Tag: hockey

Notre Dame hockey prepped for Ohio State this weekend

The Irish and Buckeyes are set to battle as they sit next to each other in the Big Ten standings

The following notes have been provided by Notre Dame Athletics:

Notre Dame continues with Big Ten road play this weekend, heading to #15/16 Ohio State for a weekend series versus the Buckeyes on Friday, Jan. 14 (7 p.m. ET) and Saturday, Jan. 15 (8 p.m. ET).

The teams are separated by one point in the Big Ten standings, with the Fighting Irish fourth with 22 points (8-4-0-3-1-0), while Ohio State is tied for second with 23 points (7-4-1-0-0-1).

Notre Dame is in the midst of playing seven games in the first 19 games of January, culminating in next Wednesday’s makeup game against Boston College (Jan. 19).

After taking five of six points at Penn State last weekend including a 4-2 game one win (Jan. 7) and a comeback 5-4 overtime win in game two (Jan. 8), the Fighting Irish are 6-2-0 on the road this season.

Max Ellis had two goals in the game one win versus the Nittany Lions and then scored the overtime winner in game two with 0.2 seconds remaining, with assists from Spencer Stastney and Jake Pivonka.

Nick Leivermann had a career-high three points in that overtime win, scoring his sixth goal of the season and adding a pair of assists.

Ellis leads the Irish with a career-best 24 points on a team-high 14 goals and 10 assists.

Ellis’ 14 goals rank tied for fifth in the country (tied for first in the Big Ten).

Ellis is averaging 0.667 goals per game, which ranks ninth in the NCAA.

Ellis is also tied for the NCAA lead with two shorthanded goals this season.

Senior defenseman Nick Leivermann is tied for second on the team with 17 points (6-11-17).

With the 17 points, Leivermann ranks tied for ninth in the NCAA in points by a defenseman.

Cam Burke and Ryder Rolston lead the Irish with three game-winning goal apiece, which also ranks tied for seventh in the NCAA.

All told, 15 Notre Dame players have scored so far this season, while 11 players have at least 10 points on the season.

The Irish are 11-1-0 when scoring first this season.

Notre Dame’s penalty kill is 75-for-81 on the season (.9259), which ranks second in the NCAA.

The Irish also have four shorthanded goals this season (Ellis 2, Cam Burke, Spencer Stastney), which ranks fifth-most in the country (first in the Big Ten).

Notre Dame has made each of the last five NCAA Tournaments, the longest streak in program history, and eight of the last 11 NCAA Tournaments overall

The five consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances is the second-longest active streak in the NCAA, trailing only Minnesota Duluth (6), with Minnesota State (3) and St Cloud State (3) tied for third.

Ellis and Galajda Named To Hobey Baker Fan Ballot

Nice recognition for a couple of Notre Dame hockey stars

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Forward Max Ellis and goaltender Matthew Galajda have been named to the Hobey Baker Award’s Phase One Fan Ballot.

Given annually to college hockey’s top player, the Hobey Baker Award includes candidates exhibiting the exceptional character traits of the award’s namesake, Hobey Baker, with consideration given to scholastic achievement and sportsmanship.

To vote, visit the website www.hobeybaker.com/vote.

Ellis leads the Irish in goals (14) and points (24) this season and ranks tied for second in assists (10). The Canton, Michigan, native is currently tied for fourth in the nation in scoring and is tied for the NCAA lead with two shorthanded goals. The junior earned Big Ten First Star of the Week honors on Nov. 23 following a three-point and two-goal weekend in two games against Wisconsin. Ellis has netted two overtime game winners this season, including one on the road against Michigan (Nov. 20) to complete his first career hat trick and a last second score to knock off Penn State (Jan. 8).

