Tom Brady challenged LeBron James to a hockey shootout during Twitter Q&A

We need to see this!!

Now that Tom Brady has put this thought into our minds, we need this to happen.

Late on Monday, LeBron James was answering questions on Twitter during Q&A, as one does when they’re bored online. LeBron provided some neat answers — such as what his favorite movies are and whether he prefers cake or pie — in a chill, low-key format.

It didn’t take long for Brady to jump in on the fun and ask LeBron a question of his own. The question? If LeBron would face off against Brady in a five-round hockey shootout to determine who would win, of course!

Seriously, what are the odds Tom Brady was surfing Twitter during LeBron’s Q&A!? Of course, a handful of NHL teams had to throw their hats in the ring to host this dream matchup.

LeBron did respond to Brady’s hypothetical challenge with a hilarious answer.

Who do we have to turn to to make this happen?

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CHL’s Antonio Stranges scored the coolest, one-handed penalty shot for London Knights

How can anyone possibly be this talented?

A penalty shot in hockey is a chance. It’s an opportunity for a player to show off their incredible individual skill that otherwise mostly isn’t possible during full-speed game action. Because of the increased pace and timing, players can essentially do whatever they want.

That’s a fun lesson the London Knights of the CHL learned once again on Thursday night.

During the Knights’ opening playoff game against the Kitchener Rangers, Antonio Stranges stepped up with the ice to himself. He got a penalty shot. And not only did he pot the puck in the back of the net, he did it with impeccable flair — with patience and just one hand:

As someone who can barely keep their feet on the ice, I’m amazed at Stranges’ talent. Not only in that patience but, I mean, one hand! The Knights eventually lost 3-2, but it didn’t matter because that goal was flat-out awesome.

That’s hockey with a capital H, right there. Hats off to you, Antonio Stranges — you did exactly what you’re supposed to do with a penalty shot.

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Notre Dame’s Karashik Signs With The Lehigh Valley Phantoms

Congratulations on the next step!

The following release is courtesy of Notre Dame athletics:

SOUTH BEND, Ind.  – University of Notre Dame graduate student defenseman Adam Karashik has signed a one-year contract for the 2022-23 season with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, the AHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers announced (April). Karashik will join the Phantoms on a PTO for the remainder of this season.

Karashik played the 2021-22 season with the Irish, serving as a team captain while helping to  lead Notre Dame to the NCAA Albany Regional Final.

Karashik played all 40 games this past season while scoring a goal and notching career-high totals in assists (15) and points (16). He blocked 99 shots on the season, which ranked first in the Big Ten and third in the country and he served a key role on Notre Dame’s top-ranked penalty kill unit.

Enrolled in Notre Dame’s Master of Nonprofit Administration program, Karashik was named to the NCAA Albany All-Regional Team (March 29).

AS A GRADUATE STUDENT

  • Joined the 2021-22 Notre Dame roster as a graduate transfer from the University of Connecticut.
  • Named one of three team captains for the 2021-22 season.
  • Tallied two three-game point streaks during the season
  • Notched first multi-point game as a member of the Irish with two assists in a 6-0 win over RIT (Oct. 22).
  • Recorded an assist in each home game versus Wisconsin (Nov. 12-13) to extend point streak to three games.
  • Finished with two points in a road series at Penn State (Jan. 7-8) by collecting an assist in each game.
  • Notched second multi-assist game of Notre Dame career with two in 7-2 home win over Penn State (Feb. 4).
  • Tallied an empty-netter in the closing moments of a sweep against Penn State for the first goal of his Irish career (Feb. 5).
  • Recorded an assist in the clinching game 3 win over Wisconsin in the Big Ten quarterfinals (Mar. 6).
  • Assisted on Jack Adams’ second period score at Michigan in the Big Ten Semifinal (Mar. 12).
  • Named to the NCAA Albany All-Regional Team (March 29).

