Minnesota-Duluth commit Owen Gallatin’s personal cheering section numbered 15 on Saturday afternoon in the defenseman’s return to Minnesota and no doubt hoped for some quality time with their hero. 

However, Gallatin’s postgame plan sounded more geared toward efficiency than sentimentality. 

“Get a good meal in, get a good rest, come back tomorrow (and) hopefully get another win,” Gallatin said after tallying an assist and logging significant time on special teams in his NTDP-U17 squad’s 4-3 win over Team North on Saturday.

After Matt Gleason put Team North up 1-0 less than two minutes into the first period, the NTDP-U17’s stormed back with four straight goals from Thomas Bordeleau, Landon Slaggert, Daniel Laatsch, and Dylan Peterson. That 4-1 lead would shrink as Team North got goals from Ryder Donovan and Blake Biondi down the stretch in the second, but the NTDP-U17’s managed to hold off Team North for a scoreless third for a 4-3 win. 

Goaltender Drew Commesso of the NTDP-U17’s made 25 saves in the win, while Carter Clafton stopped 17 shots for Team North. 

After a remarkable freshman season on the White Bear Lake varsity’s first defensive pairing, Gallatin made the jump to the NTDP, a move that has been a positive one. 

“It’s been a pretty good transition,” Gallatin said. “The guys on the team are really great. It’s been a lot of fun playing with them.”

Even with a season of varsity hockey under his belt, Gallatin said that the game at the NTDP's level was nothing he could have been prepared for. 

“The speed of the USHL is a lot faster, you’ve gotta make plays fast, but it’s been good so far,” Gallatin explained. 

Gallatin, whose coaches applaud his hockey sense and unflappable demeanor, said that his favorite part of his journey to the program is the pride that comes with donning the same sweater previously worn by NHL stars Patrick Kane, Johnny Gaudreau, and Auston Matthews. 

“Putting on that jersey every day and going out and representing my country,” Gallatin said. “Coming back to Minnesota wearing the USA jersey, people kind of know who I am,” Gallatin added.

If Saturday’s game is any indication, Minnesotan hockey fans won’t be the only ones that recognize Gallatin in the future.