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 E4: Dominic James Made Blind Commitment to UMD [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:35
Minnesota Duluth's senior captain Dominic James had only been to the state of Minnesota once in his entire life growing up, coming to the Twin Cities when he was around 12 years old for a youth hockey tournament. James t…
S7 E3: Plante Brothers are Teammates, Roommates Again [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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After two years apart, brothers Zam and Max Plante are back home in the Twin Ports, and roommates again. The Hermantown natives both moved away in 2022 to play hockey elsewhere following a win for the Hawks in the Minnes…
S7 E2: Fate leads Schuler back to UMD, to dream job [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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When Maura Crowell left the Bulldogs this year to become the head coach at Dartmouth, Schuler finally got the job she sought after nine years ago. The new UMD women's hockey coach joined the Bulldog Insider Podcast to re…
S7 E1: Matt, Zach and Bruce preview 2024-25 season [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:32
The Bulldog Insider Podcast is back for its seventh season with Matt Wellens of the News Tribune, Zach Schneider of My9 Sports and KDAL's Bruce Ciskie previewing the 2024-25 UMD women's and men's hockey seasons. The Bull…
S6 E24: Insiders answer your questions in Part II of season finale [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:29
The 2023-24 Minnesota Duluth men's and women's hockey seasons came to a close less than two weeks ago, but the offseason news is only heating up. And we know you have lots of questions about the programs moving forward.…
S6 E23: Looking back at the 2023-24 season, Part I [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:01
The 2023-24 Minnesota Duluth men's and women's hockey seasons have come to a close following the UMD women's loss to Ohio State in the NCAA tournament and the Bulldogs men getting swept by Denver in the NCHC quarterfinal…
S6 E22: From Hibbing, to Hermantown, to UMD with Darian Gotz [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:46
The Minnesota Duluth men's hockey team is hitting the road this weekend for the NCHC quarterfinals, and while senior defenseman Darian Gotz would much rather be playing at Amsoil Arena this weekend, the destination this…
S6 E21: 'MK' cracks open the Northeast pipeline to UMD [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:00
The Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team is heading to the WCHA Final Faceoff this weekend at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis, and after that, the Bulldogs will very likely be playing in the NCAA women's hockey tournament fo…
S6 E20: Debating the UMD women's 25th anniversary team [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:14
This week on the Bulldog Insider Podcast, we breakdown and debate the UMD Women's Hockey 25th anniversary team that has now been released in its entirety. The authority on UMD women's hockey, UMD director of athletic com…