#IrishInTheNHL

  • Fourteen former Fighting Irish players have played in the NHL this season: Anders Bjork (Buffalo Sabres), Ian Cole (Carolina Hurricanes), Jake Evans (Montreal Canadiens), Steven Fogarty (Boston Bruins),  Jordan Gross (Colorado Avalanche) Vinnie Hinostroza (Buffalo Sabres), Anders Lee (New York Islanders), Kyle Palmieri (New York Islanders), Andrew Peeke (Columbus), Cal Petersen (Los Angeles Kings), Bryan Rust (Pittsburgh Penguins), Riley Sheahan (Seattle Kraken), Alex Steeves (Toronto Maple Leafs) and TJ Tynan (Los Angeles Kings).
  • Steeves made his NHL debut for the Toronto Maple Leafs on Dec. 7 against Columbus (and former Notre Dame teammate Andrew Peeke) in a 5-4 Toronto win.
  • Steeves, who earned Second Team All-Big Ten honors in 2020-21, became the 25th former Irish player under head coach Jeff Jackson to reach the NHL and the Notre Dame program’s 39th NHL player overall.
  • Prior to Steeves, the most recent Notre Dame players to make their NHL debuts were Jordan Gross, Peeke, Jake Evans and Thomas DiPauli during the 2019-20 season.
  • Former Fighting Irish All-American goaltender Cale Morris (Chicago) and former captain Cal Burke (Colorado) inked NHL deals around the first of the year and were recalled to their teams’ respective taxi squads.
  • Morris, who played from 2016-20 and led the Irish to the 2018 NCAA Championship game, signed a one-year entry-level deal on Dec. 31.
  • Burke, who also played from 2016-20 with the Irish, signed a one-year contract with Colorado on Dec. 16 and later was recalled to the taxi squad.
  • Former Irish captain Steven Fogarty made his Boston debut late in January to become the 14th former Fighting Irish player to appear in the NHL this season.

Notre Dame falls short vs. top-seeded Minnesota State

Tough way to go against a top team

The Notre Dame hockey team saw their memorable season come to a close Saturday night as the third-seeded Fighting Irish fell to the top seed in the East Regional with a 1-0 loss to Minnesota State.

Notre Dame was able to withstand nearly an entire first period where Minnesota State was peppering the net, but just 16 seconds before the first intermission Nathan Smith put the Mavericks on the board with a helper from Brendan Furry.

Unfortunately that was all Minnesota State would need on the night as Dryden McKay turned away all 23 Fighting Irish shots he faced in a 1-0 shutout.

Notre Dame was outshot on the night 33-23 and were unable to convert any of their three power play attempts.

Notre Dame finishes the year 28-12 overall after falling in the East Regional Final.  Minnesota State now advances to the Frozen Four where they will take on the winner of Sunday’s Western Michigan-Minnesota game.

Watch: Highlights from Notre Dame’s thrilling OT win

March Madness – on the ice

Notre Dame hockey is moving onto the East Regional Final after a thrilling 2-1 overtime win against North Dakota on Thursday night.  The win sends the Fighting Irish to their seventh Regional Final in program history with a chance to end up in the Frozen Four for the fifth time.

Landon and Graham Slaggert both played huge roles as they combined to score both Notre Dame goals in the contest as well as rack up an assist.  Now awaiting Notre Dame is a date with the top seed in the region, Minnesota State, on Saturday.

See highlights from the thrilling 2-1 victory below.

Notre Dame wins overtime thriller and advances to Regional Final

One win away from the Frozen Four after a thriller!

Notre Dame hockey is now just one win away from earning a trip to the Frozen Four after a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory over North Dakota on Thursday night.

The Fighting Hawks struck first with roughly 1:30 remaining in the first period as freshman Brent Johnson netted just his second goal of the season give the game its first tally.  It would be the final goal scored by North Dakota during the 2021-22 season, however.

Landon Slaggert then took advantage of a North Dakota turnover early in the second as he used his backhand on a breakaway to knot the game at one, with an assist from his brother and captain, Graham.  More on him shortly.

The third period saw both Notre Dame and North Dakota get special teams chances with none greater than the Fighting Hawks getting a penalty shot attempt by Riese Gaber but he missed the net.  Matthew Galajda was great in net on the night, stopping 23 of 24 shots he faced.

In the extra frame Notre Dame had a few shots early before Graham Slaggert scored on a power play snipe just 98 seconds into the extra frame to send the Fighting Irish to the East Regional Final where they’ll meet top-seeded Minnesota State.

This is Notre Dame’s seventh trip to a Regional Final all-time as they’re seeking their fifth appearance in the Frozen Four.

Printable NCAA Hockey Tournament Bracket

Notre Dame is 4-1 overall this season against the top overall seed in the tournament. How deep can the Irish go?

