UMD men’s hockey thanks Athletic Trainer Hoppe for healthy season

On Wednesday the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) men’s hockey team learned they’d be seeing the return of sophomore defenseman Wyatt Kaiser and freshman forward Dominic James sooner than expected.

With the cancellation of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Junior Hockey Championship, due to the spike of Covid-19 cases, the two will shortly be making their way from Canada back onto the Bulldogs bench.

So far the UMD program itself has only ran into a few Covid bumps this season. Head coach Scott Sandelin attributes their health and success to athletic trainer Doctor Suz Hoppe.

"She’s done a great job," Sandelin said about Hoppe, now in her 18th year overseeing the program. "We all wish this wouldn’t be the case but she’s done a great job for us the last two years and she’s on top of it. It goes back to last year too, as long as everyone is honest about things you know you’ll get through it the right way."

The Bulldogs are back in action from the semester break on Thursday opening a home-and-home series at Minnesota State University, Mankato at 7:07pm.