Galadja has pitched two shutouts in his first season with the Irish. The graduate transfer from Cornell has allowed the second fewest goals (23) and ranks second in goals against average (1.92) the Big Ten this season. The Aurora, Ontario, native boasts a 9-3-0 record this year, which is good for the seventh best win percentage (.750) in the NCAA. Galajda is one win shy of 70 for his college career, and the experienced goaltender currently ranks tied for third in NCAA Division I men’s hockey history with 21 career shutouts. He has earned two Big Ten Third Star of the Week honors so far this season (Oct. 26, Nov. 16).

Phase two of fan balloting will come from the list of Top Ten Hobey Baker finalists beginning March 17 and closing March 27. The fans’ vote accounts for a full one percent of the total ballot in each phase in selecting this year’s award recipient.

The 2022 Hobey Baker Award winner will be announced from a field of three Hobey Hat Trick finalists on Friday, April 8, 2022 during the NCAA Frozen Four Championship in Boston. The award ceremony will be broadcast nationally on NHL Network and streamed live at hobeybaker.com.

Up Next for the Irish

  • The Irish travel to Columbus, Ohio, to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes this Friday and Saturday (Jan. 14-15) in their second-straight road conference series.
  • Friday’s game is slated for 7:00 p.m. ET (BTN Plus), and Saturday’s puck drop is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET (BTN).
  • Notre Dame will return home for a midweek matchup against Boston College on Jan. 19 at 7:00 p.m. ET. Tickets are still available.

No. 13 Notre Dame hockey gets win at Penn State

Notre Dame hockey gets win at Penn State

Release from Notre Dame Athletics:

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Max Ellis had a pair of goals and Landon Slaggert added the game winner with seven minutes left in the third period as Notre Dame skated to a 4-2 win at Penn State on Friday night at Pegula Ice Arena (5,639).

Grant Silianoff also scored for the Irish, while Jesse Lansdell added two assists and Ryan Bischel made a career-high 38 saves to post the win.

Notre Dame was 1-for-2 on the power play and held the Nittany Lions to an 0-for-3 mark on the power play.

With the win, the Irish improved to 14-6-0 (7-4-0-2-1-0 B1G) on the season.

Oskar Autio finished with 30 saves for Penn State (12-9-0, 3-8-0-0-0-0).

Next – How it Happened…

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No. 10 Notre Dame hockey blanks Niagara

Notre Dame hockey bounces back with a 5-0 win

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The 10th-ranked Fighting Irish bounced back after a loss Saturday night to dominate Niagara for a 5-0 victory at Compton Family Ice Arena (3,374) Sunday evening.

Trevor Janicke and Cam Burke led the Irish offense. Each scored a pair of goals. Burke tallied Notre Dame’s first goal in the final minute of the first period and added his second goal in the second period. Janicke added two of his own in the second period, and sophomore Zach Plucinski scored his first goal of the season in the third.

Grant Silianoff had two assists, while seven other players had an assist in the contest, including goalie Ryan Bischel. The Irish offense tested Niagara for the full 60 minutes, outshooting the Purple Eagles 44-19.

Bischel earned his first career shutout in the victory. The junior tallied 19 saves, nine of which came in the second period.

“I knew that tonight we were going to come out and play a lot better than we did last night,” Bischel stated after the win. “The guys were fired up and we needed a response and had that tonight.”

Notre Dame improves to 13-6 with the victory.

The Irish power play was 1-for-4 on the night, and the penalty kill held Niagara to an 0-for-6 mark.

How It Happened

The Irish had the game’s first handful of chances, including a Trevor Janicke shot from the slot that went just wide and a Jack Adams backhander from in close that Chad Veltri made a pad stop on.

Midway through the first, Notre Dame goaltender Ryan Bischel made a save on Brandon Stanley to shut down a 2-on-1 chance.

With 40 seconds left in the first Burke opened the scoring with his fifth of the year, slamming home a rebound in front after Veltri made a save on a Ryder Rolston chance. Grant Silianoff set Rolston up in front for the initial chance to earn the second assist.

The Irish then scored three more goals in the first 7:18 of the second period to extend the lead to 4-0 after 40 minutes.

