Following a three-week layoff, the University of Minnesota Duluth is set to usher in the New Year this Saturday night (Jan. 2) with a exhibition bout against the U.S.National Under-18 Team at AMSOIL Arena.

The Bulldogs, who are an even 7-7-3 on the year, have been idle since Dec. 12 while the U.S. Under-18s last played on Dec. 19 but will host United States Hockey League's Chicago Steel on Wednesday in Arbor, Mich. They have compiled a 22-6-1 record this season, including an impressive 5-1-1 mark against NCAA Division I competition with victories against Lake Superior State University (2-1 in overtime on Oct. 4 in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.), Boston University (7-4 pmm Oct.16 in Boston), Dartmouth College (5-4 on Oct. 17 in Durham, N.H.), Niagara University (3-2 in overtime on Nov. 14 in Ann Arbor) and Princeton University (4-1 on Dec. 12 in Princeton, N.J.).

The U.S. team includes future Bulldog and Roseville, Minn., native Joey Anderson, as well as Minnesotans Matthew Hellickson (Rogers), Ryan Lindgren (Minneapolis), Kieffer Bellows (Edina) and Jake Oettinger (Lakeville).

Read more at umdbulldogs.com.