Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's ice hockey


The Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's ice hockey team is the college ice hockey team of the University of Notre Dame, competing at the NCAA Division I level as an associate member of the Big Ten Conference. The Irish play their home games at Compton Family Ice Arena. The head coach of the Fighting Irish is Jeff Jackson, and his assistant coaches are Paul Pooley, Andy Slaggert, and Max Mobley.

Conference history

Prior to the 2013–14 season, the team competed in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association, and also won its last ever conference championship. In the 2013–2014 season, the team began to play in the Hockey East conference, where it played until the conclusion of the 2016-2017 season. Beginning in the 2017–2018 season, the team joined the Big Ten Conference.

History

Ice hockey has existed on and off as both a club and varsity sport at Notre Dame since 1912. The modern era of Notre Dame hockey began in 1968, when the Fighting Irish began to play as a Division I independent. In 1971, the team joined its first conference, the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. The team continued playing in the WCHA for a decade until moving to the Central Collegiate Hockey Association with the conference's three Michigan schools in 1981.
The Fighting Irish lasted only two years in the new CCHA, when ice hockey was downgraded to a club sport for the 1983–1984 season. During that season, the Fighting Irish played in the Central States Collegiate Hockey League. Notre Dame finished that season second in the CSCHL with a record of 13–2–0. In 1984–1985 Notre Dame Hockey was once again elevated to varsity status with the team playing as a Division I independent. In 1992 Notre Dame rejoined the CCHA. The Irish struggled to remain competitive in the CCHA, but began to improve under head coach Dave Poulin. In 2004, Poulin led the team to its first ever NCAA Tournament. However, the following season was dramatically different. They only won five games, the worst season in school history. Poulin resigned after the season.

Jeff Jackson era

In 2005, Jeff Jackson took over as head coach. Jackson, who had already won two national championships at Lake Superior State University, had an immediate impact at Notre Dame. In his first season with the Irish, the team greatly improved upon the five-win season, boosting its record to 13–19–5. 2007 was even more successful. The Irish achieved their first ever number one ranking in both the Uscho.com and USA Today Polls and their first number one seeding for the NCAA Tournament. The following year, the Irish finished fourth in both the CCHA's regular season and playoffs, and again made the NCAA Tournament. Once there, the Irish went on to beat top-seeded New Hampshire 7–3 and third-seeded Michigan State 3–1 to advance to the Frozen Four for the first time in school history. From there, they defeated first-seeded Michigan in overtime to advance to the national title game, ultimately losing to Boston College 4–1. Notre Dame also became the first four-seed to advance to the national semi-finals, and eventually to the national title game since the new 16-team format was introduced in 2003. In the 2008–2009 season, the Irish added another CCHA regular season title and a CCHA Tournament title, defeating Michigan 5–2 in the title game. Notre Dame advanced to the 2009 NCAA Tournament where the Irish was upset by 16th seeded Bemidji State 1–5.
The following season, Notre Dame finished with a record of 13–17–8 and ended the season after being swept by Ohio State two games to none in the three game opening round series of the CCHA Playoffs. The Irish rebounded in the 2010–11 regular season at 23–13–5, and clinched their second trip to the Frozen Four in program history by defeating New Hampshire 2–1 in the Northeast Regional Final. The Fighting Irish faced the East Regional Champion Minnesota-Duluth in the National Semi-finals. The Irish fell to the eventual national champion 3–4.
In October 2011, Notre Dame announced the team will join Hockey East starting in the 2013–14 season, in response to the conference realignment. The university also announced an expanded television broadcast deal with NBC. The Fighting Irish Hockey began the 2011–12 season in the Edmund P. Joyce Center and played the last hockey game at the Joyce Center on October 15, 2011 against Ohio State. The team opened the university's new 5,000-seat Compton Family Ice Arena on October 21, 2011 against Rensselaer. Following the move into the new arena the Irish improved to a 7–3 home record in the new facility that included wins over future Hockey East rivals, Boston University, ranked 3th in the NCAA, Boston College, ranked 4th, and 8th ranked Western Michigan. On January 4, 2012, former coach and long-time Notre Dame Athletic Department employee, Charles "Lefty" Smith died. Smith coached the team from 1968 to 1987 as the first varsity ice hockey after helping the program transition from club to varsity status. Following his coaching career, he continued at Notre Dame in the athletic department until retiring just three days before his death. The Fighting Irish finished the regular season with an overall record of 17–16–3 and a conference record of 12–13–3. The team defeated Ohio State in the opening round of the 2012 CCHA Tournament, sweeping the Buckeyes in two games by scores of 2–0 and 4–2. In the second round of the CCHA Tournament, the team was defeated by the Michigan Wolverines in two games in a series that saw the first game go into a double overtime. The team was defeated in the first round of the NCAA regional playoffs in 2013 and 2014, both times by the St. Cloud State Huskies.

Season-by-season results

Head coaches

All-time coaching records

As of completion of 2019–20 regular season
† The Program was dropped to club status for the 1983–84 season.

