A former Ely youth and high school hockey player has been named captain of the hockey team at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
Joey Pierce, who graduated from Hermantown but started his high school hockey career in Ely, will lead the Bulldogs during the 2025-26 campaign, which starts next month.
With 12 newcomers this season — seven freshmen and five transfers — the Bulldogs opted to hold off on voting for captains until last week instead of doing so in the spring.
Pierce, 22, is one of five seniors on the UMD roster.
Known as the Swiss Army knife of the UMD locker room, Pierce is a defenseman who has been called upon to play forward when the bench gets short due to injuries. He’s been praised by coach Scott Sandelin for playing a simple game. Pierce has just one goal in 97 games at UMD, and 12 career assists.
Pierce, who attended Ely schools through eighth grade and was part of the Timberwolves’ high school team in 2016-17.
He transferred to Hermantown in 2017 and was part of two Hawks state tournament teams and a finalist for the Minnesota Mr. Hockey Award.
Redshirt senior Kyler Kovich, junior defenseman Aaron Pionk and sophomore defenseman Ty Hanson and sophomore wing Max Plante will wear an ‘A’ as alternate captains at UMD in 2025-26. Pionk, Hanson and Plante are all former Htermantown Hawks.