Trevor Janicke scored his first of the night at 2:06 when he cleaned up a rebound at the back post after Solag Bakich had brought the puck hard to the net.

Burke then scored a shorthanded goal at 5:07 to extend the lead to 3-0, after he took the a Bischel clear and scored on the breakaway chance.

Jake Sibell relieved Chad Veltri in the Niagara net after Burke’s second of the night.

Janicke netted his second of the night, crashing the net for a power-play goal at 7:18 with the assists going to Grant Silianoff and Chase Blackmun.

Notre Dame’s penalty killing unit came up big later in the period, killing off 1:40 of a Niagara 5-on-3 chance.

In the third, the Irish added another goal, this from Plucinski. Max Ellis’s shot was set up off of a pass from Spencer Stastney. The shot was deflected straight towards Plucinski who buried his chance to pick up his first goal of the season.

Next – Notes…

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Notre Dame hockey upset by Niagara

Tough loss to open 2022

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The 10th-ranked Fighting Irish returned from winter break but dropped a 3-1 decision to Niagara on Saturday evening at Compton Family Ice Arena (3,374).

Spencer Stastney scored for the Irish to make it a 2-1 game in the second but the Irish could not find a tying goal and Niagara added an empty net tally late in the third.

“We just weren’t as ready to play as they were, that’s what it boils down to,” head coach Jeff Jackson said after the game. “It was disappointing, we wanted to get off to a good start in the second half … give them their due, they played well. We have to execute better.”

The Notre Dame power play was 0-for-3 on the night, while the Purple Eagles were 0-for-4.

In net Matthew Galajda totaled 25 saves, while Chad Veltri finished with 27 saves to earn the win.

How It Happened

The teams traded early power-play chances in the first but neither squad could get on the board with the man advantage.

Niagara then took a 1-0 lead at 14:44 of the first on Jason Pineo’s first of the year, which he scored from the low slot.

Notre Dame went back on the power play with 2:53 left in the first. Solag Bakich had the best look, but his snapshot from in front flashed wide and the Irish trailed 1-0 after the first.

Spencer Stastney got the Irish on the board early in the second, with his first career shorthanded goal coming on a breakaway at the 3:52 mark.

The Irish had several more chances right after tying it up, including a Hunter Strand shot that hit the post.

But Niagara was able to take the lead back, 2-1, at 13:38 on an Albin Nilsson goal.

The Purple Eagles got another power play early in the third, but the Irish killed it off including a big stop by Galajda on Josef Mysak.

Notre Dame got a power play midway through the third, but Veltri made saves on Graham Slaggert and Grant Silianoff to keep the Purple Eagles in front.

Nilsson then sealed it with an empty net tally from center ice at the 18:35 mark of the third.

Notes

  • Spencer Stastney scored his first career shorthanded goal, which was Notre Dame’s third shorthanded tally of the season.
  • Stastney now has three goals in the last three games.

Next Up

  • The Fighting Irish and Purple Eagles will close out their series tomorrow (Sunday, Jan. 2) with another 5 p.m. ET game at the Compton Family Ice Arena (tickets).
  • For those attending games, the University has updated its COVID-19 health and safety protocols (masks required, no concessions available): https://covid.nd.edu/news/spring-semester-covid-19-protocols-update/
  • The game will also be available on Peacock.

Ranking the 2022 Winter Olympics hockey jerseys

How do Team USA’s jerseys stack up against the rest?

Don’t look now, but the 2022 Winter Olympics will be here before you know it.

We’re still a few months out from the upcoming Winter Olympics in Beijing, but we’re already starting to get some hockey news ahead of the tournament. And by news, I mean the all-important announcement of what jerseys each hockey team will be wearing during the games.

It’s been a big week for jersey announcements across the sport, as both Team USA and Team Canada have officially announced their jersey designs for the upcoming Olympics. With 12 teams total set to take part in the men’s tournament — and 10 for the women’s — there will be more announcements set to come in the next few weeks as well.