Notre Dame’s basketball season came to a close for the men Sunday night with their tough loss to Texas Tech in the NCAA Tournament’s Second Round, but there are still tournament teams playing this March for the Fighting Irish.

The women’s basketball team is alive and well as they take on Oklahoma in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament on Monday, a game we’ll have covered for you here at Fighting Irish Wire.

The hockey team is also in the NCAA Tournament after the brackets were released Sunday night.  Notre Dame earned the third seed in the Albany region and takes on the second seed in the region, North Dakota State, on Thursday.

Michigan earned the top overall seed in the 16-team tournament while fellow-Big Ten hockey rival Minnesota received the second seed in the Worcester region.

To see the entire printable bracket (courtesy of the NCAA) click below.

Big Ten Hockey Tournament: Notre Dame moves past Wisconsin

On to the conference semifinals for the Fighting Irish!

The following is courtesy of Notre Dame Athletics:

SOUTH BEND, Ind.  – The seventh-ranked Notre Dame hockey team built a 2-0 lead on first period goals by Jack Adams and Landon Slaggert and went on to win a tightly contested Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal game three against Wisconsin, 4-2, to eliminate the Badgers two games to one.

With Sunday night’s victory at the Compton Family Ice Arena (2,612), No. 3 seeded Notre Dame advances to play a single elimination semifinal game at No. 2 seeded Michigan on Saturday, March 12. The Irish had to bounce back and take games two and three against the Badgers in order to advance.

“Anytime you lose the first game it is always a challenge,” head coach Jeff Jackson said after the win. “It takes character to do it. Give Wisconsin their due, they made that a tough series on us. Our guys settled down going into the third … it calmed down and we played controlled. Playing three games in three nights at that level of intensity is also a challenge.”

In addition to Adams and Slaggert, Jake Pivonka scored what proved to be the game winner and Trevor Janicke had the empty net insurance tally. Graham Slaggert finished with a pair of assists.

In net, Matthew Galajda and Jared Moe dueled for third consecutive night, with Galajda stopping 24 of the 26 shots he faced to earn the win. Moe totaled 29 saves for the Badgers.

Notre Dame (27-10-0) went 1-for-3 on the power play, while Wisconsin (10-24-3) was 0-for-1.

How It Happened

Solag Bakich had the first great look for the Irish at 6:15 of the first when his wrist shot from the low slot was turned aside by Jared Moe after being set up on a three-on-two rush with Max Ellis and Cam Burke.

Jack Adams gave the Irish a 1-0 lead at 11:22 of the first when he fired a wrist shot from a sharp angle high past Moe after being set up by his linemate Hunter Strand. Nick Leivermann originally cleared the puck out to center ice to earn the second assist on the play.

Landon Slaggert extended the lead to 2-0 at 14:14 of the first period with a power-play goal scored on a quick spin move in front after taking a pass down low from Graham Slaggert, with Trevor Janicke notching the second assist on the play.

Wisconsin’s Sam Stange scored at 16:01 of the first to get the Badgers on the board and that 2-1 scoreline would hold through the first period of play.

Jake Pivonka scored his first of the year with a wrist shot high past Moe’s glove at 1:55 of the second to restore the two-goal lead. The assists went to Jesse Lansdell and Adam Karashik.

Notre Dame went back on the power play 6:30 into the second but couldn’t add to the lead, though Strand had a great look as the chance expired.

Galajda was forced into a tough right pad stop on Mathieu de St. Phalle. Ellis was then shut down on the doorstep by Moe after Justin Janicke’s pass to the far post as the end-to-end action picked up.

Wisconsin’s Daniel Laatsch cut it to 3-2 game at 15:22 of the second when his shot from the point beat Galajda through a screen.

With 1:25 left in the second, the Irish were called for a trip. On the ensuing penalty kill, Jake Boltmann had two big shot blocks to kill off the chance as the Badgers were whistled for a cross check at 19:55.

After opening the third with 4-on-4 play, there was an abbreviated Notre Dame power play but Moe didn’t have to make a save.

Landon Slaggert nearly scored his second of the night with 5:13 left in the third after Trevor Janicke sent him away on a breakaway but his shot hit the post.

Trevor Janicke then sealed the win with an empty netter at 19:19 of the third.

Next – Notes

Big Ten Hockey Tournament: Notre Dame-Wisconsin win-or-go-home tonight

Go Irish, beat Badgers!

