DULUTH — Hermantown's Blake Biondi will not be returning to Minnesota-Duluth, where he has wanted to play since he was a kid, for a fifth season in 2024-25. The senior wing entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal this week.
Biondi, 21, who was Minnesota's Mr. Hockey in the 2019-20 season, briefly participated in the United States Hockey League in the spring after completing his senior season at Hermantown High School, but came to UMD and scored a total of 30 goals. Recorded 28 assists. 119 games in his career.
His best season was his second season in 2021-22, when he had 17 goals and 11 assists in 42 games. He only appeared in 17 games in his junior year in 2022-23 because he had surgery on both of his shoulders after the season.
Biondi, who was selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the fourth round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, had eight goals and 11 assists this season. He missed three games late in the 2023-24 season with an upper-body injury and finished with one goal and two assists in February and March.
Biondi is one of three true seniors on the Bulldogs' 2023-24 roster, along with goaltender Zach Stejskal of Cohasset and Darian Gotts of Hermantown, due to the coronavirus pandemic. He came to UMD as a freshman due to an infectious disease and is eligible for a fifth season in 2024-25. 2020-2021 19 Pandemic Season.
The trio helped UMD reach its fourth consecutive NCAA Frozen Four as a freshman in 2021 and win the NCHC Frozen Faceoff title in 2022.
Based on who the Bulldogs sign to their national letters of intent for 2024-2025, it looks like all three will transfer from UMD this spring. Bulldogs coach Scott Sandelin said his team includes Hermantown forwards Max and Zam Plante, Warroads' Jason Shaugabay and Callum Arnott, who is playing in the British Columbia Junior Hockey League this season. Signed eight players to National Letters of Intent for 2024-25.
Hermantown defenseman Ty Hanson and Chaska native Adam Kleber were also signed, as were goaltenders Adam Gajan and Clayton Knapp.
Biondi is now one of five players confirmed to leave, along with fifth-year senior forwards Quinn Olson, Luke Rohit and Connor McMenamin, and fifth-year senior goaltender Matthew Thiessen. It becomes.
