UMD Women’s Hockey to Battle Bellamy & Harvard in Belfast

UMD is 8-1 all-time against Harvard.

DULUTH, Minn.- It’s almost gameday for the UMD women’s hockey team.

But, it’s not any ordinary game.

Friday morning, the Bulldogs will play in their first-ever international game, facing Harvard in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

It’s all a part of the Friendship Series, with the winner of the contest set to face either Boston or Quinnipiac on Saturday.

But first things first is Laura Bellamy’s Crimson.

The Duluth native and former UMD assistant coach has Harvard off to a 7-6-1 start this season.

“UMD and Harvard have always had really good battles. Obviously, we played series against them. We’ve seen them in the national tournament. So it’s going to be a real good highly competitive game. Lou has them playing really good hockey. So, we’re already starting our scouts, we have to scout three teams,” said head coach Laura Schuler.

Bellamy was with the Dogs for eight seasons, the last being in 2022, where she coached up current players Mary Kate O’Brien and Tova Henderson.

“It’ll be fun, familiar face obviously behind the bench. But, a brand new team from when we played Harvard like twoish years ago. So, yeah it’ll be exciting,” said Henderson.

“I’m sure they’re going to have a good goaltender too, that was always Lou’s bread and butter as well. So, should expect to have to work hard to get to the inside and work hard to score. Obviously have to focus on d-zone as well,” added O’Brien.

All-time, UMD is 8-1 against Harvard, with their most recent victory coming in November of the 2022-2023 season.

Puck drop is bright and early at 9 AM on Friday morning.