Miami resumes NCHC play for the final conference series of the 2023 calendar year as Minnesota Duluth comes to Steve "Coach" Cady Arena. The RedHawks have a 5-8-1 record (0-6-0 NCHC) after a home-and-home split with Mercyhurst on Thanksgiving weekend. UMD is 4-8-3 (1-5-0 NCHC) this year after splitting a home series vs. Omaha.

This weekend's games are set for Friday, Dec. 8 and Saturday, Dec. 9, with puck drop scheduled for 7:05 p.m. both nights. The games are available on NCHC.tv, with radio coverage Friday on WKBV 1490 AM (Richmond, Ind.) and Saturday on WMOH 1450 AM The Ticket (Hamilton, Ohio). Greg Waddell (play-by-play) and Drew Davis (analyst) will have the call.

The Bulldogs lead the all-time series 29-7-3. Both teams are 2-2-1 in the past five meetings, including a series split in Duluth last year: UMD won 3-2 on Feb. 24, 2023 with Miami taking a 4-1 victory the following night.

Matthew Barbolini leads the RedHawks in both goals (eight) and assists (10). PJ Fletcher (5-7-12) and John Waldron (4-7-11) also have double-figure point totals for Miami this season. Logan Neaton is 5-7-1 in net and owns a 3.12 GAA and .897 save percentage in 13 starts.

Head coach Chris Bergeron and sophomore center Blake Mesenburg met with the media this week to preview the matchup against Minnesota Duluth.