Though we only have three sets of jerseys unveiled — as we’ll be waiting on the likes of the Russian Olympic Committee, Sweden, and Germany for some time — we thought it’d be a fun exercise to rank the jerseys we do have ahead of the upcoming Winter Olympics!

Without further ado, here are our rankings of the 2022 Winter Olympics hockey jerseys.

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Ice Vols defeat Florida in overtime

The Ice Vols defeated Florida in overtime for its first win of the season.

Tennessee notched its first victory of the 2021-22 season on Sunday.

The Ice Vols captured a 7-6 win over Florida at AdventHealth Center in Wesley Chapel, Florida.

Tennessee’s Drew King scored a game-winning goal against Florida, helping the Ice Vols salvage a split in the South Eastern Hockey Conference series.

Tennessee (1-3) lost the series opener, 8-7, on Friday.

The Ice Vols opened its season at Kentucky on Sept. 10.

The Wildcats swept a two-game series with a 9-4 victory on Sept. 11 after winning, 5-1, in the opener for both schools on Sept.10.

After a weekend off, the Ice Vols will open the home portion of their schedule on Oct. 8 against South Carolina at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum.

Tennessee and the Gamecocks will conclude their series on Oct. 10 in Knoxville.

The Ice Vols are in their 55th season and are the oldest collegiate hockey club in the south. They began operation in 1966.

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Irish impact: How the Big Ten’s COVID guidelines affect Notre Dame

Hopefully these games get played

The Big Ten conference announced this morning their COVID-19 guidelines for the 2021-22 sports year, but it mainly regards the conference scheduling. Since Notre Dame plays the conference in multiple sports, their decision is one to be watched.

They announced that “if one of its member institutions is unable to play a conference contest due to COVID-19, that contest shall be declared a forfeit and will not be rescheduled.”

This really just impacts the Irish hockey team, at that is the only conference affiliation with the Big Ten. The release fails to mention anything regarding non-conference games so one must assume that they could get rescheduled.

Looking at the football schedule the Irish play Purdue and Wisconsin in back-to-back weeks, starting September 18th when the Boilermaker head to South Bend. The Irish have just one open date, on October 16th, and neither team has that date open also.

By putting the schedule and release together, it seems as if either of the games against Big Ten foes isn’t played, the teams won’t be able to find a date to reschedule the game. There is still a small chance this could change, but multiple other factors would have to happen for a chance to have the game happen. Hopefully this won’t matter and the games are played according to the schedule.

Ice Vols announce 2021-22 schedule

Tennessee Ice Vols announce 2021-22 schedule.

The Ice Vols announced its 2021-22 hockey schedule on Monday.

Tennessee will open the 2021-22 season Sept. 10 at Kentucky. The season-opening matchup will take place at Lexington Ice Center in Lexington, Kentucky.

The Ice Vols are slated to play at Florida Sept. 24 and Sept. 26 before its first home game of the season.

Tennessee will host South Carolina on Oct. 8 and Oct. 10 at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum.

The Ice Vols were founded in 1966. Tennessee is the oldest and most established hockey program in the southeastern United States. Tennessee competes in the South Eastern Collegiate Hockey Conference (SECHC).

Below is the complete 2021-22 schedule for the Ice Vols.

Pastujov Selected In Third Round Of 2021 NHL Draft

Big news for an incoming freshman

The following release is courtesy of Notre Dame athletics:

NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Incoming Fighting Irish freshman forward Sasha Pastujov was selected by the Anaheim Ducks with the second pick of the third round (66th overall) in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft on Saturday (July 24).

A Bradenton, Florida native, Pastujov becomes the 90th NHL Draft pick in program history and the 43rd under head coach Jeff Jackson.

Pastujov will be the second active Irish player in the Ducks prospect pool, joining junior forward Trevor Janicke, who was selected by Anaheim in the fifth round (132nd overall) in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.