Wisconsin got a performance for the ages between the pipes Friday while Notre Dame scored with just seconds left in regulation Saturday to split the first two games in the best-of-three Big Ten hockey tournament series.

How did Saturday’s game go down and how did we get to the win-or-go-home game three we’ll see Sunday night?  Find out next courtesy of Notre Dame Athletics.

Big Ten Hockey Tournament: Wisconsin goalie stands on head to beat Notre Dame

Win or go home Saturday for the Irish.

Notre Dame put a season high 50 shots on goal against Wisconsin in the opening round of the Big Ten hockey tournament Friday night but it didn’t matter as Jared Moe turned away 49 of those shots in the 3-1 Badgers victory.

The complete writeup below is courtesy of Notre Dame athletics:

SOUTH BEND, Ind.  – No. 7 Notre Dame Hockey fell to Wisconsin, 3-1, in the best-of-three series opener of the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals on Friday night at Compton Family Ice Arena (3,634).

The Irish earned a season high by putting 50 shots on goal and held the Badgers to 28 on the night but Jared Moe’s 49 saves backstopped Wisconsin to the win.

Graham Slaggert tied the game, 1-1, just past the 13 minute mark of the second period, but the Badgers scored 38 seconds to take back a lead they would not relinquish.

“They played well so give them their due,” head coach Jeff Jackson said after the game. “It was playoff hockey, and you have to be prepared. Anything can happen in the playoffs. The goaltender played well, they keep you on the outside and we have to find a way to penetrate that.”

Graduate student Matthew Galajda made 24 saves for Notre Dame.

Notre Dame (25-10-0) finished 1-for-5 on the power play, while Wisconsin (10-22-3) was 0-for-1.

How It Happened

Five minutes into the opening frame Cam Burke nearly got the Irish on the board after following up a Max Ellis shot on goal, but following video review it was ruled the puck never crossed the goal line after hitting the far post.

Justin Janicke took a nice feed from Jack Adams in the high slot and rang one off the crossbar at 8:25 of the first.

The Irish continued to pressure and with 5:20 left in the first, Jake Pivonka’s stretch pass sprang Ryder Rolston on a partial breakaway attempt but his attempt went wide.

Wisconsin’s Brock Caufield then struck first, scoring his seventh of the season at 15:22 of the first.

Notre Dame had a power-play chance late in the first, with the best look coming from Nick Leivermann but his shot was pushed off the post by Wisconsin goaltender Jared Moe and cleared off the goal line by a defenseman.

Notre Dame trailed 1-0 after one.

With the extra attacker on during a delayed penalty, Jake Boltmann stepped into a one timer with 15:03 left in the second but it was stopped by Moe.

Galajda made a big shoulder stop on Daniel Laatsch at 11:11 of the second and smothered the follow-up attempt. Then Justin Janicke had a chance at the other end but couldn’t solve Moe.

Graham Slaggert broke through at 13:52 of the second, finishing off a one-timer from a Nick Leivermann cross-ice feed while the Irish were on the power play, with Ryder Rolston picking up the second assist. It was Slaggert’s 10th goal of the season.

But Wisconsin’s Dominick Mersch scored 38 seconds later to restore the Badgers’ lead to 2-1, which they would take to the locker room.

The Irish peppered Moe in the early going of the third but couldn’t tie it up before Zach Urdahl finished off a two-on-one chance with Sam Stange for a 3-1 Wisconsin lead at 5:57 of the third

Stastney set Landon Slaggert up in front with 8:39 left in the third, but the puck skipped over the sophomore’s stick when he tried to redirect it in the net.

Galajda was pulled with 3:42 left in the game, but the Irish were unable to extend the game, ultimately falling, 3-1.

Notes

  • With an assist tonight, Nick Leivermann extended his point streak to three games (Feb. 25-Mar. 4; 0-4-4).
  • With Graham Slaggert scoring a goal, it marked the third consecutive game with a tally from the Landon Slaggert/Graham Slaggert/Trevor Janicke line.
  • For Slaggert, it marked his 10th goal of the year, extending his career-high total.
  • Slaggert also became Notre Dame’s fifth 10-goal scorer this season.

Next Up

  • Game two of the best-of-three series will take place at 6 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 5 at Compton Family Ice Arena on March 4-6 (tickets).
  • The game will also be available on BTN+.