Postseason

NCAA Tournament Results

The Fighting Irish have appeared in the NCAA Tournament 11 times.
YearSeedRoundOpponentResults
2004No. 4Midwest Regional Semifinal#1 MinnesotaL 2-5
2007No. 1Midwest Regional Semifinal
Midwest Regional Final		#4 Alabama-Huntsville
  1. 3 Michigan State
W 3-2L 1-2
2008No. 4West Regional Semifinal
West Regional Final
Frozen Four
National Championship		#1 New Hampshire
  1. 3 Michigan State
  2. 1 Michigan
  3. 2 Boston College
W 7-3W 3-1
W 5-4
L 1-4
2009No. 1Midwest Regional Semifinal#4 Bemidji StateL 1-5
2011No. 3Northeast Regional Semifinal
Northeast Regional Final
Frozen Four		#2 Merrimack
  1. 4 New Hampshire
  2. 3 Minnesota-Duluth
W 4-3W 2-1
L 3-4
2013No. 1Midwest Regional Semifinal#4 St. Cloud StateL 1-5
2014No. 2West Regional Semifinal#3 St. Cloud StateL 3-4
2016No. 3Midwest Regional Semifinal#2 MichiganL 2-3
2017No. 4Northeast Regional Semifinal
Northeast Regional Final
Frozen Four		#1 Minnesota
  1. 2 UMass-Lowell
  2. 1 Denver
W 3-2 W 3-2
L 1-6
2018No. 1East Regional Semifinal
East Regional Final
Frozen Four
National Championship		#4 Michigan Tech
  1. 2 Providence
  2. 2 Michigan
#3 Minnesota-Duluth		W 4-3
W 2-1
W 4-3
L 1-2
2019No. 3Northeast Regional Semifinal
Northeast Regional Final		#2 Clarkson
  1. 1 UMass
W 3-2L 0-4

Statistical Leaders

Career points leaders

PlayerYearsGPGAPtsPIM
1973–197714089145234273
1969–197312381145226159
1970–197413310311722071
1970–197412692119211239
1984–19881248311519880
1978–198213589107196175
1976–19801491048819272
1969–19731258997186272
1973–197714570113183231
1988–19931417310918286

Career goaltending leaders

GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average
minimum 30 games played
PlayerYearsGPMinWLTGASOSV%GAA
2005–20099455065926718212.9181.98
2016–Present734299462141488.9382.07
2010–201410659095738521613.9142.19
2014–2017110649955391524911.9242.31
2003–200711163265538112458.9162.32

Statistics current through the start of the 2019–20 season.

Players

Current roster

As of September 12, 2019.

Awards and honors

US Hockey Hall of Fame">United States Hockey Hall of Fame">US Hockey Hall of Fame

  • Bill Nyrop

    NCAA

Individual Awards

Spencer Penrose Award
  • Jeff Jackson: 2007, 2018
Tim Taylor Award
  • T. J. Tynan: 2011
Mike Richter Award
  • Cale Morris: 2018

    All-Americans

AHCA First Team All-Americans
AHCA Second Team All-Americans

Individual Awards

Most Valuable Player
  • Brian Walsh: 1977
Freshman of the Year
  • Brian Walsh: 1974
Coach of the Year
  • Lefty Smith: 1973

    All-Conference Teams

First Team All-WCHA
  • 1972–73: Eddie Bumbacco, F
  • 1975–76: Jack Brownschidle, D
  • 1976-77: Jack Brownschidle, D; Brian Walsh, F
  • 1979-80: Greg Meredith, F
Second Team All-WCHA

Individual Awards

Player of the Year
  • David Brown: 2007
Rookie of the Year
  • Mark Eaton: 1998
  • T. J. Tynan: 2011
Best Defensive Defenseman
  • Kyle Lawson: 2009
  • Sean Lorenz: 2011
Best Goaltender
  • David Brown: 2007
Coach of the Year
  • Jeff Jackson: 2007, 2011
Scholar-Athlete of the Year
  • Cory McLean: 2005
  • Jordan Pearce: 2009
Terry Flanagan Memorial Award
  • Steve Noble: 1997
  • Dan VeNard: 2008
  • Erik Condra: 2009
  • Joe Rogers: 2013
Ilitch Humanitarian Award
  • Neil Komadoski: 2004
Tournament Most Valuable Player
  • David Brown: 2007
  • Jordan Pearce: 2009
  • T. J. Tynan: 2013

    All-Conference Teams

First Team All-CCHA
  • 1998–99: Benoit Cotnoir, D
  • 2006–07: David Brown, G
  • 2008–09: Ian Cole, D
  • 2011–12: T. J. Tynan, F
  • 2011–12: Anders Lee, F
Second Team All-CCHA
CCHA All-Rookie Team

Individual Awards

Best Defensive Forward
  • Sam Herr: 2016
Best Defensive Defenseman
  • Dennis Gilbert: 2017
Three-Stars Award
  • Anders Bjork: 2017

    All-Conference Teams

First Team All-Hockey East
Second Team All-Hockey East
Third Team All-Hockey East
Hockey East All-Rookie Team
  • 2013–14: Vinnie Hinostroza, F
  • 2014–15: Cal Petersen, G
  • 2015–16: Bobby Nardella, D
  • 2016–17: Andrew Peeke, F