Sasha Pastujov | Forward | Bradenton, Florida | USNTDP | 6-0 | 188

  • A prospect in the upcoming 2021 NHL Entry Draft, he was 18th in the final NHL Central Scouting rankings (North America skaters).
  • Played the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons with the USNTDP, finishing with 102 total points (37-65-102) to rank 23rd in program history.
  • In 2020-21, he skated in 34 games and totaled a team-high 52 points on 23 goals and 29 assists.
  • Also set the USNTDP’s all-time record with a 21-game point streak.
  • Played in the 2021 BioSteel All-American Game and was named the Most Outstanding Player after scoring a pair of goals and adding an assist.
  • In 2019-20, tied for the team lead with 50 points on 14 goals and 36 assists.
  • With Team USA, took part in the 2020 U-17 Five Nations Tournament (second place), the 2019 U-17 Four Nations Tournament (first place) and the 2019 World U-17 Challenge (second place).
  • Played U-14 and U-16 AAA with the Compuware program.
  • Younger brother of Michigan players Michael (2017-pres.) and Nick (2016-20) Pastujov.

Irish in the 2020 NHL Draft

  • Last year in the 2020 draft, Chicago selected Landon Slaggert in the third round (79th overall) to become Notre Dame’s highest pick since Andrew Peeke and Cam Morrison were chosen with the 34th and 40th picks in 2016.
  • Colorado then traded up to pick Ryder Rolston in the fifth round (139th overall). Rolston’s rights were then traded to Chicago at the 2021 trade deadline.
  • In addition, freshman defenseman Jake Boltmann, who joined the Irish at the semester break of the 2020-21 season, was selected in the third round (80th overall) by the Calgary Flames in the 2020 NHL Draft.

Irish in the NHL 2020-21

  • Last season, thirteen former Fighting Irish players appeared in the National Hockey League, including:
  • Anders Bjork (Boston Bruins/Buffalo Sabres)
  • Ian Cole (Colorado Avalanche/Minnesota)
  • Jake Evans (Montreal Canadiens)
  • Steven Fogarty (Buffalo Sabres)
  • Dennis Gilbert (Colorado Avalanche)
  • Jordan Gross (Arizona)
  • Vinnie Hinostroza (Florida Panthers)
  • Anders Lee (New York Islanders)
  • Kyle Palmieri (New Jersey Devils/New York Islanders)
  • Andrew Peeke (Columbus)
  • Cal Petersen (Los Angeles Kings)
  • Bryan Rust (Pittsburgh Penguins)
  • Riley Sheahan (Buffalo Sabres)

Recent Professional Signings

  • Following the 2020-21 Notre Dame season, junior defenseman Nate Clurman, senior defenseman Matt Hellickson and junior forward Alex Steeves signed professional contracts.
  • Clurman joined the Colorado organization after being selected by the Avalanche in the sixth round (161st overall) in the 2016 draft.
  • Hellickson signed with New Jersey after the Devils selected him in the  seventh round (214th overall) of the 2017 draft.
  • An undrafted free agent, Steeves inked a three-year entry-level contract for the 2021-22 season with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Current Irish in the NHL Draft

  • Jack Adams (GS., F): Detroit Red Wings, sixth round/162nd overall (2017)
  • Nick Leivermann (Sr., D): Colorado Avalanche, seventh round/187th overall (2017)
  • Jake Pivonka (Sr., F): New York Islanders, fourth round/103rd overall (2018)
  • Spencer Stastney (Sr., D): Nashville Predators, fifth round/131st overall (2018)
  • Trevor Janicke (Jr., F): Anaheim Ducks, fifth round/132nd overall (2019)
  • Landon Slaggert (So., F): Chicago Blackhawks, third round/79th overall (2020)
  • Ryder Rolston (So., F): Colorado Avalanche, fifth round/139th overall (2020)*
  • Jake Boltmann (Fr., D): Calgary Flames, third round/80th overall (2020)

* Rights traded to Chicago