S8 E23: Ashley Messier makes an impact

S8 E23: Ashley Messier makes an impact

Author: Duluth News Tribune March 12, 2026 Duration: 33:42

The season is not done for Ashley Messier and the UMD womens hockey team! They earned a sixth-consecutive NCAA tournament berth. Messier, a Graduate Student defenseman from Wilcox, Saskatchewan, Canada, joined the Bulldogs after five years at Cornell. If you're wondering about her last name, she is indeed related to NHL legend Mark Messier, who is a cousin of her father Joby, also a former NHL player.

In this episode, Messier joins Bulldog Insider co-host Matt Wellens via Zoom, discussing her background in hockey, why she transferred to UMD, being reunited with Bishop Kearney Selects teammate Mary Kate O'Brien, making the 2026 NCAA Tournament, and much more.

The Bulldogs were able to hang on to the last at-large bid to the 11-team tournament last week, finishing No. 10 in the NCAA Percentage Index Ratings — the system used to select and seed the NCAA men's and women's hockey tournaments. The week began with five Cinderellas from outside the top 10 of the NPI still alive in conference tournaments. One by one, they fell throughout the week, improving UMD's chances each day.

UMD (20-14-3) now has a chance to bounce back from a disappointing WCHA tournament by playing Yale (25-9) in a "battle of the Bulldogs" at 5 p.m. CDT Thursday at the OSU Ice Rink in Columbus, Ohio, with the winner getting the top seeded Ohio State Buckeyes (34-4) at 5 p.m. Saturday. The winner advances to the 2026 NCAA Women's Frozen Four at Penn State.

It's a special double dog week for the Bulldog Insider podcast with another episode scheduled for Friday featuring freshman defenseman Grayden Siepmann of the UMD mens team. They'll face North Dakota on the road on Saturday at 6:07 PM in an NCHC semifinal showdown. As Wellens writes, the Bulldogs are considered a lock to make the 16-team NCAA Tournament.

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

 

Every week, the rhythms and rivalries of college hockey get a deep, local dive on Bulldog Insider. This isn't just a broadcast from a newsroom; it's a conversation straight from the heart of Bulldog country, brought to you by the Duluth News Tribune. Hosts Matt Wellens, a seasoned reporter, and Zach Schneider, a My9 sports commentator, bring their distinct perspectives to the microphone, creating a dynamic that feels like listening in on a knowledgeable debate between friends. The real texture of the show comes from the voices you hear alongside them-current University of Minnesota Duluth players sharing the view from the locker room, coaches breaking down strategy beyond the post-game quotes, and alumni connecting today's team to its storied legacy. You'll get more than just scores and highlights. This podcast digs into the stories behind the season: the developing strategies, the personal journeys of athletes, and the pivotal moments that define a program. It’s essential listening for anyone who lives and breathes UMD hockey, offering an insider's access that goes far beyond the standard game recap. Tune in weekly for the analysis, the interviews, and the passion that only a community deeply invested in its team can provide.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 228

Bulldog Insider
Podcast Episodes
S7 E23: Did the Bulldogs Meet Our Expectations in 2024-25? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:53
Duluth's UMD hockey "Insiders" evaluate the 2024-25 Bulldogs men's and women's hockey seasons, and look ahead to 2025-26, in Part I of the two-part Season 7 finale of the Bulldog Insider Podcast. Bulldog Insider is co-ho…
S7 E22: Sadura Was An Early Recruiting Target For UMD [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:19
Bulldogs sophomore Grace Sadura shares her journey from Minnetonka to UMD, tells us what it was like as a sophomore going through the coaching change and answers questions submitted by teammates. Bulldog Insider is co-ho…
S7 E21: Carter Loney, Owen Gallatin Relive First Day as Bulldogs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:02
Seniors Carter Loney and Owen Gallatin share memories from their four years at UMD, including what that first day was like back in 2021-22. Who were the teammates they looked up to as freshmen? Bulldog Insider is co-host…
S7 E20: Who Said It? with Nina Jobst-Smith and Clara Van Wieren [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:35
Fifth year seniors Clara Van Wieren and Nina Jobst-Smith return to Bulldog Insider to look back on their five years as Bulldogs, and figure out who said what crazy thing previously on the podcast. Bulldog Insider is co-h…
S7 E19: Lawry, Fuhrman Look Back on Careers at UMD [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:08
Bulldogs seniors Jenna Lawry and Brenna Fuhrman take a look back at an eventful four years at UMD as they try to make one last run at an NCAA Frozen Four berth and national championship. Bulldog Insider is co-hosted by M…
S7 E18: Klayton Knapp's Patience Pays Off at UMD [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:58
Bulldogs freshman goaltender Klayton Knapp only got one start in his first three months of college hockey. Since Christmas, the man known as Knapper, Napkin and Kidnapper has been UMD's go-to-goalie. Bulldog Insider is c…
S7 E17: Hanna Baskin Navigates Future in Pro Hockey [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:38
Like every senior in college, UMD defenseman Hanna Baskin has to start thinking about what life after college is going to look like. As a future professional hockey player, it's as uncertain as ever. Bulldog Insider is c…
S7 E16: Recruiting Major Junior with Adam Krause [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:56
Associate head coach Adam Krause discusses how the Bulldogs men's hockey team is recruiting major junior leagues in Canada now that the NCAA has lifted the ban on players who were once off limits. Bulldog Insider is co-h…
S7 E15: Molenaar Just What Young Bulldogs Needed [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:59
Former Husky Joe Molenaar is just what UMD was looking for with 11 freshmen on the roster this season. The Bulldogs are exactly what Molenaar was looking for at this point in hockey career and life. Bulldog Insider is co…
S7 E14: Hanson, Kleber Came Prepared to UMD [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:49
Minnesota Duluth freshmen defensemen Adam Kleber and Ty Hanson may still be teenagers, but they both know what it's like to live and play hockey away from home. Kleber left Chaska High School following his sophomore year…