 Olympics

18:08 Will a UMD transfer lead in goals again?

22:45 Who will be the MVP on the women's team?

25:07 "Edmund Fitzgerald: 50 Years Below" preview

27:39 Who will make a bigger impact: freshman or transfers?

30:56 Who is the most intriguing freshman?

34:48 Which of the transfers is the most intriguing?

40:25 NCHC Preseason Poll: Where did UMD end up?

51:46 Listener submitted questions

1:05:00 Conclusion & TV Schedule