Bulldogs Believe Shaugabay's Magic Deserves More Recognition

UMD winger Jayson Shaugabay is one of the NCAA's leading scorers, but can get overlooked playing on a team and line filled with rising stars.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 6:15am

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Minnesota Duluth sophomore wing Jayson Shaugabay is the NCAA's leader in assists with 26 and is tied for fourth in points with 35, but the Warroad native has not received the same level of recognition as some of his high-scoring teammates. Bulldogs coach Scott Sandelin believes Shaugabay's elite offensive skills and vision deserve more attention, as the 2023 fourth-round NHL draft pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning has been "good every game, every weekend."

Why it matters

Shaugabay's lack of recognition highlights the challenge of standing out on a team with multiple star players. As one of the NCAA's most productive players, his contributions are vital to Minnesota Duluth's success, but can get overshadowed by the accolades earned by his linemates and other Bulldogs standouts.

The details

Shaugabay has 10 assists in the Bulldogs' first six games of 2026 and has scored in four of UMD's first six NCHC games this year. Despite his impressive numbers, Shaugabay was not included among the 88 names eligible for the 2026 Hobey Baker Memorial Award fan vote, as the Bulldogs were limited to submitting a maximum of three nominees - his linemates Zam Plante and Max Plante, and defenseman Ty Hanson.

  • Shaugabay has an NCAA-best 26 assists going into the Bulldogs' NCHC series this weekend at Denver.
  • Four of Shaugabay's nine total goals this season have come since the calendar flipped to January.
  • Shaugabay has goals in three of the team's first four NCHC games of 2026.

The players

Jayson Shaugabay

A sophomore wing for the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs hockey team who is the NCAA's leader in assists and tied for fourth in points this season.

Scott Sandelin

The head coach of the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs hockey team.

Zam Plante

A sophomore center for the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs and Shaugabay's linemate, who is tied for fourth in the NCAA in points this season.

Max Plante

A sophomore wing for the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs and Shaugabay's linemate, who is the NCAA's leader in points and co-leader in goals this season.

Ty Hanson

A sophomore defenseman for the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs who is second in scoring among NCAA defensemen this season.

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What they’re saying

“It's nice someone finally recognizes what he's been doing.”

— Scott Sandelin, Head Coach, Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs

“He sees the ice so well. Even back in high school, you could just tell he was a step above everybody. Even now, too, you can see stuff you saw in high school out on the ice.”

— Harper Bentz, Sophomore Wing, Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs

“He sees the ice differently than all the guys. I remember last year Sandy was getting on him a couple times for his forecheck. He'd stand at the blue line and the guy would pass it right to him. He's just smart enough to be in the right spot all the time.”

— Zam Plante, Sophomore Center, Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs

What’s next

This weekend's games at Denver will feature a matchup between the two highest scoring defensemen in the NCAA: Minnesota Duluth's Ty Hanson and Denver's Eric Pohlkamp.

The takeaway

Despite his impressive production, Jayson Shaugabay has not received the same level of recognition as some of his high-profile teammates on the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs. However, his elite vision, playmaking skills, and consistent performance make him a vital part of the team's success, even if he doesn't always get the spotlight.