    Big Ten

Individual Awards

Player of the Year
  • Cale Morris: 2018
Goaltender of the Year
  • Cale Morris: 2018
Tournament Most Outstanding Player
  • Cale Morris: 2018, 2019

    All-Conference Teams

First Team All-Big Ten
  • 2017–18: Cale Morris, G; Jordan Gross, D; Jake Evans, F
  • 2018–19: Bobby Nardella, D
Second Team All-Big Ten
  • 2018–19: Cale Morris, G
Big Ten All-Freshman Team
PlayerPositionTeamYearsStanley Cup|
Anders BjorkLeft WingBOS2017–Present0
Jim BrownDefensemanLAK1982–19830
Jack BrownschidleDefensemanSTL, HFD1977–19860
Jeff BrownschidleDefensemanHFD1981–19820
Ian ColeDefensemanSTL, ', CBJ, COL2010–Present2
Erik CondraRight WingOTT, TBL, DAL2010–Present0
Thomas Di PauliForwardPIT2019–Present0
Mark EatonDefensemanPHI, NSH, ', NYI1999–20131
Steven FogartyCenterNYR2017–Present0
Dennis GilbertDefensemanCHI2018–Present0
Rob GlobkeRight WingFLA2005–20080
Jordan GrossDefensemanARI2019–Present0
Christian HansonCenterTOR2008–20110
Vinnie HinostrozaCenterCHI, ARI2015–Present0
Don JacksonDefensemanMNS, ', NYR1977–19872
Stephen JohnsDefensemanDAL2015–Present0
Brett LebdaDefenseman', TOR, CBJ2005–20121
Anders LeeLeft WingNYI2012–Present0
Mike McNeillLeft WingCHI, QUE1990–19920

PlayerPositionTeamYearsStanley Cup|
Greg MeredithForwardCGY1980–19830
Bill NyropDefenseman', MNS1975–19823
Wes O'NeillDefensemanCOL2008–20100
Victor OreskovichRight WingFLA, VAN2009–20120
Kyle PalmieriRight WingANA, NJD2010–Present0
Andrew PeekeDefensemanCBJ2019–Present0
Cal PetersenGoaltenderLAK2018–Present0
Alex PirusCenterMNS, DET1976–19800
Dave PoulinCenterPHI, BOS, WSH1982–19950
Robbie RussoDefensemanDET2016–20170
Bryan RustRight Wing'2014–Present2
Riley SheahanCenterDET, PIT, FLA2011–Present0
Ben SimonCenterATL, CBJ2001–20060
Yan StastnyCenterEDM, BOS, STL2005–20100
Ryan ThangRight WingNSH2011–20120
T. J. TynanRight WingCBJ2016–present0
Mark Van GuilderCenterNSH2013–20140
Tim WallaceForwardPIT, NYI, TBL, CAR2008–20130

WHA

Several players also were members of WHA teams.
PlayerPositionTeamYearsAvco World Trophy|
Ray DelorenziWingVNC, CAC1974–19760
Larry IsraelsonWingVNC, CAC1974–19770
Kevin NugentWingIND1978–19790
Brian WalshRight WingCAC1976–19770

Team captains

  • Terry Lorenz & Steve Noble, 1996–97
  • Steve Noble, 1997–98
  • Brian Urick, 1998–99
  • Ben Simon, 1999–2000
  • Ryan Dolder, 2000–01
  • Evan Nielsen, 2001–03
  • Aaron Gill, 2003–04
  • Cory McLean, 2004–05
  • T. J. Jindra, 2005–07
  • Mark Van Guilder, 2007–08
  • Erik Condra, 2008–09
  • Ryan Thang, 2009–10
  • Joe Lavin, 2010–11
  • Sean Lorenz & Billy Maday, 2011–12
  • Anders Lee, 2012–13
  • Jeff Costello, 2013–14
  • Steven Fogarty, 2014–15
  • Steven Fogarty & Robbie Russo, 2015
  • Steven Fogarty, 2015–16
  • Cal Petersen, 2016–17
  • Jake Evans, 2017–18
  • Andrew Peeke, 2018–present

    Compton Family Ice Arena

In February 2009, The University of Notre Dame announced it will begin construction on a new, freestanding, on-campus ice arena designed to meet the needs of both the Irish hockey team and the local community. Construction on the 5,022-seat arena began on March 15, 2010 with the venue opening in the Fall of 2011. The arena held its first Notre Dame hockey game on October 21, 2011 when a sellout crowd saw Notre Dame defeat Rensselaer 5–2.
The new ice arena is located south of the Joyce Center, just north of Edison Road, and just west of where the new Irish track and field facility is being constructed. The majority of the general public arena seating is of the chair-back variety with bleacher seating in the student section. The Compton Family Center replaced the rink inside the Edmund P. Joyce Center. During the time that the Irish played at the Joyce Center, the facility was the second smallest home rink in the CCHA with a hockey capacity of 2,857. All seats were benchers, and most of the seating consists of temporary bleachers. In 2007, the Irish compiled an impressive 14–2–2 home record at the Joyce Center.